Acting · New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand · Born May 16, 1977
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.
Don't Say Good Luck
2026
MoviePike River
2025
as Anna Osborne
MovieGriffin in Summer
2025
as Helen
TVHollywood Squares
2025
as Self
TVMatlock
2024
as Debra Palmer
The Making of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
2024
as Self
TVThe Tattooist of Auschwitz
2024
as Heather Morris
TVHot Ones Versus
2024
as Self
TVAfter Midnight
2024
as Self
TVPoker Face
2023
as Regina Gilvary
TVThe Last of Us
2023
as Kathleen Coghlan
TVThe Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
TVCandy
2022
as Betty Gore
MovieDon't Look Up
2021
as June Mindy
TVYellowjackets
2021
as Shauna Sadecki
MovieLady of the Manor
2021
as Hannah
TVMrs. America
2020
as Rosemary Thomson
TVThe Kelly Clarkson Show
2019
as Self
MovieSadie
2018
as Rae
TVCastle Rock
2018
as Molly Strand
TVSummer Camp Island
2018
as Sun (voice)
TVSunshine
2017
as Zara Skelton
MovieThe Changeover
2017
as Kate Chant
TVYoung Sheldon
2017
as Dora Ericson
TVWet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
2017
as Laura
MovieAnd Then I Go
2017
as Janice
TVGirlboss
2017
as Gail
MovieLittle Boxes
2017
as Gina
Movie1 Mile To You
2017
as Coach Rowan
MovieXX
2017
as Mary (segment "The Birthday Party")
MovieI Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore
2017
as Ruth Kimke
TVEasy
2016
as Beth
TVOur Ex-Wife
2016
as Sara
MovieThe Intervention
2016
as Annie
MovieFolk Hero & Funny Guy
2016
as Becky
MovieThe Great & The Small
2016
as Margaret
MovieRainbow Time
2016
as Lindsay
TVFuture-Worm!
2016
as Megan (voice)
TVThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self - Guest
MovieDigging for Fire
2015
as Squiggy
MovieBehind Over the Garden Wall
2015
as Self
TVThe Late Late Show with James Corden
2015
as Self - Guest
TVTogetherness
2015
as Michelle Pierson
TVVariety Studio: Actors on Actors
2014
as Self
MovieGoodbye to All That
2014
as Annie Wall
TVOver the Garden Wall
2014
as Beatrice (voice)
MovieWe'll Never Have Paris
2014
as Devon
TVCelebrity Name Game
2014
as Self
MovieHappy Christmas
2014
as Kelly
MovieThey Came Together
2014
as Brenda
MovieThe Big Ask
2014
as Hannah
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self
MovieChu and Blossom
2014
as Miss Shoemaker
TVMom
2013
as Shannon
MovieA Kiwi Legend
2013
as Self
Putzel
2012
as Sally
MovieThe Perks of Being a Wallflower
2012
as Aunt Helen
MovieHello I Must Be Going
2012
as Amy
MovieSeeking a Friend for the End of the World
2012
as Karen Amalfi
MovieEye of the Hurricane
2012
as Amelia Kyte
TVKey & Peele
2012
as Fiance
MovieTouchback
2011
as Macy
MovieWin Win
2011
as Cindy Timmons
MovieHelena from the Wedding: Cast Interviews
2011
as Self
MovieHelena from the Wedding
2010
as Alice
MovieUp in the Air
2009
as Julie Bingham
MovieThe Informant!
2009
as Ginger Whitacre
MovieLeaves of Grass
2009
as Colleen
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
MovieAway We Go
2009
as Munch
MovieA Quiet Little Marriage
2008
as Monique
MovieShow of Hands
2008
as Jess
TVThe Life & Times of Tim
2008
as Becky (voice)
TVComanche Moon
2008
as Pearl Coleman
MovieItty Bitty Titty Committee
2007
as Pat (uncredited)
TVDrive
2007
as Wendy Patrakas
MovieFlags of Our Fathers
2006
as Pauline Harnois
TVPsych
2006
as Emily Bloom
MovieSay Uncle
2006
as Susan
MoviePark
2006
as Sheryl
TVIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2005
as Kate
TVAmerican Dad!
2005
as Sharon (voice)
TVHouse
2004
as Natalie Tavares
MovieThe Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder
2004
as Zoe Cadwaulder
TVThe L Word
2004
as Clea Mason
MovieShattered Glass
2003
as Amy Brand
TVTwo and a Half Men
2003
as Rose
MovieClaustrophobia
2003
as Lauren
TVJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
MovieAbandon
2002
as Mousy Julie
MovieSweet Home Alabama
2002
as Lurlynn
TVThe Shield
2002
as Marcy
TVRose Red
2002
as Rachel Wheaton
MovieShooters
2002
as Marie
MovieSnakeskin
2001
as Alice
MovieForeign Correspondents
2001
as Melody
MovieCoyote Ugly
2000
as Gloria
MovieBut I'm a Cheerleader
2000
as Hilary
TVBig Brother
2000
as Self - Actress, 'Two & a ½ Men'
MovieDetroit Rock City
1999
as Beth Bumsteen
MovieThe Cherry Orchard
1999
as Dunyasha
MovieEverAfter
1998
as Jacqueline de Ghent
MovieThe Frighteners
1996
as Deputy
MovieHeavenly Creatures
1994
as Pauline Parker
TVThis Morning
1988
as Self
