Melanie Lynskey

Melanie Lynskey Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: May 16, 1977

Age: 46 years old

Birth Place: New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

Spouses: Jason Ritter, Jimmi Simpson

Born and raised in New Plymouth, New Zealand, 16 year-old Melanie Lynskey was discovered when she was chosen by Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson to star in their film "Heavenly Creatures" (1994). Directed by Jackson, the film told the story of the notorious Parker-Hulme murder case, in which two teenage girls murdered the mother of one of them. Lynskey and Kate Winslet were roundly praised for their roles and Jackson and Walsh earned an Academy Award nomination for best screenplay. Lynskey won Best Actress for the role in her native New Zealand. Her first role behind her, Lynskey finished school and played a supporting role in Jackson's next film, "The Frighteners" (1996). She played both supporting roles in larger budget studio films like "Ever After: A Cinderella Story" (1998) starring Drew Barrymore, as well as meatier roles in independent features like "But I'm A Cheerleader" (1999). In 2003, Lynskey landed a regular guest starring role on the sitcom "Two and a Half Men" (CBS, 2003-2015), and continued to make appearances on the show over the course of its 12 seasons. The consistent work allowed Lynskey to continue her unusual career path, contributing critically acclaimed performances to smaller films like "Shattered Glass" (2003), "The Informant!" (2009), and "Win Win" (2011). In 2015, Lynskey debuted in one of the lead roles on "Togetherness" (HBO, 2015-16), again earning rave reviews. In 2018, Lynskey played one of the leads on the show "Castle Rock" (Hulu, 2018-), a series based on the stories of Stephen King.

Credits

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Actor
Heather Morris
Series
2024

The Last of UsStream

Guest Star
Kathleen
Series
2023
96%

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

If We're Being Honest with Laverne CoxStream

Guest
Talk
2022

CandyStream

Actor
Betty Gore
Miniseries
2022
72%

YellowjacketsStream

Actor
Shauna
Series
2021
97%

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

HouseBrokenStream

Guest Star
Pinky
Series
2021
50%

HouseBrokenStream

Guest Voice
Memory Sheep
Series
2021
50%

Lady of the Manor

Actor
Hannah
Movie
2021

Don't Look UpStream

Actor
June Mindy
Movie
2021
55%

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2020

Mrs. AmericaStream

Actor
Rosemary Thomson
Series
2020
96%

Castle RockStream

Actor
Molly Strand
Series
2018
88%

Sadie

Actor
Rae
Movie
2018

Sunshine

Actor
Zara Skelton
Show
2017

Young SheldonStream

Guest Star
Professor Ericson
Series
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

XX

Actor
Mary (Segment: "The Birthday Party")
Movie
2017

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore

Actor
Ruth Kimke
Movie
2017

1 Mile to You

Actor
Coach Rowan
Movie
2017

And Then I Go

Actor
Janice
Movie
2017

The Changeover

Actor
Kate Chant
Movie
2017

EasyStream

Actor
Beth
Series
2016
90%

Our Ex-Wife

Actor
Sara
Show
2016

The Intervention

Actor
Annie
Movie
2016

Rainbow Time

Actor
Lindsay
Movie
2016

Folk Hero & Funny Guy

Actor
Becky
Movie
2016

The Great & The Small

Actor
Margaret
Movie
2016

Little Boxes

Actor
Gina
Movie
2016

Future-Worm!Stream

Voice
Megan Douglas
Series
2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

TogethernessStream

Actor
Michelle Pierson
Series
2015
90%

Digging for Fire

Actor
Squiggy
Movie
2015

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Guest
Show
2014

Happy Christmas

Actor
Kelly
Show
2014

Over the Garden Wall

Voice
Beatrice
Show
2014

Over the Garden WallStream

Voice
Beatrice
Miniseries
2014

Celebrity Name Game

Contestant
Game Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Happy ChristmasStream

Actor
Kelly
Movie
2014
76%

Goodbye to All That

Actor
Annie
Movie
2014

They Came TogetherStream

Actor
Brenda
Movie
2014
71%

Chu and Blossom

Actor
Miss Shoemaker
Movie
2014

We'll Never Have Paris

Actor
Devon
Movie
2014

MomStream

Guest Star
Shannon
Series
2013

Teddy Bears

Actor
Hannah
Movie
2013

The Jeff Probst Show

Guest
Show
2012

W oku huraganu

Actor
Movie
2012

Seeking a Friend for the End of the WorldStream

Actor
Karen
Movie
2012
55%

Hello I Must Be GoingStream

Actor
Amy
Movie
2012
75%

Eye of the Hurricane

Actor
Amelia Kyte
Movie
2012

The Perks of Being a WallflowerStream

Actor
Aunt Helen
Movie
2012
85%

Putzel

Actor
Sally
Movie
2012

Win Win

Actor
Cindy Timmons
Movie
2011

TouchbackStream

Actor
Macy
Movie
2011
38%

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Helena From the Wedding

Actor
Alice
Movie
2010

The Informant!Stream

Actor
Ginger Whitacre
Movie
2009
80%

Away We Go

Actor
Munch
Movie
2009

Up in the AirStream

Actor
Julie Bingham
Movie
2009
90%

Leaves of Grass

Actor
Colleen
Movie
2009

Show of Hands

Actor
Jess
Movie
2008

A Quiet Little Marriage

Actor
Monique
Movie
2008

Comanche Moon

Actor
Pearl Coleman
Show
2007

Drive

Actor
Wendy Patrakas
Show
2007

Flags of Our FathersStream

Actor
Pauline Harnois
Movie
2006
73%

Park

Actor
Sheryl
Movie
2006

It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaStream

Guest Star
Kate
Series
2005
94%

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Sharon
Series
2005

Say Uncle

Actor
Susan
Movie
2005

HouseStream

Guest Star
Natalie Tavares
Series
2004
90%

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Two and a Half MenStream

Actor
Rose
Series
2003
65%

Two and a Half MenStream

Guest Star
Rose
Series
2003
65%

Serial Slayer

Actor
Movie
2003

Shattered GlassStream

Actor
Amy Brand
Movie
2003
92%

The ShieldStream

Guest Star
Marcy
Series
2002
90%

Rose RedStream

Actor
Miniseries
2002
42%

Rose Red

Actor
Rachel Wheaton
Movie
2002

AbandonStream

Actor
Mousy Julie
Movie
2002
16%

Sweet Home AlabamaStream

Actor
Lurlynn
Movie
2002
38%

Shooters

Actor
Marie
Movie
2002

Snakeskin

Actor
Alice
Movie
2001

Coyote UglyStream

Actor
Gloria
Movie
2000
23%

Detroit Rock City

Actor
Beth Bumsteen
Movie
1999

Foreign Correspondents

Actor
Melody
Movie
1999

The Cherry Orchard

Actor
Dunyasha
Movie
1999

Ever After: A Cinderella StoryStream

Actor
Jacqueline De Ghent
Movie
1998
91%

Heavenly Creatures

Actor
Pauline Yvonne (Parker) Rieper
Movie
1994

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutMelanie Lynskey

Jonah Hauer-King as Lali Sokolov in The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Everything We Know About ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’

Harvey Keitel and Melanie Lynskey in The Tattooist of Auschwitz

‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ First Look Photos & Premiere Date Unveiled by Peacock

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Emmys

2023 Emmy Predictions for Drama Series & Performances: Matt Roush’s Picks

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Warren Kole on The Buzz on Yellowjackets
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The Buzz on ‘Yellowjackets’ Aftershow: Warren Kole on ‘Honorary Yellowjacket’ Jeff (VIDEO)

Melanie Lynskey in 'HouseBroken'
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‘HouseBroken’ First Look: ‘Yellowjackets’ Star Melanie Lynskey Is a Ferret on Steroids (VIDEO)

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‘Yellowjackets’: Who’s Alive, Who’s Dead & Who’s Missing in Present Day?

Succession and Yellowstone
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Critic’s Notebook: Battle of Sunday’s Buzziest Shows (‘Succession,’ ‘Yellowjackets’)

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‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ Peacock Adaptation Casts Jonah Hauer-King, Melanie Lynskey & More

The Cast of 'Yellowjackets' Season 2
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The Survival Drama With Bite: ‘Yellowjackets’ Stars Set the Table for Tasty Season 2

Melanie Lynskey and Adrianne Curry

Melanie Lynskey Fires Back at Adrianne Curry After ‘Last of Us’ Body Shaming Tweet

Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last Of Us
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‘The Last of Us’: Joel and Ellie’s Road Trip Goes Horribly Wrong (RECAP)

Elijah Wood in 'Yellowjackets'

‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2 Trailer Introduces Elijah Wood & Teases Winter in the Wilderness (VIDEO)

Jason Ritter and Melanie Lynskey on the red carpet.

‘Yellowjackets’: Jason Ritter to Join Wife Melanie Lynskey in Season 2

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26 TV Stars Who Just Got Their First Dorian Award Nominations

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‘House’ Ended a Decade Ago: 10 Stars Who Had Guest Turns

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The ‘Candy’ Cast Introduces the Characters at the Center of a Shocking Crime (VIDEO)

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‘Candy’: Jessica Biel Is a Housewife Gone Bad in Hulu True Crime Series (VIDEO)

Sophie Nélisse, Warren Kole, Tawny Cypress in Yellowjackets

7 ‘Yellowjackets’ Characters to Watch Closely in Season 2

Christina Ricci as Misty, Juliette Lewis as Natalie, Tawny Cypress as Taissa, Melanie Lynskey as Shauna in Yellowjackets
Spoiler Alert

‘Yellowjackets’ Boss on Who Took [Spoiler] & That Sacrifice in the Present-Day Timeline

Melanie Lynskey as Shauna in Yellowjackets
Spoiler Alert

‘Yellowjackets’ Reveals the Identity of the Blackmailer, Plus Who Dies? (RECAP)

Peter Gadiot as Adam in Yellowjackets

Who Is Adam Really on ‘Yellowjackets’? 5 Theories

Yellowjackets pilot on Showtime

Can’t Miss Episode of the Week: ‘Yellowjackets’ Premiere Excellently Builds Dread

Ella Purnell and Sophie Nélisse on the plane in the Yellowjackets pilot
Review

Roush Review: ‘Yellowjackets’ Combines Survival Thrills With a Contemporary Mystery

The Cast of Yellowjackets
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‘Yellowjackets’ Stars Introduce the Teen & Adult Versions of the Plane Crash Survivors

Juliette Lewis in Yellowjackets

‘Yellowjackets’ Trailer: What Happens After You Survive a Devastating Plane Crash? (VIDEO)

Castle Rock --
Spoiler Alert

Chaos Rains Down on ‘Castle Rock’ & More Crazy Finale Moments

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CASTLE ROCK - Andre Holland
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CASTLE ROCK -- 'Severance' - Episode 101 - An anonymous phone call lures death-row attorney Henry Denver back to his home town of Castle Rock, Maine. Ruth Deaver (Sissy Spacek) and Henry Deaver (Andre Holland) shown. (Photo by: Patrick Harbron/Hulu)

What Might Fans Expect From ‘Castle Rock’ Season 2?

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Meet the Colorful Characters of Hulu’s ‘Castle Rock’ (PHOTOS)