
Melanie Lynskey
Biography
Melanie 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.…
Filmography

House
2004 · 8.6

Over the Garden Wall
2014 · 8.6

The Last of Us
2023 · 8.4

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2005 · 8.3

The Shield
2002 · 8.2

Young Sheldon
2017 · 8.0

The Tattooist of Auschwitz
2024 · 8.0

Sunshine
2017 · 8.0

Psych
2006 · 7.9

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
2012 · 7.8

Key & Peele
2012 · 7.7

Summer Camp Island
2018 · 7.7

The L Word
2004 · 7.7

EverAfter
1998 · 7.5

Poker Face
2023 · 7.5

Two and a Half Men
2003 · 7.4

Yellowjackets
2021 · 7.4

Mrs. America
2020 · 7.4

Don't Say Good Luck
2026 · 7.3

Mom
2013 · 7.3

The Life & Times of Tim
2008 · 7.3

Castle Rock
2018 · 7.2

Candy
2022 · 7.1

But I'm a Cheerleader
2000 · 7.1

Comanche Moon
2008 · 7.1

Don't Look Up
2021 · 7.1

American Dad!
2005 · 7.0

Griffin in Summer
2025 · 7.0

Foreign Correspondents
2001 · 7.0

The Frighteners
1996 · 7.0

Shattered Glass
2003 · 7.0

Matlock
2024 · 6.9

Up in the Air
2009 · 6.9

Flags of Our Fathers
2006 · 6.9

Heavenly Creatures
1994 · 6.9

Win Win
2011 · 6.8

Togetherness
2015 · 6.8

Rose Red
2002 · 6.8

Detroit Rock City
1999 · 6.8

Our Ex-Wife
2016 · 6.8

Eye of the Hurricane
2012 · 6.8

Sadie
2018 · 6.8

Show of Hands
2008 · 6.7

Away We Go
2009 · 6.7

Touchback
2011 · 6.6

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
2012 · 6.6

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore
2017 · 6.6

Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
2017 · 6.5

Girlboss
2017 · 6.5

1 Mile To You
2017 · 6.5

Sweet Home Alabama
2002 · 6.4

Pike River
2025 · 6.4

And Then I Go
2017 · 6.3

Coyote Ugly
2000 · 6.3

Future-Worm!
2016 · 6.2

Drive
2007 · 6.2

Little Boxes
2017 · 6.2

The Informant!
2009 · 6.2

Easy
2016 · 6.0

Leaves of Grass
2009 · 6.0

Hello I Must Be Going
2012 · 5.9

The Great & The Small
2016 · 5.9

The Intervention
2016 · 5.8

The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022 · 5.6

Lady of the Manor
2021 · 5.6

The Changeover
2017 · 5.6

They Came Together
2014 · 5.6

Itty Bitty Titty Committee
2007 · 5.5

Snakeskin
2001 · 5.4

Rainbow Time
2016 · 5.3

Say Uncle
2006 · 5.3

Digging for Fire
2015 · 5.2

Shooters
2002 · 5.2

Folk Hero & Funny Guy
2016 · 5.2

Happy Christmas
2014 · 5.1

A Quiet Little Marriage
2008 · 5.1

Park
2006 · 5.0

XX
2017 · 5.0

Goodbye to All That
2014 · 5.0

The Cherry Orchard
1999 · 5.0

The Big Ask
2014 · 5.0

Abandon
2002 · 4.8

We'll Never Have Paris
2014 · 4.8

Helena from the Wedding
2010 · 4.1

Chu and Blossom
2014 · 4.0

The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder
2004 · 4.0

Claustrophobia
2003 · 3.8
Putzel
2012 · 1.0
Mushroom Murders
— · 0.0