Melanie Lynskey Actor Profile

Profile

Ethnicity

Location

Los Angeles, United States of America

Height

176 cm

Age Range

41–51

Also Represented in

United States of America

Career Highlights

New Zealand born Melanie Lynskey's first role came in 1994 with her award winning performance in Peter Jackson's “Heavenly Creatures” opposite Kate Winslet. Since then, she has amassed a number of credits in both features and television. Her film credits include Steven Soderbergh's “The Informant”, Tom McCarthy's “Win Win”, Billy Ray's “Shattered Glass”, Sam Mendes' “Away We Go”, Jason Reitman's “Up In The Air”, Andy Tennant's “Ever After” and “Sweet Home Alabama”, Jamie Babbit’s “But I’m A Cheerleader”, Clint Eastwood's “Flags Of Our Fathers”, Joe Swanberg’s “Happy Christmas”, and Angus MacLachlan's “Goodbye To All That”.

In 2012, Lynskey played the lead role in Todd Louiso's film “Hello I Must Be Going”. The film opened the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was rated one of the “Top Ten Independent Films” of the year by the National Board of Review. Lynskey’s performance earned her critical praise and a nomination for a 2012 Gotham Independent Film Award in the category of Breakthrough Actor.

At Sundance in 2016, Lynskey won the US Special Jury Prize for Individual Performance for her portrayal of a meddling alcoholic in Clea DuVall’s debut feature, The Intervention.

On the small screen, Lynskey’s next project is the highly anticipated Hulu series Castle Rock, opposite André Holland, Sissy Spacek and Bill Skarsgård. She was recently seen in Netflix’s “Wet Hot American Summer” and “Girlboss”. Lynskey also starred in the Duplass brothers' critically acclaimed HBO show, “Togetherness”, for which she was nominated for a Critic's Choice Award; and she voiced the character Beatrice in Cartoon Network's 'Over The Garden Wall', which won the 2015 Emmy for Best Animated Program.

From 2003-2015, Lynskey had a popular recurring role as Rose in the hit TV show “Two And A Half Men”.

Most recently, she appeared opposite Anthony LaPaglia in the Australian SBS TV Drama “Sunshine Kings”. Lynskey was nominated for Outstanding Actress at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival for her role in the mini-series.

Last year, Lynskey starred opposite Elijah Wood in Macon Blair’s “I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore”, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Lynskey was nominated for a 2017 Gotham Award for Best Actress for her role in the film.

Upcoming films include “Sadie”, directed by Megan Griffiths, in which she stars opposite John Gallagher Jr and she is currently starring in television series "Yellowjacket" for Showtime.

Awards.

2001New Zealand Film Awards - Nomination - Best Actress - Snakeskin
1994New Zealand Film Awards - Winner - Best Actress - Heavenly Creatures

Feature Film Film.

2021Dont Look UpJune Hyperobject Industries
Dir. Adam McKay

Feature Film.

2021Lady of the ManorHannah (Lead)Dir. Justin Long, Christian Long
2017And Then I GoJaniceDir. Vince Grashaw
2017I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore RuthNetflix
Dir. Macon Blair
2017SadieRae (Lead)Dir. Megan Griffiths
2017The ChangeoverKate ChantChangeover Films Limited
Dir. Miranda Harcourt and Stuart McKenzie
2016Folk Hero & Funny GuyBeckySpitfire Studios
Dir. Jeff Grace
2016Little BoxesGinaKid Noir Productions
Dir. Rob Meyer
2016Rainbow TimeLindsayDuplass Brothers Productions
Dir. Linas Phillips
2016The Great & The SmallMargaretCervidae Films
Dir. Dusty Bias
2016The InterventionAnnieBurn Later Productions
Dir. Clea DuVall
2015Digging for Fire SquiggyGarrett Motion Pictures
Dir. Joe Swanberg
2014Chu and BlossomMiss ShoemakerBaked Industries
Dir. Charles Chu, Gavin Kelly
2014Goodbye to All ThatAnnie WallEpoch Films
Dir. Angus MacLachlan
2014Happy ChristmasKellyLucky Coffee Productions
Dir. Joe Swanberg
2014We'll Never Have ParisDevonBifrost Pictures
Dir. Simon Helberg, Jocelyn Towne
2013Four SaintsMairi ChrisholmWhite Wing Enterprise
Dir. Jean-Pierre Isbouts
2013Teddy BearsHannahCovert Productions/Sparkhouse Media
Dir. Thomas Betty / Rebecca Fishman
2013The Big AskHannahTribeca Film
Dir. Thomas Beatty, Rebecca Fishman
2013They Came TogetherActressLionsgate
Dir. David Wain
2012Eye of the HurricaneAmelia KyteBraveart Films/Havensfoot Entertainment
Dir. Jesse Wolfe
2012PutzelSallyStouthearted Films
Dir. Jason Chaet
2012Seeking A Friend for the End of the WorldKarenAnonymous Content/Indian Paintbrush /Mandate Pictures
Dir. Lorene Scafaria
2012The Perks of Being A WallflowerAunt HelenSummit Entertainment
Dir. Stephan Chbosky
2011TouchbackMacyFreedom Films
Dir. Don Handfield
2011Win WinActress (Lead)Everest Entertainment/Fox Searchlight Pictures
Dir. Thomas McCarthy
2010Helena from the WeddingAlice (Support)Beech Hilm Films
Dir. Joseph Infantolino
2010Up in the Air Julie Bringham (Major Support)Paramount Pictures
Dir. Jason Reitman
2009Away We Go Munch (Support)Big Beach Films/Focus Features
Dir. Sam Mendes
2008Leaves of GrassColleen (Support) Class 5 Films/Nu Image Films
Dir. Tim Blake Nelson
2008The InformantGinger Whitacre (Lead)Warner Bros. Pictures
Dir. Steven Soderbergh
2008This Must Be The PlaceMunchFocus Films
Dir. Sam Mendes
2007Big StanCrystal Skye Pictures
Dir. Rob Schnieder
2007Itty Bitty Titty CommitteePlastic Surgery LadyPower Up Films
Dir. Jamie Babbit
2006Flags of Our FathersPauline HarnoisDreamWorks SKG/Warner Bros. Pictures/Amblin Entertainment/Malpaso Productions
Dir. Clint Eastwood
2006ParkSherylMello Pictures LLC
Dir. Kurt Voelker
2005Say UncleSusanBest Little Boy Productions
Dir. Peter Paige
2003ClaustrophobiaLaurenCassava Films/Greenstem Productions
Dir. Mark Tapio Kines
2003Shattered GlassAmy BrandLions Gate Films &Cruise/Wagner Productions
Dir. Billy Ray
2002AbandonMousy JulieBedford Falls Productions/Lynda Obst Productions/Paramount Pictures/Spyglass Entertainment
Dir. Stephen Gaghan
2002ShootersMarieCatapult Productions/Cool Beans Limited/PFG Entertainment
Dir. Glenn Durfort & Colin Teague
2002Sweet Home AlabamaLurlynnTouchstone & Buena Vista Pictures
Dir. Andy Tennant
2001SnakeskinAliceCowGirl Productions
Dir. Gillian Ashurst
2000Coyote UglyGloriaJerry Bruckheimer Films/Touchstone Pictures
Dir. David McNally
1999But I'm a CheerleaderHilary VandermullerCheerleader LLC/HKM Films/Ignite Entertainment/Kushner
Dir. Jamie Babbit
1999Detriot Rock CityBeth BumsteenBase 12 Productions/Corrupter Production Service Ltd/KISS Nation/New Line Cinema/Takoma Entertainment Group
Dir. Adam Rifkin
1999Foreign CorrespondentsMelodyCassava Films/Greenstem Productions
Dir. Mark Tapio Kines
1999The Cherry OrchardDunyashaMelanda Film Productions
Dir. Michael Cacoyannis
1998Ever AfterJacqueline De Ghent20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Dir. Andy Tennant
1996The FrightenersDeputyUniversal Pictures/WingNut Films
Dir. Peter Jackson
1994Heavenly CreaturesPauline Yvonne Parker RieperNew Zealand Film Commission/WingNut Films
Dir. Peter Jackson

Film Film.

20171 Mile to youCoach Rowan (Lead)Dir. Leif Tilden

Feature Film.

2008Show of HandsJess (Lead)Endurance Film Production Ltd NZ
Dir. Antony McCarten

Short Film.

2004The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe CadwaulderZoe CadwaulderPower Up Films
Dir. Buboo Kakati
1999Measureless to ManNicola CliffQuintillion
Dir. Adam Larkin

Television.

2021MomShannon (Guest)Dir. James Widdoes
2021YellowjacketsShauna Sheridan (Core Cast)Dir. Karyn Kusama
2021Young Sheldon Professor Ericson CBS
Dir. Jaffar Mahmood
2020Mrs. America Rosemary Thomson FX Network
Dir. Anna Boden
2019Easy Beth Sparrow Grass / Netflix
Dir. Joe Swanberg
2018Castle RockMolly Strand (Lead )Dir. Michael Uppendahl
2017American DadGuest Voice OverFox
2017GirlbossRecurringNetflix Series
2017Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years LaterRecurringNetflix Series
2016Animals - Squirrels Part 2Linda (voice)HBO
2016Future WormMegan (voice)Disney
2016Our Ex-WifeSaraBBC
Dir. Pilot Lead
2015The Lion GuardGuest Voice Over
2014Over the Garden Wall Beatrice (voice)Cartoon Network Studios
2014Togetherness Michelle Pierson (Lead)Duplass Brothers Productions/HBO
Dir. Jay and Mark Duplass
2013Chu and BlossomMiss ShoemakerBaked Industries
Dir. Charles Chu and Gavin Kelly
2012House M.DNatalie TavaresHeel & Toe Films
Dir. Various
2012Key & PeeleGuest
2012The Life & Times of TimBeckyGood Humor Television
Dir. Various
2010Memphis BeatAnnaliese JonesSmoke House
Dir. Various
2009It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaKateBluebush Productions
Dir. Various
2008PsychEmily BloomGEP Productions Inc
2008The L Word Clea MasonAnonymous Content
2007Comanche MoonPearl ColemanCBS, USA
Dir. Simon Wincer
2006Drive Series 1Wendy Patrakas20th Century Fox
2003The Shield MarcyFox Television Network
2003Two and a Half Men RoseCBS/USA
Dir. Lee Aronsohn & Chuck Lorre
2002Stephen King's Rose RedRachel WheatonABC, USA
Dir. Craig R. Baxley