Melanie Lynskey
Born: 1977-05-16 in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
Known For: Acting
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. On television, Lynskey played Rose in Two and a Half Men (2003-2015), Shauna in Yellowjackets (2021-2026) and Kathleen in The Last of Us (2023). 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.
Filmography
2026
- Don't Say Good Luck as Elizabeth Birenbaum
2025
- Hollywood Squares as Self
- Pike River as Anna Osborne
- Griffin in Summer as Helen
2024
- After Midnight as Self
- Matlock as Debra Palmer
- Hot Ones Versus as Self
- The Tattooist of Auschwitz as Heather Morris
- The Making of The Tattooist of Auschwitz as Self
2023
- The Last of Us as Kathleen Coghlan
- Poker Face as Regina Gilvary
2022
- The Jennifer Hudson Show
- Candy as Betty Gore
2021
- Yellowjackets as Shauna Sadecki
- Don't Look Up as June Mindy
- Lady of the Manor as Hannah
2020
- Mrs. America as Rosemary Thomson
2019
- The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
2018
- Summer Camp Island as Sun (voice)
- Castle Rock as Molly Strand
- Sadie as Rae
2017
- Young Sheldon as Dora Ericson
- Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later as Laura
- Girlboss as Gail
- XX as Mary (segment "The Birthday Party")
- I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore as Ruth Kimke
- 1 Mile To You as Coach Rowan
- Sunshine as Zara Skelton
- The Changeover as Kate Chant
- And Then I Go as Janice
- Little Boxes as Gina
2016
- Future-Worm! as Megan (voice)
- Easy as Beth
- Our Ex-Wife as Sara
- The Intervention as Annie
- Rainbow Time as Lindsay
- Folk Hero & Funny Guy as Becky
- The Great & The Small as Margaret
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self - Guest
- The Late Late Show with James Corden as Self - Guest
- Togetherness as Michelle Pierson
- Digging for Fire as Squiggy
- Behind Over the Garden Wall as Self
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- Celebrity Name Game as Self
- Over the Garden Wall as Beatrice (voice)
- They Came Together as Brenda
- Happy Christmas as Kelly
- We'll Never Have Paris as Devon
- Goodbye to All That as Annie Wall
- Chu and Blossom as Miss Shoemaker
- The Big Ask as Hannah
2013
- Mom as Shannon
- A Kiwi Legend as Self
2012
- Key & Peele as Fiance
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower as Aunt Helen
- Seeking a Friend for the End of the World as Karen Amalfi
- Hello I Must Be Going as Amy Minsky
- Eye of the Hurricane as Amelia Kyte
- Putzel as Sally
2011
- Win Win as Cindy Timmons
- Touchback as Macy
- Helena from the Wedding: Cast Interviews as Self
2010
- Helena from the Wedding as Alice
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- Up in the Air as Julie Bingham
- The Informant! as Ginger Whitacre
- Leaves of Grass as Colleen
- Away We Go as Munch
2008
- The Life & Times of Tim as Becky (voice)
- Comanche Moon as Pearl Coleman
- A Quiet Little Marriage as Monique
- Show of Hands as Jess
2007
- Drive as Wendy Patrakas
- Itty Bitty Titty Committee as Pat (uncredited)
2006
- Psych as Emily Bloom
- Flags of Our Fathers as Pauline Harnois
- Park as Sheryl
- Say Uncle as Susan
2005
- American Dad! as Sharon (voice)
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Kate
2004
- House as Natalie Tavares
- The L Word as Clea Mason
- The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder as Zoe Cadwaulder
2003
- Two and a Half Men as Rose
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- Shattered Glass as Amy Brand
- Claustrophobia as Lauren
2002
- The Shield as Marcy
- Rose Red as Rachel Wheaton
- Sweet Home Alabama as Lurlynn
- Abandon as Mousy Julie
- Shooters as Marie
2001
- Foreign Correspondents as Melody
- Snakeskin as Alice
2000
- Big Brother as Self - Actress, 'Two & a ½ Men'
- Coyote Ugly as Gloria
- But I'm a Cheerleader as Hilary
1999
- Detroit Rock City as Beth Bumsteen
- The Cherry Orchard as Dunyasha
1998
- EverAfter as Jacqueline de Ghent
1996
- The Frighteners as Deputy
1994
- Heavenly Creatures as Pauline Parker
1988
- This Morning as Self