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Melanie Lynskey

Melanie Lynskey

37 movies on Netflix

Biography

Melanie Lynskey is a New Zealand actress known for playing complicated women in independent films and television. She was 17 when she took the role of Pauline Parker in Heavenly Creatures (1994), which brought her a Best Actress honor from the New Zealand Film Awards. Supporting parts followed 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 and The Informant! (all 2009), Win Win (2011), and Don't Look Up (2021). Hello I Must Be Going (2012) marked a shift to leading roles, among them Happy Christmas (2014), The Intervention (2016) and I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017). On television she appeared in Two and a Half Men, Togetherness, Castle Rock, Mrs. America and Candy, and she plays Shauna on Yellowjackets, a role that won her a 2022 Critics' Choice Award and two Emmy nominations.

49years old

Turns 50 on May 16in 224 days

  • Born New Plymouth
  • Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
  • Also credited as Melanie Jayne Lynskey

Movie Career

Films
37
Career span
32 years1994 to 2026

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • Melanie Lynskey, photo 1 of 3
  • Melanie Lynskey, photo 2 of 3
  • Melanie Lynskey, photo 3 of 3

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  1. Early training

    Lynskey had no formal acting training and said she works only from instinct, arguing with directors when a note conflicts with what she feels in her body.

  2. Languages

    Lynskey learned American accents by staying in Joss Whedon's guest bedroom when she first moved to Los Angeles and watching movie after movie.

  3. Getting ready for a role

    Lynskey tricked director Jason Reitman into casting her in Up in the Air by staying silent during her audition so he would not hear her New Zealand accent; he had previously refused to cast non-American actors in American roles.

  4. Beyond film

    Lynskey played George Aaronow, the role Alan Arkin originated, in a 2013 Live Read of Glengarry Glen Ross that Jason Reitman cast entirely with women.

Melanie Lynskey movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower2012 Drama, Romanceas Aunt Helen

    IMDb rating 7.9606K votes

  2. Heavenly Creatures1994 Biography, Crime, Dramaas Pauline Parker

    IMDb rating 7.270K votes

  3. I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore2017as Ruth Kimke

    IMDb rating 6.968K votes

  4. Up in the Air2009as Julie Bingham

    IMDb rating 7.4363K votes

  5. The Informant!2009as Ginger Whitacre

    IMDb rating 6.570K votes

  6. Ever After: A Cinderella Story1998as Jacqueline

    IMDb rating 7.187K votes

  7. But I'm a Cheerleader1999as Hilary

    IMDb rating 6.953K votes

  8. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World2012as Karen

    IMDb rating 6.7124K votes

Most often with

Andy Tennant directed two of these films, Joe Swanberg two. Four actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Natasha Lyonne, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Natasha LyonneAnna Kendrick, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Anna KendrickTony Hale, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Tony HaleJason Ritter, 3 films togetherSee the 3 films with Jason RitterPaul Rudd, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Paul RuddJustin Long, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Justin LongAndy TennantDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Andy TennantJoe SwanbergDirector, 2 filmsSee the 2 films by Joe Swanberg

Films together

Box office

What Melanie Lynskey's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$763 million

22 of the 37 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 37 films: 22 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 9 figure not found.

  • 22Worldwide figure
  • 4US gross only
  • 2Never in cinemas
  • 9Figure not found

Top grosser

Sweet Home Alabama2002as Lurlynn$181 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 94% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    Sweet Home Alabama2002as Lurlynn
    $181M23.7% of the total
  2. 2
    Up in the Air2009as Julie Bingham
    $167M21.9% of the total
  3. 3
    Coyote Ugly2000as Gloria
    $114M14.9% of the total
  4. 4
    Ever After: A Cinderella Story1998as Jacqueline
    $98M12.9% of the total
  5. 5
    Flags of Our Fathers2006as Pauline Harnois
    $66M8.6% of the total
  6. 6
    The Informant!2009as Ginger Whitacre
    $42M5.5% of the total
  7. 7
    The Perks of Being a Wallflower2012as Aunt Helen
    $33M4.4% of the total
  8. 8
    Away We Go2009as Munch
    $16M2.1% of the total
Abandon (2002), $10.7 millionWin Win (2011), $10.7 millionSeeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012), $9.6 millionDetroit Rock City (1999), $4.2 millionHeavenly Creatures (1994), $3.0 millionShattered Glass (2003), $2.9 millionBut I'm a Cheerleader (1999), $2.6 millionLeaves of Grass (2009), $1.0 millionDon't Look Up (2021), $791,863Hello I Must Be Going (2012), $354,939Touchback (2011), $204,232The Changeover (2017), $112,749XX (2017), $55,668Happy Christmas (2014), $30,312

$46.4 millionfrom the other 14 films with a worldwide figure, 6% of the total

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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