Watch Melanie Lynskey Online

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 made a return to acting in 1997 when she starred in Foreign Correspondents, an independent drama set in Los Angeles. She then starred with Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston and Dougray Scott 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 and Steven Soderbergh's The Informant.

Lynskey married New Jersey-born actor Jimmi Simpson - whom she met when they worked together on Rose Red - 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.