Michelle MacLaren started working in the film business as a production assistant, and worked her way up through locations, assistant directing, and production managing, ultimately making the move from Canada to Los Angeles to become a producer and director.

After producing 11 made-for-television movies, MacLaren became an executive producer when she co-wrote the TV movie, Music from the Heart, which was also produced by her production company. In addition to Breaking Bad, MacLaren has been a co-executive producer and executive producer on such television series as Harsh Realm, The X-Files and the Night Stalker pilot.

MacLaren began directing on The X-Files and has since directed shows for AMC, NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, TNT and Starz. She entered the graphic novel genre arena directing the second episode and season two mid-season finale of AMC's The Walking Dead, based on the comic book written by Robert Kirkman.

Over the years, MacLaren's various producing projects have received a Christopher Award, an Edi Award, a Producers Guild nomination, a Humanitas nomination, and several Emmy nominations including a 2010 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Direction in a Drama Series for the Breaking Bad episode, One Minute.