Melanie Lynskey
Birthday: 1977-05-16 | Place of Birth: New Plymouth, Taranaki, New ZealandMelanie Jayne Lynskey (born May 16, 1977) is a New Zealand actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American dialects, she works predominantly in independent films. Lynskey made her film debut at age 17 portraying Pauline Parker in Heavenly Creatures (1994). She went on to establish herself as a character actress through supporting parts in Ever After (1998); But I'm a Cheerleader (1999); Coyote Ugly (2000); Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Shattered Glass (2003); Flags of Our Fathers (2006); Away We Go; Up in the Air; The Informant! (all 2009); Win Win (2011); The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012); and Don't Look Up (2021). Her starring role in Hello I Must Be Going (2012) proved to be a turning point in Lynskey's career, with subsequent lead parts in Happy Christmas (2014), The Intervention (2016), and I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017) highlighting her as a prominent figure in independent cinema. On television, Lynskey played Rose in Two and a Half Men (2003-2015), Shauna in Yellowjackets (2021-2026) and Kathleen in The Last of Us (2023). Lynskey is the recipient of two Critics' Choice Awards, a HCA Award, a Gracie, a New Zealand Film Award, a Hollywood Film Award, and a Sundance Special Jury Award, as well as Gotham, Satellite, Saturn, Golden Nymph, Independent Spirit, Screen Actors Guild, and Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Known For
Acting
Role
as Anna Osborne
as Elizabeth Birenbaum
as Helen
as Heather Morris
as Betty Gore
as Hannah
as Shauna Sadecki
as Kate Chant
as Rae
as Coach Rowan
as Gina
as Janice
as Mary (segment "The Birthday Party")
as Ruth Kimke
as Zara Skelton
as Annie
as Becky
as Lindsay
as Margaret
as Megan (voice)
as Sara
as Devon
as Michelle Pierson
as Self
as Beatrice (voice)
as Sally
