Hall made her acting debut at the tender age of 9 in her father's televised production of The Camomile Lawn, but devoted the next decade to her schooling, attending the exclusive Roedean School and Cambridge University. In 2002, however, she embraced the family craft, taking to the stage in a series of classical roles, many under the direction of her father. Hollywood roles followed, most notably in the high-profile illusionist drama The Prestige (2006).

In 2008, Hall delivered a pair of divergent roles in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (which brought a Golden Globe nod) and Frost/Nixon, cementing her rep as a critical darling.