Melanie Lynskey was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand on the 16th of May, 1977. Whilst at New Plymouth Girls High School, she was picked by Frances Walsh and Peter Jackson to play the lead in Heavenly Creatures. In spite of giving a critically acclaimed performance, Lynskey's film career didn't get off the ground until, three years later, she re-emerged in the 1998 re-telling of the Cinderella story Ever After. Since then, she has managed to build up an impressive body of film work, including But I'm A Cheerleader, Coyote Ugly, Abandon, Sweet Home Alabama and the New Zealand feature Snakeskin. Lynskey is currently living in Los Angeles.