Melanie Lynskey | 'Yellowjackets'

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert: Melanie Lynskey on 'Yellowjackets'

Release Date: February 17, 2025

In a captivating episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert welcomes acclaimed actress Melanie Lynskey, renowned for her roles in "Heavenly Creatures", "Mrs. America", and the hit series "Yellowjackets". The conversation delves deep into Lynskey's personal journey, her illustrious career, and her experiences working alongside her husband, actor Jason Ritter.

Early Life and Beginnings in New Zealand

Melanie Lynskey opens up about her upbringing in New Plymouth, a small town on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Reflecting on her provincial childhood, she shares nostalgic memories of growing up in a safe and tightly-knit community.

"I was walking to school. My best friend had a job at seven, locking the gates of the park at nightfall. It was so safe, and the kids could just go play." (03:01)

However, Lynskey recounts a poignant moment when her mother's advice about stranger danger became startlingly real:

"The next day a car pulled up alongside me. This woman said she was a friend of my mother's, and I just walked as quick as I could, almost in tears." (04:20)

This incident underscored the shift from her carefree childhood to a more cautious adolescence, highlighting the complexities of growing up.

Breakthrough with "Heavenly Creatures"

Celebrating 30 years since her film debut, Lynskey fondly reminisces about working with legendary director Peter Jackson on "Heavenly Creatures". She describes Jackson as:

"Kind of like a sweet, kind film nerd dad. He was so caring, so loving." (05:08)

The actress shares endearing anecdotes from the set, including road trips and shared moments that solidified her positive memories of early Hollywood:

"We took a road trip up the South Island and then took a ferry to the North Island just to spend time together. We watched 'The Bodyguard' on the ferry, and he fell asleep." (05:18)

Navigating the New Zealand Film Community

Lynskey discusses the interconnected nature of the New Zealand film industry, mentioning notable talents like Taika Waititi and the members of Flight of the Conchords. She expresses awe at their collective success:

"It's mind-blowing. People you've known since they were teenagers achieving so much." (06:24)

This camaraderie underscores the supportive environment that fosters creativity and collaboration among New Zealand actors and filmmakers.

Personal Life and Collaborations with Jason Ritter

Transitioning to her personal life, Melanie delves into her relationship with husband Jason Ritter, praising his kindness and collaborative spirit:

"He's such a kind person. I'm just like, I can't wait to hear how much you love him." (08:12)

Their professional collaborations, including Jason's cameo in "The Last of Us" and his role in "Matlock", are highlighted as seamless and joyous experiences:

"I love working with him. Kathy Bates has been my north star since I began acting. I'd love to be on 'Matlock' with him." (08:33)

Insights into 'Yellowjackets' and Character Development

A significant portion of the discussion centers around "Yellowjackets", with Lynskey anticipating the launch of its third season. She humorously intertwines the show's intense themes with personal reflections:

"The next season launches on Valentine's Day. So romantic." (09:42)

Addressing her character Shauna's expressions of rage, Lynskey reveals a personal connection through her experience with misophonia—a heightened sensitivity to certain sounds that triggers her fight-or-flight response:

"Misophonia is like a sensitivity to certain sounds. Chewing sounds, for instance, put me in a rage." (10:05)

This vulnerability provides depth to her portrayal, allowing Lynskey to infuse authenticity into her character's emotional turbulence.

Conclusion

Stephen Colbert and Melanie Lynskey engage in a heartfelt and insightful conversation that not only celebrates Lynskey's impressive body of work but also offers listeners an intimate glimpse into her life and creative processes. From her roots in New Zealand to her dynamic roles in television and film, Lynskey's journey is both inspiring and relatable.

As the episode wraps up, Lynskey emphasizes her excitement for the upcoming season of "Yellowjackets", leaving fans eager for more intense and captivating storytelling:

"Season three of 'Yellowjackets' premieres on February 14th on Paramount, plus with Showtime." (10:45)

Listeners are encouraged to tune in to the latest season, promising a blend of romance and suspense that only "Yellowjackets" can deliver.

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Notable Quotes:

• "I was walking to school. My best friend had a job at seven, locking the gates of the park at nightfall. It was so safe, and the kids could just go play." — Melanie Lynskey (03:01)

• "Kind of like a sweet, kind film nerd dad. He was so caring, so loving." — Melanie Lynskey on Peter Jackson (05:08)

• "Misophonia is like a sensitivity to certain sounds. Chewing sounds, for instance, put me in a rage." — Melanie Lynskey (10:05)

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This episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert offers a rich and engaging exploration of Melanie Lynskey's life and career, making it a must-listen for fans and newcomers alike.

Transcript

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[Melanie Lynskey]

Sound good?

[Angel Reese]

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[Melanie Lynskey]

I participate in restaurants for a limited.

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[Stephen Colbert]

It's the Late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

Folks. My next guest tonight is an actor. You know from heavenly creatures, Mrs. America, and the Last of Us. She returns to star in the third season of Yellowjackets.

[Shauna Sdecki]

If I died tomorrow, what would people say at my funeral?

[Taissa Turner]

We'd lie and say nice things.

[Shauna Sdecki]

I mean, normal people. Here lies Shauna Sdecki. Besides, whatever the hell she did out there, she was the worst wife and mother on the planet.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, come on.

[Shauna Sdecki]

She's survived by a messed up daughter and a husband who blossomed after her death.

[Stephen Colbert]

Here lies Taissa Turner, the first state senator to impeach herself before taking office.

[Taissa Turner]

Knock it off, both of you. Just, no one's dying tomorrow. So I feel like we still have time to workshop our eulogies before we all reconvene in hell.

[Stephen Colbert]

Please. Welcome to the Late Show. Melanie Lynskey.

Hi.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Hello.

[Stephen Colbert]

So nice to have you on.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Oh, my goodness. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited and I'm very nervous.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, there's no need. There's no need. There's need. I love Kiwis. I love your home country of New Zealand.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Me too.

[Stephen Colbert]

Born and raised there.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

You okay, so in Auckland, Wellington, little town.

[Melanie Lynskey]

I grew up in New Plymouth, which is on the west coast of the North Island. It's quite provincial.

[Stephen Colbert]

So small little town.

[Melanie Lynskey]

It's a small Town, was it.

[Stephen Colbert]

I just. I love it. It seems like while it's got all the technology of the modern world you want, it seems like a throwback as a country. It seems like still very, like, very pioneer y. People look out for each other. Is it as idyllic of a childhood as I would imagine?

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yeah. I mean, I'm raising my daughter in Los Angeles, which is so different. You know, sometimes I think about that. I'm like, oh, my gosh. I was walking to school. My best friend growing up had a job when she was 7, which was locking the gates of the park at nightfall. Like, it was so sad. You know, we just were never worried about anything. It was just, like, so safe. And we were always so the kids could just go play, but just go play. When I was like, eight, my mother did give me, like, the stranger danger talk, which kind of came out. She was just like, you know, be careful, because strangers try to pick up children and you have to not ever get in the car with someone if you don't know them. So I was like, okay, got it, Got it. You know, it was the first time I'd heard about, like, potential dangers. And I took it very. I was a serious child.

[Stephen Colbert]

People come along and say, yeah, it's okay.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yeah. And she was, even if they say they know your parents? I was like, oh, my gosh. It was a responsible thing for her to be telling me. And then the next day, I was walking home from school and this car pulled up alongside me, and I was so scared. I was like, oh, my God, it's happening. It's happening the very next day. And this lady rolled down the window, and she was like, melanie, I'm a friend of your mother's. And I was just like, oh, my God. And I. I said, no, thank you. No, thank you. And I was just walking as quick as I could, and I walked all the way home with this car tailing me. Just almost in tears.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes.

[Melanie Lynskey]

And got inside and no one was home. And then my mother said, I sent my friend Victoria to pick you up from school. And you were so bruised. You ignored Victoria. Poor Victoria. And I'd never met this lady before.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

So mixed messages.

[Melanie Lynskey]

It was mixed messages. Was confusing. I thought she was dangerous, but she wasn't.

[Stephen Colbert]

Last year marked 30 years since your film debut.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

In Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures.

[Shauna Sdecki]

Aw.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, there you are with the Michel Winston right there. Cause 30. What was. I know Peter a little bit. What was he like to work with back then?

[Melanie Lynskey]

Oh, my gosh. He was so Fun. He was like. He was like kind of like a sweet, kind film nerd dad energy for us. Like, he was so caring, so loving.

[Stephen Colbert]

Here he is. Here's baby Peter Jackson.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Baby Peter Jackson. Here's baby Peter Jackson. Oh, my gosh.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like that.

[Melanie Lynskey]

So, like, just. I just have the happiest memories.

[Stephen Colbert]

And how old are you guys here?

[Melanie Lynskey]

I'm 15 and Kate's 17. Like, we were so little and he really tried to make it special. Like, we. We wrapped filming and we took a road trip, Kate and Peter and I, just, the three of us, and drove up the south island and then took a ferry across to the north island just so we could have that time together and do something special. And it just was like taking a trip with your. Like, we watched the Bodyguard on the ferry. He was like, what the hell is this? And then he fell asleep.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's the New Zealand film community like? Do you guys all know each other?

[Melanie Lynskey]

I don't think everyone knows each other. I went to university with a lot of people who ended up having very interesting careers, like Brett and Jermaine from Flight of the Conchords and Taika Waititi. And so we all sort of went to university together. And so I've known that, like, I went to the earliest Flight of the Concord shows and I was like, they're so good. But the feeling of, like, Britt and Jermaine got an HBO show, like, Taika won an Oscar, like, it's just. It's so mind blowing. People you've known since they were teenagers.

[Stephen Colbert]

And just getting back to being a teenager. So when you finished this film, you're 15. Did you just go back to high school?

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yes. It was like being awoken from a great dream was like someone being like, wake up. And I was like, oh, God. New Plymouth girls High school.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, all girls.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's rough.

[Melanie Lynskey]

It was rough.

[Stephen Colbert]

Girls are tough.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yeah. I mean, I had my lovely group of friends who were so excited for me.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes.

[Melanie Lynskey]

But it was a. It was very weird. It was a strange time. And then the film was released, so I was going, like, I came to New York with Kate to do publicity and then had to go back and do my English exam. And then I went to the Venice Film Festival and I was at a dinner with Quentin Tarantino. And then it's like, oh, that paper was late. It was so like, you know, we.

[Stephen Colbert]

Have to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more Melanie Lynskey, everybody.

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[Stephen Colbert]

We're back with one of the stars of Yellow Jackets, Melanie Lynskey. Your husband is actor Jason Ritter. There you are together, and the two of you have collaborated a few. Do you enjoy working together? Collaborating?

[Melanie Lynskey]

I love it. I love it. It's so nice. He's such a kind person. When someone says, I worked with your husband, I'm not like, how did that go? Like, you know, I'm just like, I can't wait to hear how much you love him.

[Stephen Colbert]

He did a cameo on the Last of Us, which, of course, you have a notable part in. He is now one of the stars of Matlock here on cbs.

[Melanie Lynskey]

It's so good.

[Stephen Colbert]

I know. With Kathy Bates. What about you on Matlock? Let's complete the loop. What can we do to make that happen?

[Melanie Lynskey]

I'm trying. I don't think I can try any harder without being weird and scary.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, they're watching. The CBS execs are watching right now. Wouldn't that be fantastic?

[Melanie Lynskey]

Listen, wouldn't that be fantastic? I'd love it. I would love it. Kathy Bates, would you want to be.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like, would you want to be, like, helping them or like a nemesis? What would you do?

[Melanie Lynskey]

I would do anything. Kathy Bates, since I began acting, has been my north star. She's been like, I'm like, this is the career I want. I still feel that way. This is the person I want to be. This is the actor I want to be. She's just. I love her so much. And so even to just like, hand her a coffee in a scene, be like, here you go. Yeah, I'd do it.

[Stephen Colbert]

I've already asked that in, like, there's so many crime procedurals on cbs. Is that just in one of them, I want to be the dead body. You know what I mean?

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Like this. Like that on a beach or something like that.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Oh, you've got it down.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Well, you don't even have to rehearse.

[Stephen Colbert]

Practice.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

So yellow Jackets. The next season launches the new season Launches on Valentine's Day. So romantic.

[Melanie Lynskey]

So romantic. Cannibals.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. You want to say to your loved one, I could just eat you up. Oh, there you go.

[Melanie Lynskey]

There you go. You should be on the Mac.

[Stephen Colbert]

And your character, Shauna, has a fair amount of rage expressed and otherwise. Yes. Do you have sources of rage yourself which you tap into?

[Melanie Lynskey]

Do you know I have a thing called misophonia.

[Stephen Colbert]

Misophonia.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Misophonia, it's like a sensitivity to certain sounds.

[Stephen Colbert]

What is your sensitivity?

[Melanie Lynskey]

I'll try not to do that. Chewing sounds like if you had gum right now, I would have to. I don't know. It puts me in a rage. It activates, like.

[Stephen Colbert]

It literally makes you angry.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yes. It's like a wiring of your brain. It travels to a different part of your brain. So it activates your fight or flight response. And I do the flight thing. Cause I'm not very aggressive.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay.

[Melanie Lynskey]

But I want to fight.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Yeah. So no gump.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right. I will keep that in mind.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Thanks.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's so lovely to meet you.

[Melanie Lynskey]

Thank you so much for being here.

[Stephen Colbert]

Season three of Yellowjackets premieres February 14th on Paramount, plus with Showtime. Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.