Melanie Lynskey

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 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.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

House

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

American Dad!

Late Night with Seth Meyers

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Two and a Half Men

All Movies (60)

• Don't Say Good Luck2026
• Pike River2025 · as Anna Osborne
• Griffin in Summer2025 · as Helen
• The Making of The Tattooist of Auschwitz2024 · as Self
• Don't Look Up2021 · as June Mindy
• Lady of the Manor2021 · as Hannah
• Sadie2018 · as Rae
• The Changeover2017 · as Kate Chant
• And Then I Go2017 · as Janice
• Little Boxes2017 · as Gina
• 1 Mile To You2017 · as Coach Rowan
• XX2017 · as Mary (segment "The Birthday Party")
• I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore2017 · as Ruth Kimke
• The Intervention2016 · as Annie
• Folk Hero & Funny Guy2016 · as Becky
• The Great & The Small2016 · as Margaret
• Rainbow Time2016 · as Lindsay
• Digging for Fire2015 · as Squiggy
• Behind Over the Garden Wall2015 · as Self
• Goodbye to All That2014 · as Annie Wall
• We'll Never Have Paris2014 · as Devon
• Happy Christmas2014 · as Kelly
• They Came Together2014 · as Brenda
• The Big Ask2014 · as Hannah
• Chu and Blossom2014 · as Miss Shoemaker
• A Kiwi Legend2013 · as Self
• Putzel2012 · as Sally
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower2012 · as Aunt Helen
• Hello I Must Be Going2012 · as Amy
• Seeking a Friend for the End of the World2012 · as Karen Amalfi
• Eye of the Hurricane2012 · as Amelia Kyte
• Touchback2011 · as Macy
• Win Win2011 · as Cindy Timmons
• Helena from the Wedding: Cast Interviews2011 · as Self
• Helena from the Wedding2010 · as Alice
• Up in the Air2009 · as Julie Bingham
• The Informant!2009 · as Ginger Whitacre
• Leaves of Grass2009 · as Colleen
• Away We Go2009 · as Munch
• A Quiet Little Marriage2008 · as Monique
• Show of Hands2008 · as Jess
• Itty Bitty Titty Committee2007 · as Pat (uncredited)
• Flags of Our Fathers2006 · as Pauline Harnois
• Say Uncle2006 · as Susan
• Park2006 · as Sheryl
• The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder2004 · as Zoe Cadwaulder
• Shattered Glass2003 · as Amy Brand
• Claustrophobia2003 · as Lauren
• Abandon2002 · as Mousy Julie
• Sweet Home Alabama2002 · as Lurlynn
• Shooters2002 · as Marie
• Snakeskin2001 · as Alice
• Foreign Correspondents2001 · as Melody
• Coyote Ugly2000 · as Gloria
• But I'm a Cheerleader2000 · as Hilary
• Detroit Rock City1999 · as Beth Bumsteen
• The Cherry Orchard1999 · as Dunyasha
• EverAfter1998 · as Jacqueline de Ghent
• The Frighteners1996 · as Deputy
• Heavenly Creatures1994 · as Pauline Parker

All TV Shows (46)

• Hollywood Squares2025 · as Self
• Matlock2024 · as Debra Palmer
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz2024 · as Heather Morris
• Hot Ones Versus2024 · as Self
• After Midnight2024 · as Self
• Poker Face2023 · as Regina Gilvary
• The Last of Us2023 · as Kathleen Coghlan
• The Jennifer Hudson Show2022
• Candy2022 · as Betty Gore
• Yellowjackets2021 · as Shauna Sadecki
• Mrs. America2020 · as Rosemary Thomson
• The Kelly Clarkson Show2019 · as Self
• Castle Rock2018 · as Molly Strand
• Summer Camp Island2018 · as Sun (voice)
• Sunshine2017 · as Zara Skelton
• Young Sheldon2017 · as Dora Ericson
• Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later2017 · as Laura
• Girlboss2017 · as Gail
• Easy2016 · as Beth
• Our Ex-Wife2016 · as Sara
• Future-Worm!2016 · as Megan (voice)
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Guest
• The Late Late Show with James Corden2015 · as Self - Guest
• Togetherness2015 · as Michelle Pierson
• Variety Studio: Actors on Actors2014 · as Self
• Over the Garden Wall2014 · as Beatrice (voice)
• Celebrity Name Game2014 · as Self
• Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self
• Mom2013 · as Shannon
• Key & Peele2012 · as Fiance
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• The Life & Times of Tim2008 · as Becky (voice)
• Comanche Moon2008 · as Pearl Coleman
• Drive2007 · as Wendy Patrakas
• Psych2006 · as Emily Bloom
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia2005 · as Kate
• American Dad!2005 · as Sharon (voice)
• House2004 · as Natalie Tavares
• The L Word2004 · as Clea Mason
• Two and a Half Men2003 · as Rose
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
• The Shield2002 · as Marcy
• Rose Red2002 · as Rachel Wheaton
• Big Brother2000 · as Self - Actress, 'Two & a ½ Men'
• This Morning1988 · as Self