When you're a young actor, straight out of the gate it's hard to get started, to catch that first big break. Sometimes you get lucky though, and often it comes as a complete surprise. This was the case with Melanie Lynskey, who was discovered one afternoon by director Peter Jackson's wife, Fran Walsh. She was immediately cast in Jackson's indie hit, Heavenly Creatures opposite future Titanic star, Kate Winslet. article continued below...

When you're a young actor, straight out of the gate it's hard to get started, to catch that first big break. Sometimes you get lucky though, and often it comes as a complete surprise. This was the case with Melanie Lynskey, who was discovered one afternoon by director Peter Jackson's wife, Fran Walsh. She was immediately cast in Jackson's indie hit, Heavenly Creatures opposite future Titanic star, Kate Winslet.

When you're a young actor, it also helps to have a director who believes in your talent. Peter Jackson was so impressed with Melanie, that he cast her in one of his next projects, The Frighteners, co-starring Michael J. Fox. However, after these two projects, Lynskey's career didn't pick up steam until a few years later. After travelling from her native New Zealand to L.A. she landed a role in Drew Barrymore's Cinderella-story, Ever After, and followed that up in the ode to all things KISS, Detroit Rock City. Since then she's landed roles in the controversial indie hit, But I'm A Cheerleader and found herself amongst the impressive young female cast of Coyote Ugly. Things certainly seem to be looking up.

Melanie Lynskey, born in New Plymouth, New Zealand on the 16 of May 1977. She attended New Plymouth Girls High School, and it was while in school there that she was cast in her first major film, Heavenly Creatures. By then Melanie already knew what she wanted to do, and that was act. She was even a drama captain in her seventh form year. Although she's floated back and forth between New Zealand and the United States, she reportedly now makes her home in London, England with boyfriend, and fellow actor Andrew Howard.

• Is a vegetarian.
• She is currently living in London with her boyfriend, Andrew Howard .

• [talking about Heavenly Creatures]: "Making that movie, working with brilliant Peter and amazing Kate, were like gifts from God. Right after the wonderful attention for Heavenly, I spent three long months in Hollywood auditioning with skinny, gorgeous, terrifying girls. Casting directors would look me over, sigh and say, 'You were so good in that movie, but I don't know what else to do with you.' I then got fixated on how I looked, whether I was thin enough or my face was too wide. It was awful."