Movies

Melanie Jayne Lynskey (/ˈlɪnski/ LIN-ski; born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American dialects, Lynskey works predominantly in independent films and television. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Critics' Choice Awards and nominations for three Primetime Emmys.

Lynskey made her screen debut at age 16 in Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures (1994), earning critical acclaim for her portrayal of murderer Pauline Parker. She later had supporting roles in Ever After (1998), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), and Coyote Ugly (2000). After moving to the United States, Lynskey became known as a character actress through parts in films such as 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 as a depressed divorcee in Hello I Must Be Going (2012) proved to be a turning point in Lynskey's career, with subsequent lead roles in Happy Christmas (2014), The Intervention (2016), and I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017) establishing her as a prominent figure in independent cinema.

Outside film, Lynskey portrayed Rose on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men (2003–2015). She also starred on HBO's Togetherness (2015–2016) and Hulu's Castle Rock (2018), and appeared in the miniseries Mrs. America (2020) and Candy (2022). She has played Shauna on Showtime's Yellowjackets since 2021, winning the 2022 Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series and being nominated twice for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress (2022, 2024). Lynskey is married to actor Jason Ritter, with whom she has a daughter.

Early life
Lynskey was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, to Kay Lynskey, a real estate agent, and Tim Lynskey, an orthopedic surgeon. She is the eldest of five children, and has three brothers and one sister. Her surname is Irish.

During her childhood, Lynskey's family moved to England for one year before returning to New Zealand. She attended New Plymouth Girls' High School, where she was involved in the drama department and school plays. After high school, Lynskey studied at Victoria University of Wellington.