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 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.

Personal Facts

Known For

Acting

Gender

female

Known Credits

91

Birth Date

1977-05-16 00:00:00

Birth Place

New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

Known For

• 

  Yellowjackets
• 

  Over the Garden Wall
• 

  Candy
• 

  Heavenly Creatures
• 

  Pike River
• 

  Lady of the Manor

Credits

• actors (91 credits)

  • Don't Say Good Luck

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Pike River

    Anna Osborne

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • Griffin in Summer

    Helen

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • The Making of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Matlock

    - Day One (2026) ... Debra Palmer actor actors

    - Piece of My Heart (2025) ... Debra Palmer actor actors
    2024
  • Hot Ones Versus

    - Christina Ricci vs. Melanie Lynskey (2025) ... Self actor actors
    2024
  • Poker Face

    - The Sleazy Georgian (2025) ... Regina Gilvary actor actors
    2023
  • The Last of Us

    - Endure and Survive (2023) ... Kathleen Coghlan actor actors

    - Please Hold to My Hand (2023) ... Kathleen Coghlan actor actors
    2023
  • Candy

    Betty Gore

    actor

    actors

    - The Fight (2022) ... Betty Gore actor actors

    - Cover Girl (2022) ... Betty Gore actor actors

    - Overkill (2022) ... Betty Gore actor actors

    - Happy Wife, Happy Life (2022) ... Betty Gore actor actors

    - Friday the 13th (2022) ... Betty Gore actor actors
    2022
  • The Jennifer Hudson Show

    - Melanie Lynskey, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham (2023) ... actor actors
    2022
  • Don't Look Up

    June Mindy

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Yellowjackets

    Shauna Sadecki

    actor

    actors

    - Full Circle (2025) ... Shauna Sadecki actor actors

    - How the Story Ends (2025) ... Shauna Sadecki actor actors

    - A Normal, Boring Life (2025) ... Shauna Sadecki actor actors

    - Croak (2025) ... Shauna Sadecki actor actors

    - Thanksgiving (Canada) (2025) ... Shauna Sadecki actor actors
    2021
  • Lady of the Manor

    Hannah

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • The Kelly Clarkson Show

    - Whoopi Goldberg, Melanie Lynskey, Jen Psaki (2024) ... Self actor actors
    2019
  • Sadie

    Rae

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Castle Rock

    - Romans (2018) ... Molly Strand actor actors

    - Henry Deaver (2018) ... Molly Strand actor actors

    - Past Perfect (2018) ... Molly Strand actor actors

    - The Queen (2018) ... Molly Strand actor actors

    - Filter (2018) ... Molly Strand actor actors
    2018
  • Summer Camp Island

    - See Bees? Gee! Bees! (2023) ... Sun (voice) actor actors

    - Ice Cream Headache (2018) ... Sun (voice) actor actors

    - Moon Problems (2018) ... Sun (voice) actor actors

    - The First Day (2018) ... Sun (voice) actor actors
    2018
  • The Changeover

    Kate Chant

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • And Then I Go

    Janice

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • Little Boxes

    Gina

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • 1 Mile To You

    Coach Rowan

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • XX

    Mary (segment "The Birthday Party")

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore

    Ruth Kimke

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • Young Sheldon

    - An Existential Crisis and a Bear That Makes Bubbles (2021) ... Dora Ericson actor actors

    - A Philosophy Class and Worms That Can Chase You (2021) ... Dora Ericson actor actors
    2017
  • The Intervention

    Annie

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Folk Hero & Funny Guy

    Becky

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • The Great & The Small

    Margaret

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Rainbow Time

    Lindsay

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Easy

    - Blank Pages (2019) ... Beth actor actors
    2016
  • Digging for Fire

    Squiggy

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • Behind Over the Garden Wall

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

    - Elton John, Melanie Lynskey, Leon Thomas (2025) ... Self - Guest actor actors
    2015
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden

    - Bob Odenkirk, Melanie Lynskey, Tori Kelly (2023) ... Self - Guest actor actors
    2015
  • Goodbye to All That

    Annie Wall

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • Over the Garden Wall

    Beatrice (voice)

    actor

    actors

    - The Unknown (2014) ... Beatrice (voice) actor actors

    - Into the Unknown (2014) ... Beatrice (voice) actor actors

    - Babes in the Wood (2014) ... Beatrice (voice) actor actors

    - The Ringing of the Bell (2014) ... Beatrice (voice) actor actors

    - Lullaby in Frogland (2014) ... Beatrice (voice) actor actors
    2014
  • We'll Never Have Paris

    Devon

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • Happy Christmas

    Kelly

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • They Came Together

    Brenda

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • The Big Ask

    Hannah

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • Chu and Blossom

    Miss Shoemaker

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

    - Pedro Pascal, Steven Yeun, Claire Danes and more (2023) ... Self actor actors
    2014
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

    - Anne Hathaway, Melanie Lynskey, Lang Lang (2024) ... Self actor actors

    - Keanu Reeves; Melanie Lynskey; De La Soul & The Roots (2023) ... Self actor actors
    2014
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers

    - Laura Linney, Melanie Lynskey, Geoffrey Zakarian (2022) ... Self actor actors
    2014
  • A Kiwi Legend

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2013
  • Mom

    - My Kinda People and the Big To-Do (2021) ... Shannon actor actors
    2013
  • Putzel

    Sally

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower

    Aunt Helen

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Hello I Must Be Going

    Amy

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

    Karen Amalfi

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Eye of the Hurricane

    Amelia Kyte

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Key & Peele

    - The Job Interview (2015) ... Fiance actor actors
    2012
  • Touchback

    Macy

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Win Win

    Cindy Timmons

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Helena from the Wedding: Cast Interviews

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Helena from the Wedding

    Alice

    actor

    actors
    2010
  • Up in the Air

    Julie Bingham

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • The Informant!

    Ginger Whitacre

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Leaves of Grass

    Colleen

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Away We Go

    Munch

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

    - Melanie Lynskey and Matthew Rhys (2023) ... Self - Guest actor actors
    2009
  • A Quiet Little Marriage

    Monique

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Show of Hands

    Jess

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Itty Bitty Titty Committee

    Pat (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Flags of Our Fathers

    Pauline Harnois

    actor

    actors
    2006
  • Say Uncle

    Susan

    actor

    actors
    2006
  • Park

    Sheryl

    actor

    actors
    2006
  • Psych

    - Black and Tan: A Crime of Fashion (2008) ... Emily Bloom actor actors
    2006
  • American Dad!

    - Whole Slotta Love (2017) ... Sharon (voice) actor actors
    2005
  • It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

    - The Gang Exploits the Mortgage Crisis (2009) ... Kate actor actors
    2005
  • The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder

    Zoe Cadwaulder

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • House

    - Better Half (2012) ... Natalie Tavares actor actors
    2004
  • The L Word

    - Loyal and True (2008) ... Clea Mason actor actors

    - Lunar Cycle (2008) ... Clea Mason actor actors
    2004
  • Shattered Glass

    Amy Brand

    actor

    actors
    2003
  • Claustrophobia

    Lauren

    actor

    actors
    2003
  • Two and a Half Men

    - Does This Smell Funny to You? (2005) ... Rose actor actors

    - Squab, Squab, Squab, Squab, Squab (2005) ... Rose actor actors

    - That Old Hose Bag Is My Mother (2005) ... Rose actor actors

    - A Sympathetic Crotch to Cry On (2005) ... Rose actor actors

    - I Always Wanted a Shaved Monkey (2005) ... Rose actor actors
    2003
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    - Jean Smart, Melanie Lynskey, Musical Guest Lola Young (2025) ... Self actor actors
    2003
  • Abandon

    Mousy Julie

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • Sweet Home Alabama

    Lurlynn

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • Rose Red

    Rachel Wheaton

    actor

    actors

    - Part 3 (2002) ... Rachel Wheaton actor actors

    - Part 2 (2002) ... Rachel Wheaton actor actors

    - Part 1 (2002) ... Rachel Wheaton actor actors
    2002
  • Shooters

    Marie

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • The Shield

    - Barnstormers (2003) ... Marcy actor actors

    - Partners (2003) ... Marcy actor actors
    2002
  • Snakeskin

    Alice

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Foreign Correspondents

    Melody

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Coyote Ugly

    Gloria

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • But I'm a Cheerleader

    Hilary

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • Big Brother

    - 11th Nominations (2005) ... Self - Actress, 'Two & a ½ Men' actor actors
    2000
  • Detroit Rock City

    Beth Bumsteen

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • The Cherry Orchard

    Dunyasha

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • EverAfter

    Jacqueline de Ghent

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • The Frighteners

    Deputy

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Heavenly Creatures

    Pauline Parker

    actor

    actors
    1994