Melanie Lynskey

May 16, 1977 (age 49) New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

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.

Her titles like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Don't Look Up, and Up in the Air - her biggest roles first.
Last updated: August 17, 2026

Watched: 0/63

Weighted avg: 6.64 /10

1

1

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2012September 2012 by Stephen Chbosky

Supporting as Aunt Helen

Supporting as Aunt Helen

7.47 Excellent-
2

2

Don't Look Up

2021December 2021 by Adam McKay

Minor role as June Mindy

Minor role as June Mindy

6.69 Good
3

3

Up in the Air

2009December 2009 by Jason Reitman

Supporting as Julie Bingham

Supporting as Julie Bingham

6.47 Good-
4

4

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore

2017January 2017 by Macon Blair

Lead role as Ruth Kimke

Lead role as Ruth Kimke

6.11 Okay++
5

5

Heavenly Creatures

1994September 1994 by Peter Jackson

Lead role as Pauline Parker

Lead role as Pauline Parker

6.53 Good-
6

6

Over the Garden Wall

2014 by Patrick McHale

Starring as Beatrice (voice)

Starring as Beatrice (voice)

7.98 Excellent+
7

7

Yellowjackets

Airing since 2021 by Ashley Lyle

Lead role as Shauna Sadecki

Lead role as Shauna Sadecki

6.54 Good-
8

8

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

2012June 2012 by Lorene Scafaria

Supporting as Karen Amalfi

Supporting as Karen Amalfi

6.11 Good--
9

9

Coyote Ugly

2000July 2000 by David McNally

Minor role as Gloria

Minor role as Gloria

5.78 Okay+
10

10

EverAfter

1998July 1998 by Andy Tennant

Supporting as Jacqueline de Ghent

Supporting as Jacqueline de Ghent

7.06 Good++
11

11

Flags of Our Fathers

2006October 2006 by Clint Eastwood

Minor role as Pauline Harnois

Minor role as Pauline Harnois

6.42 Good-
12

12

Sweet Home Alabama

2002September 2002 by Andy Tennant

Minor role as Lurlynn

Minor role as Lurlynn

5.96 Okay++
13

13

The Informant!

2009September 2009 by Steven Soderbergh

Supporting as Ginger Whitacre

Supporting as Ginger Whitacre

5.68 Okay+
14

14

But I'm a Cheerleader

2000July 2000 by Jamie Babbit

Supporting as Hilary

Supporting as Hilary

6.65 Good
15

15

Win Win

2011March 2011 by Tom McCarthy

Supporting as Cindy Timmons

Supporting as Cindy Timmons

6.36 Good-
16

16

Shattered Glass

2003November 2003 by Billy Ray

Supporting as Amy Brand

Supporting as Amy Brand

6.52 Good-
17

17

Leaves of Grass

2009September 2009 by Tim Blake Nelson

Supporting as Colleen

Supporting as Colleen

5.56 Okay
18

18

Detroit Rock City

1999August 1999 by Adam Rifkin

Supporting as Beth Bumsteen

Supporting as Beth Bumsteen

6.29 Good--
19

19

Rose Red

2002 by Stephen King

Supporting as Rachel Wheaton

Supporting as Rachel Wheaton

5.79 Okay+
20

20

XX

2017February 2017 by Karyn Kusama

Supporting as Mary (segment "The Birthday Party")

Supporting as Mary (segment "The Birthday Party")

4.62 Mediocre+
21

21

Candy

2022 by Robin Veith

Starring as Betty Gore

Starring as Betty Gore

6.15 Good--
22

22

Away We Go

2009June 2009 by Sam Mendes

Minor role as Munch

Minor role as Munch

6.21 Good--
23

23

Hello I Must Be Going

2012September 2012 by Todd Louiso

Lead role as Amy

Lead role as Amy

5.55 Okay
24

24

Happy Christmas

2014July 2014 by Joe Swanberg

Starring as Kelly

Starring as Kelly

4.85 Mediocre++
25

25

They Came Together

2014June 2014 by David Wain

Minor role as Brenda

Minor role as Brenda

5.07 Okay--
26

26

The Intervention

2016August 2016 by Clea DuVall

Starring as Annie

Starring as Annie

5.50 Okay
27

27

1 Mile To You

2017April 2017 by Leif Tilden

Supporting as Coach Rowan

Supporting as Coach Rowan

6.02 Okay++
28

28

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

2024 by Heather Morris

Supporting as Heather Morris

Supporting as Heather Morris

6.95 Good+
29

29

Togetherness

2015–2016 by Jay Duplass

Starring as Michelle Pierson

Starring as Michelle Pierson

5.83 Okay+
30

30

We'll Never Have Paris

2014October 2014 by Jocelyn Towne

Starring as Devon

Starring as Devon

4.80 Mediocre++
31

31

Abandon

2002October 2002 by Stephen Gaghan

Supporting as Mousy Julie

Supporting as Mousy Julie

4.61 Mediocre+
32

32

Touchback

2011April 2011 by Don Handfield

Starring as Macy

Starring as Macy

6.11 Okay++
33

33

Little Boxes

2017April 2017 by Rob Meyer

Lead role as Gina

Lead role as Gina

5.84 Okay+
34

34

Lady of the Manor

2021September 2021 by Justin Long

Lead role as Hannah

Lead role as Hannah

5.51 Okay
35

35

Mrs. America

2020 by Dahvi Waller

Minor role as Rosemary Thomson

Minor role as Rosemary Thomson

6.34 Good-
36

36

The Changeover

2017September 2017 by Miranda Harcourt

Starring as Kate Chant

Starring as Kate Chant

5.54 Okay
37

37

Digging for Fire

2015August 2015 by Joe Swanberg

Minor role as Squiggy

Minor role as Squiggy

4.99 Mediocre++
38

38

And Then I Go

2017June 2017 by Vincent Grashaw

Starring as Janice

Starring as Janice

5.92 Okay++
39

39

Goodbye to All That

2014December 2014 by Angus MacLachlan

Supporting as Annie Wall

Supporting as Annie Wall

5.14 Okay--
40

40

Comanche Moon

2008

Supporting as Pearl Coleman

Supporting as Pearl Coleman

6.06 Okay++
41

41

The Great & The Small

2016March 2016 by Dusty Bias

Lead role as Margaret

Lead role as Margaret

5.91 Okay++
42

42

Rainbow Time

2016March 2016 by Linas Phillips

Starring as Lindsay

Starring as Lindsay

5.62 Okay
43

43

Drive

2007 by Tim Minear

Supporting as Wendy Patrakas

Supporting as Wendy Patrakas

5.56 Okay
44

44

Sadie

2018October 2018 by Megan Griffiths

Starring as Rae

Starring as Rae

6.10 Okay++
45

45

Park

2006June 2006 by Kurt Voelker

Supporting as Sheryl

Supporting as Sheryl

5.42 Okay-
46

46

Pike River

2025October 2025 by Robert Sarkies

Lead role as Anna Osborne

Lead role as Anna Osborne

Needs more reviews
47

47

Snakeskin

2001October 2001 by Gillian Ashurst

Lead role as Alice

Lead role as Alice

Needs more reviews
48

48

Don't Say Good Luck

2026August 2026 by Julia Hart

Starring as Elizabeth Birenbaum

Starring as Elizabeth Birenbaum

Needs more reviews
49

49

Say Uncle

2006June 2006 by Peter Paige

Supporting as Susan

Supporting as Susan

5.68 Okay+
50

50

Folk Hero & Funny Guy

2016April 2016 by Jeff Grace

Supporting as Becky

Supporting as Becky

5.68 Okay+
51

51

Shooters

2002January 2002 by Colin Teague

Minor role as Marie

Minor role as Marie

5.67 Okay+
52

52

The Big Ask

2014May 2014 by Thomas Beatty

Supporting as Hannah

Supporting as Hannah

5.73 Okay+
53

53

The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder

2004April 2004 by Buboo Kakati

Lead role as Zoe Cadwaulder

Lead role as Zoe Cadwaulder

Needs more reviews
54

54

Griffin in Summer

2025August 2025 by Nicholas Colia

Supporting as Helen

Supporting as Helen

6.10 Okay++
55

55

Claustrophobia

2003June 2003 by Mark Tapio Kines

Lead role as Lauren

Lead role as Lauren

Needs more reviews
56

56

Eye of the Hurricane

2012March 2012 by Jesse Wolfe

Lead role as Amelia Kyte

Lead role as Amelia Kyte

Needs more reviews
57

57

Show of Hands

2008October 2008 by Anthony McCarten

Lead role as Jess

Lead role as Jess

Needs more reviews
58

58

Helena from the Wedding

2010November 2010 by Joseph Infantolino

Supporting as Alice

Supporting as Alice

Needs more reviews
59

59

Our Ex-Wife

2016

Starring as Sara

Starring as Sara

Needs more reviews
60

60

A Quiet Little Marriage

2008October 2008 by Mo Perkins

Supporting as Monique

Supporting as Monique

Needs more reviews
61

61

The Cherry Orchard

1999January 1999 by Mihalis Kakogiannis

Minor role as Dunyasha

Minor role as Dunyasha

Needs more reviews
62

62

Sunshine

2017 by Matt Cameron

Starring as Zara Skelton

Starring as Zara Skelton

Needs more reviews
63

63

Future-Worm!

2016–2018 by Ryan Quincy

Supporting as Megan (voice)

Supporting as Megan (voice)

Needs more reviews