Melanie Lynskey

Melanie Lynskey, a New Zealand-born actress, has built an impressive career with her distinctive talent and versatility across both film and television. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including three Critics' Choice Awards and three Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

Lynskey gained international recognition for her debut role in Peter Jackson's 1994 film "Heavenly Creatures." Portraying Pauline Parker, one half of a teenage duo involved in a notorious murder case, Lynskey's performance was both captivating and haunting, earning her critical acclaim.

After moving to the United States, Lynskey largely became known as a character actress, with parts in movies such as "Sweet Home Alabama," "Flags of Our Fathers," "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and "Don't Look Up," among others. Her starring role as a depressed divorcee in "Hello I Must Be Going" proved to be a turning point in her career, with subsequent lead roles in "Happy Christmas," "The Intervention" and "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore."

On television, Lynskey appeared on the CBS sitcom "Two and a Half Men," HBO's "Togetherness" and Hulu's "Castle Rock" as well as the miniseries "Mrs. America" and "Candy." Since 2021, Lynskey has garnered widespread praise for her role in Showtime's "Yellowjackets," earning the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress and two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress, as well as "The Gilded Age" and "The Last of Us," for which she received another Emmy nomination, for Guest Actress.