Melanie Lynskey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melanie Lynskey
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Lynskey in 2016
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| Born | 16 May 1977 New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
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| Alma mater | Victoria University of Wellington |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1994–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Melanie Jayne Lynskey (/ˈlɪnski/ LIN-skee; born 16 May 1977) is an actress from New Zealand. She is known for playing interesting and complex women. She is also very good at speaking with American accents. Melanie mostly works in independent films and on television shows.
She has won many awards, including three Critics' Choice Awards. She has also been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Melanie Lynskey started her acting career at age 17 in the movie Heavenly Creatures (1994). She received great reviews for her role as Pauline Parker. Later, she had supporting roles in movies like Ever After (1998) and Coyote Ugly (2000).
After moving to the United States, Melanie became known as a "character actress." This means she often plays unique and memorable supporting roles. Some of these roles were in Sweet Home Alabama (2002) and Up in the Air (2009).
A big moment in her career was her main role in Hello I Must Be Going (2012). After this, she took on more lead roles in independent films. These included Happy Christmas (2014) and I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017).
On television, Melanie played Rose on the sitcom Two and a Half Men (2003–2015). She also appeared in Togetherness (2015–2016) and Castle Rock (2018). Since 2021, she has played Shauna in the show Yellowjackets. For this role, she won a Critics' Choice Award in 2022 and was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards. She also received an Emmy nomination for her guest role in The Last of Us in 2023.
Melanie Lynskey is married to actor Jason Ritter. They have one daughter together.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Melanie Lynskey was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, on May 16, 1977. Her mother, Kay, was a real estate agent, and her father, Tim, was an orthopedic surgeon. Melanie is the oldest of five children. She has three brothers and one sister. Her last name, Lynskey, comes from Ireland.
When she was a child, Melanie's family lived in England for one year. Then they moved back to New Zealand. She went to New Plymouth Girls' High School. There, she was very active in the drama club and school plays. After high school, Melanie studied at Victoria University of Wellington.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting Out: 1994–2002
Melanie Lynskey began her acting career at age 16. Her first big role was in Peter Jackson's movie Heavenly Creatures. This was a psychological drama where she played Pauline Parker. Pauline was a teenager involved in a serious event with her best friend, played by Kate Winslet. Melanie auditioned for the role when a casting director visited her high school. Five hundred other girls had tried out, but none were quite right.
The film's co-writer, Fran Walsh, said Melanie had a "quiet intensity." She knew Melanie was perfect for the role right away. Heavenly Creatures was very popular when it came out in 1994. Critics praised Melanie's acting. Roger Ebert said Peter Jackson chose "the right two actresses." He noted how Melanie could show deep feelings just by her expressions. Entertainment Weekly called her "extraordinary."
Heavenly Creatures is a very important film in New Zealand cinema. It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Melanie won Best Actress at the 1995 New Zealand Film Awards. She said working with Peter Jackson and Kate Winslet taught her a lot. She became very close friends with Kate Winslet during filming.
After Heavenly Creatures, Melanie took a three-year break to go to university. She also had a small, non-speaking role in Peter Jackson's The Frighteners (1996). Then, in 1997, she got a main role in the independent film Foreign Correspondents. This movie was special because it used crowdfunding to get money, which was a new idea at the time.
That same year, she was cast in Ever After. She played Drew Barrymore's stepsister in this fairy tale movie based on Cinderella. The film was a big success when it was released in 1998.
In 1999, Melanie appeared in four movies. These included the teen comedy Detroit Rock City and the popular movie But I'm a Cheerleader. This film is often called one of the best LGBTQ+ films ever made.
Next, she used a New Jersey accent for her role in the romantic comedy Coyote Ugly (2000). She played the best friend of the main character, played by Piper Perabo. She then returned to New Zealand to star in Snakeskin (2001). In this movie, she played Alice, a free-spirited person on a dangerous road trip. She received strong reviews and a nomination for Best Actress for this role.
In 2002, Melanie worked again with director Andy Tennant (who directed Ever After). She played a childhood friend of Reese Witherspoon in the romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama. This movie had a huge opening weekend in North America. She also appeared with Katie Holmes in the thriller Abandon. Critics did not like the movie much, but they praised Melanie's acting. That same year, she made her TV debut in Rose Red, a miniseries written by Stephen King. The show was very popular, with many viewers.
Two and a Half Men and More Films: 2003–2011
In 2003, Melanie Lynskey appeared in Shattered Glass. This drama was about a journalist named Stephen Glass. Melanie played Amy Brand, a writer for The New Republic. Critics praised the movie's "excellent cast."
Later that year, she got the role of Rose on the sitcom Two and a Half Men. Rose was a clever but kind neighbor of Charlie Harper. She started as a guest star in the first episode. Then, the producers asked her to become a regular cast member. She appeared often in the first two seasons. Melanie decided to leave the main cast in 2005 to focus on movies. She worried about being typecast (only getting similar roles). But she continued to make guest appearances until the show ended in 2015. She said, "Doing three or four episodes a year enabled me to pay my mortgage and do independent films."
Melanie played Pauline Harnois in Clint Eastwood's World War II film Flags of Our Fathers (2006). This movie was well-liked by critics. She then joined the cast of the TV series Drive (2007). The next year, she had a supporting role in the Western miniseries Comanche Moon. People magazine said Melanie's performance was one of the best in the show. She also appeared in two episodes of The L Word. Then she returned to New Zealand to star in the 2008 romantic drama Show of Hands. She was nominated for Best Actress for this role.
In 2009, Melanie received great reviews for her role in Away We Go, a comedy-drama directed by Sam Mendes. Next, she co-starred as Ginger in Steven Soderbergh's movie The Informant!. Ginger was the devoted wife of FBI whistleblower Mark Whitacre. Melanie said she decided Ginger had "no idea what was going on." She felt Ginger was trusting and focused on her family. Melanie considers her time on The Informant! one of her favorite acting experiences.
Also in 2009, Melanie co-starred in Leaves of Grass. A critic from RogerEbert.com said her acting helped give the film its "quirky charm." The director, Tim Blake Nelson, was amazed by her perfect Oklahoma accent, even though she is from New Zealand. She also received good reviews for playing Julie Bingham in the Oscar-nominated movie Up in the Air. The director, Jason Reitman, usually only cast American actors in American roles. But Melanie said she "tricked" him by not talking much during her audition, so he didn't hear her New Zealand accent. Reitman later said he was "thrilled" by this. In October 2009, she received a Spotlight Award at the Hollywood Film Festival.
Melanie was the main star of Helena from the Wedding (2010). The Hollywood Reporter called it a "wise, luminous low-budget comedy" and said the film "belongs to [Lynskey]." She then starred in the sports drama Touchback (2011). She was praised for her role as the wife of a former football star. That same year, she received positive reviews for playing Cindy Timmons in Tom McCarthy's Win Win. The Hollywood Reporter praised the film's "character-based comedy" and said Melanie brought "welcome soft shadings" to the story. Time magazine called her "one of the most reliably intriguing supporting actresses in film."
Leading Roles: 2012–2020
In 2012, Melanie Lynskey appeared in the romantic comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. She also had an important role as Aunt Helen in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This was a coming-of-age drama based on a popular novel. Critics said the film's strengths were its details and performances, and the cast was "uniformly strong." Melanie said it was a difficult decision to take the part because of her character's story. Also in 2012, she played a professional dancer named Sally in the romantic comedy Putzel. Critics said Melanie "steals the show" and that the film "sparks to life whenever [she] arrives on the screen."
Melanie's role as Amy Minsky in Hello I Must Be Going (2012) received huge praise. She played an unemployed woman who has to move back home with her parents after a divorce. This was the first time in her career that Melanie was in every scene of a movie. She said it was "a lot of pressure." She initially thought the part would go to a more famous actress. The director, Todd Louiso, said he knew if he cast Melanie, the film would be very special.
Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times wrote that Melanie was "so good an actress." He said she made the character "someone we root for unreservedly." USA Today praised the film for being "funny, well-written, involving and emotionally honest." They added that Melanie "brings dimension and intelligence" to the role. This performance earned her a nomination for a Breakthrough Actor award.
In 2013, Melanie took a main role in The Big Ask, an independent comedy. Her acting was praised, with one critic saying she "so often finds ways to elevate lackluster screenwriting." In 2014, she was honored as an Emerging Master at the RiverRun International Film Festival. Her next role was in Happy Christmas (2014), where she played Kelly, a writer. The film was mostly improvised, meaning the actors made up a lot of their lines. Critics said the performances were very natural. Later that year, she appeared in They Came Together and played the main female roles in We'll Never Have Paris and Goodbye to All That. Critics called her acting in Goodbye "fantastic" and "heartbreaking."
Also in 2014, Melanie voiced Beatrice, a grumpy bluebird, in the Cartoon Network miniseries Over the Garden Wall. Critics said Melanie "steals the show" with her funny and passive-aggressive lines. The series won several awards and is now considered a "cult classic."
From 2015 to 2016, Melanie played Michelle Pierson on HBO's Togetherness. This show was about two couples living together. The series was largely improvised and was a "dream" job for Melanie. Critics praised the show's storytelling and mix of comedy and drama. They especially noticed Melanie's performance. Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times said Melanie was "all deep waters and live wires." Her acting earned her a nomination for a Critics' Choice Award.
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For her main role in The Intervention (2016), Melanie won a special award at the Sundance Film Festival. Critics praised her "tremendously good comic timing" and called her performance "genuine, funny and touching." The film was directed by actress Clea DuVall, who wrote the character of Annie specifically for Melanie. Melanie and Clea are close friends. Melanie even spoke with a therapist to prepare for working with her friend, to make sure their friendship stayed strong. That same year, she also appeared in other independent films like Rainbow Time and Little Boxes.
Melanie's acting in the Netflix crime thriller I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017) was highly praised. The director, Macon Blair, wrote the character of Ruth with Melanie in mind. Ruth is a determined person who teams up with her neighbor to find a burglar. This role was physically challenging for Melanie, involving stunt work. Critics said Melanie delivered her "best work yet" and was "seething and magnetic." Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com said Melanie carried the entire movie with her expressions. I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore won a top prize at the 2017 Sundance Festival. Melanie also received a nomination for a Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actress.
Also in 2017, Melanie starred in the drama And Then I Go, playing a concerned parent. She also received a nomination for her role in the Australian miniseries Sunshine. She co-starred in The Changeover, a fantasy thriller filmed in New Zealand. She also appeared in the horror film XX, where she played a housewife in a difficult situation. Critics said her performance in XX was "terrific" and brought "a grace note of pathos."
In the 2018 drama Sadie, Melanie played a woman raising her daughter while her husband is serving in Afghanistan. Critics called her work "compelling" and "superb." Next, she played Molly Strand in the first season of Castle Rock. This was a psychological horror series based on stories by Stephen King. The show was well-received, especially for its cast. Critics called Melanie "delicately complex" and said she brought "humanity and grounding" to the story.
Between April and May 2020, Melanie appeared in the miniseries Mrs. America. This political drama was about activist Phyllis Schlafly. The series was highly praised. Melanie played Rosemary Thomson, a real-life supporter of Schlafly. Her performance was called "delightful" and a "standout." Melanie said her own upbringing helped her understand Rosemary's beliefs. She called working with Cate Blanchett "one of the great experiences of my life."
Recent Success: 2021–Present
Melanie Lynskey starred in Lady of the Manor (2021). Her acting was well-received, with critics saying she "unabashedly embraces physical humor." Her second film that year was Adam McKay's comedy Don't Look Up. She played June Mindy, the wife of Leonardo DiCaprio's character. Critics called her performance "terrific" and "low-key brilliant." She said working on the film and bonding with Leonardo DiCaprio was "beautiful."
On Showtime's Yellowjackets, Melanie plays Shauna Sadecki. Shauna is a suburban housewife with dark secrets from a plane crash 25 years ago. The series started in November 2021. Rolling Stone called Melanie the "standout" of the cast. The Guardian agreed that Melanie "does by far the most emotional heavy lifting." Melanie said she was drawn to Shauna's "internalized rage" and "dark streak." For her work on Yellowjackets, Melanie won Best Actress in a Drama Series at the 27th Critics' Choice Awards. She also received two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2022 and 2023.
In the true crime miniseries Candy, Melanie co-starred as Betty Gore. Betty was a schoolteacher who was killed by her husband's lover, played by Jessica Biel. The show aired in May 2022, and the acting was widely praised. Entertainment Weekly said Melanie "captures the sadness and seething resentment" of her character. RogerEbert.com noted she did "so much with just a sigh or defeated body language." Melanie spoke about the strong emotions involved in recreating her character's death. She and Jessica Biel worked carefully to make the scene perfect. She received Critics' Choice and Satellite Award nominations for her role as Betty Gore.
On HBO's The Last of Us, Melanie appeared as Kathleen Coghlan. Kathleen was a tough leader in this show based on a video game. The character was created just for the series because the executive producer wanted to work with Melanie. The show premiered in January 2023. Critics called Melanie's performance "superb" and "chillingly violent." She earned a nomination for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress for this role.
In the historical drama series The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Melanie played New Zealand social worker Heather Morris. Heather becomes friends with an elderly Holocaust survivor and wants to write a book about his experiences. The show was released in May 2024. Critics noted Melanie's good chemistry with Harvey Keitel, who played the survivor. Reviewers also called her work "understated [and] endlessly empathetic." Melanie said filming was "heavy" but important for telling stories from that time in history.
Acting Style
Melanie Lynskey describes herself as a character actress. She said, "Even when I'm reading a script where I'm supposed to be looking at the lead role, I'll find myself gravitating toward some small weirdo in a few scenes instead."
About her acting method, Melanie said she doesn't have formal training. She relies on her own feelings and instincts. If a director gives her a note that doesn't feel right, it's hard for her to do it. She said she might "argue it" because she feels what is right for the character.
In 2012, Melanie talked about often being cast in supporting roles. She said that many "meaty" parts are written for men or very famous actresses. She also mentioned that sometimes studios would not cast her because she wasn't famous enough. But she understood that studios invest a lot of money and want a guarantee. Since then, Melanie has taken on many main roles in independent films. She has been called an "indie queen."
In 2017, Melanie spoke about taking risks in her film work. She said, "I want to tell stories about women who are interesting and complicated... There aren't that many opportunities [to do that] except in the independent film world." She added that if you are willing to work on films with small budgets, you get chances to do "really creative, interesting stuff."
Melanie is often praised for her ability to perform an American accent. She learned this by staying with writer and director Joss Whedon when she first moved to Los Angeles. She watched many movies and practiced American accents. Tim Blake Nelson said he couldn't believe Melanie was from New Zealand because her Oklahoma accent was "so spot on."
Melanie is also known for being good at improvising her lines. She also uses a technique called dreamwork to prepare for her roles.
Other Activities
In 2012, Melanie Lynskey voiced an animated version of herself in a safety video for Air New Zealand flights.
In February 2013, she took part in a special performance of the 1992 film Glengarry Glen Ross. The event was directed by Jason Reitman. He gathered a cast of women to read the script, which was originally all male roles. Melanie played the role of George Aaronow.
From 2014 to 2016, Melanie often appeared in The Thrilling Adventure Hour. This was a live podcast show that sounded like old-time radio.
In 2015, she starred in the music video for the song "Waiting on Love" by Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers. Her boyfriend at the time, Jason Ritter, also appeared in the video.
Melanie was a judge for the U.S. Narrative Competition at the 2017 Tribeca Festival.
In June 2018, she was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is the group that votes for the Oscars.
In October 2023, Melanie read the book Memoirs of a Hamster for Storyline Online. This is a program that helps children with reading.
Melanie was also chosen as a judge for the 2024 Heath Ledger Scholarship. This scholarship helps new Australian actors with money and career advice.
Personal Life
In 2001, Melanie Lynskey met American actor Jimmi Simpson while filming Rose Red. They got engaged in 2005 and married on April 14, 2007, in New Zealand. Melanie filed for divorce from Jimmi in 2012, and it was finalized in 2014. They remain good friends.
In February 2017, Melanie announced she was engaged to Jason Ritter. They had been dating for four years. In December 2018, they had a daughter. Melanie and Jason were married in 2020.
Melanie has lived in Los Angeles since 2000. She is a close friend of Clea DuVall, whom she met while working on But I'm a Cheerleader. Melanie became a vegetarian at age 10 after learning about sheep farming. Now, she identifies as pescetarian, meaning she eats fish but no other meat. Melanie has misophonia, which means certain sounds bother her a lot. She describes herself as a feminist.
Melanie has spoken openly about her past struggles with an eating disorder. She said she was "very unwell" for a long time and was "so unhappy." Eventually, she realized she needed to be comfortable with herself.
Film and TV Work
According to the website Rotten Tomatoes, some of Melanie Lynskey's most praised films include Heavenly Creatures (1994), Ever After (1998), Up in the Air (2009), Hello I Must Be Going (2012), and I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017).
Her television work includes Two and a Half Men (2003–2015), Togetherness (2015–2016), Castle Rock (2018), Mrs. America (2020), Candy (2022), and Yellowjackets (2021–present). Her movies have earned over $733 million worldwide.
Melanie has received many awards. These include a Sundance Special Jury Award and three Critics Choice Awards. She has also been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, three Gotham Awards, and other honors.
Images for kids
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Melanie Lynskey's signature
See also
In Spanish: Melanie Lynskey para niños
