Melanie Lynskey

 

Melanie Jayne Lynskey ( born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress. She is known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American dialects, she works mostly in independent film. Lynskey has been the recipient of two Critics’ Choice Awards, a HCA Award and a Gracie. She also won a New Zealand Film Award and a Hollywood Film Award.

 Lynskey was a screen actress when she debuted in Heavenly Creatures (1994). She was awarded a New Zealand Film Award for her role as Pauline Parker, a teenage serial killer. She later appeared in various productions in the world, including Ever After (1998), Detroit Rock City, But I'm a cheerleader The Cherry Orchard (all 1999), Coyote Ugly (2000), Snakeskin (2001), Shooters, Abandon, and Sweet Home Alabama (all 2002). After her move to the United States, Lynskey became famous as a character actor and gained recognition for a mix of big-budget and small-scale film productions, including Shattered Glass (2003), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Away We Go, Up in the Air, The Informant!, Leaves of Grass (all 2009), Win Win (2011) Finding the Friend to the final day of the World, The Perks of Being a Wallflower (both 2012) and They Came Together (2014), and Don't look up (2021).

 Lynskey's role as the lead in the film Hello I Must Be Going as a divorced woman who is depressed received the attention of critics in 2012 and was awarded a Gotham Award nomination. This was a turning point in the career of Lynskey. Her subsequent roles included The Big Ask (2013) and Happy Christmas, We’ll Never Have Paris (all 2014), The Intervention (all 2016), Rainbow Time, Little Boxes (2016), I Don’t Feel at the Home of This World Anymore (both 2017), Sadie (2018) and Lady of the Manor (2021) was the first film to establish her position as an influential figure in the American independent film industry.