Melanie Lynskey
Melanie Lynskey | |
|---|---|
 Lynskey on the set of Claustrophobia (2003) | |
| Born | Melanie Jayne Lynskey |
| Spouse | Jimmi Simpson (2007 - Present) |
| Awards | New Zealand Film Award for Best Actress 1995 Heavenly Creatures |
Melanie Jayne Lynskey (born May 16 1977) is a New Zealand actress known for starring in Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures and for playing Rose on Two and a Half Men.
Biography
Career
In 1992, at 15, Lynskey was cast alongside Kate Winslet in Heavenly Creatures, despite never having acted professionally. Directed by Peter Jackson, the film - based on the notorious Parker-Hulme murder case - received worldwide acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Despite a long hiatus (during which she appeared briefly in The Frighteners), Lynskey returned to acting in 1997 when she starred in Foreign Correspondents. She then co-starred with Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston in Ever After, which led to a string of parts in such films as Detroit Rock City, But I'm a Cheerleader, The Cherry Orchard, Shooters and Coyote Ugly.
After headlining Snakeskin, Lynskey appeared in Stephen King's Rose Red, then supported Katie Holmes in Abandon and Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama. She later joined Hayden Christensen in the Golden Globe-nominated Shattered Glass, guested on The Shield and began stalking Charlie Sheen on the Emmy Award-winning Two and a Half Men.
Recent projects have included Clint Eastwood's Oscar-nominated Flags of Our Fathers, CineVegas prizewinner Park, mini-series Comanche Moon and guest spots on Psych and The L Word. She'll next appear in Show of Hands, Steven Soderbergh's The Informant and Sam Mendes' This Must Be the Place.
Personal life
Lynskey was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand. She married New Jersey-born actor Jimmi Simpson on April 14 2007, in Queenstown, New Zealand. They live in Los Angeles.
Lynskey is a vegetarian. She has four siblings: three younger brothers and a younger sister.
One of her best friends is Emily Deschanel.
Credits
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Note(s) |
| 2009 | This Must Be the Place | Post-production | |
| The Informant | Ginger Whitacre | Post-production | |
| 2008 | A Quiet Little Marriage | Monique | |
| Show of Hands | Jess | ||
| 2007 | Itty Bitty Titty Committee | Plastic Surgery Lady | |
| 2006 | Flags of Our Fathers | Pauline Harnois | |
| Park | Sheryl | ||
| 2005 | Say Uncle | Susan | |
| 2004 | The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder | Zoe Cadwaulder | Short |
| 2003 | Shattered Glass | Amy Brand | |
| Claustrophobia | Lauren | ||
| 2002 | Abandon | Mousy Julie | as Melanie Jayne Lynskey |
| Sweet Home Alabama | Lurlynn | ||
| Shooters | Marie | ||
| 2001 | Snakeskin | Alice | |
| 2000 | Coyote Ugly | Gloria | |
| 1999 | The Cherry Orchard | Dunyasha | |
| But I'm a Cheerleader | Hilary Vandermuller | ||
| Detroit Rock City | Beth Bumsteen | ||
| Foreign Correspondents | Melody | ||
| Measureless to Man | Short | ||
| 1998 | Ever After | Jacqueline De Ghent | |
| 1996 | The Frighteners | Deputy | |
| 1994 | Heavenly Creatures | Pauline Parker |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Note(s) |
| 2008 | The L Word | Clea Mason | Ep. 5.11 & 5.12 |
| Psych | Emily Bloom | Ep. 2.15 | |
| Comanche Moon | Pearl Coleman | Mini-series | |
| 2007 | Drive | Wendy Patrakas | |
| 2003 | Two and a Half Men | Rose | 2003-present |
| The Shield | Marcy | Ep. 2.3 & 2.7 | |
| 2002 | Rose Red | Rachel 'Sister' Wheaton | Mini-series |