Melanie Lynskey recalls her Two and a Half Men paycheck - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 05-25-2022, 04:26 AM

https://www.vulture.com/article/mela...versation.html

Lynskey just got her green card when she auditioned for the Rose character on what would later become the No.1 sitcom. "So I went out for every single pilot," she tells Vulture. "I got cast as a guest star on Two and a Half Men and I just thought, Do a sitcom — that seems like fun. When the show got picked up, they asked me to be a regular; that was a harder decision. But everyone around me was like, Wow, this is great, congratulations. So I decided to try it on. Also it was nice to be getting a paycheck. It wasn’t huge; it was literally the least they could possibly pay me, according to SAG. I did one season, and I thought, Oh, this is not for me. It felt very hard knowing that most of my year was gonna be this. I wasn’t in every episode, but I couldn’t do any other work. At the end of the first season, I had a conversation with Chuck Lorre where I told him I wanted to leave. The show was a huge hit, and he just said, 'Please don’t. You have this story line and that story line coming up next season.' He really felt excited. Then the next season happened — all of the story lines happened in one episode! Around that time, I saw Brokeback Mountain. It’s not like I thought I could get cast in it, but I was like, I didn’t audition for this. I’m not in a conversation around movies like this. I’m not doing things I want to do. I said I needed to be able to do other things. And they really tried to talk me out of it. Finally, we came to an agreement where I could come and go. A couple of people were like, You could be a millionaire. I get it. We’re going into the third season, and that’s the time you can ask for a raise. But it didn’t matter. Around that time, I did Shattered Glass. I loved that movie. I had a tiny part. I was with all these great actors, and I believed in the story. Watching it at the premiere, I thought, This is the only way I want to feel watching something I’m in." ALSO: Lynskey credits an ex-boyfriend, actor Andrew Howard, for changing her life by helping her overcome her eating disorder.

Chocolate Moose · 05-25-2022, 10:56 AM

Her character added so much to the show!!!

stevea · 05-25-2022, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocolate Moose

Her character added so much to the show!!!

She sure did, as did Holland Taylor. Really an outstanding supporting cast.

Chocolate Moose · 05-26-2022, 09:29 AM

Oh, yes, the mom. I've seen her in a lot of things since then. She's great!!!!

TMC · 06-04-2022, 05:18 AM

Melanie Lynskey became choosy with her TV roles after Two and a Half Men, but she couldn't say no to Yellowjackets or Candy

"Contractually, getting out of a show that’s doing well is tough. So ever since then, it’s been terrifying. I haven’t said yes to very many things," Lynskey says of leaving Two and a Half Men as a series regular. But Lynskey says she was open to Yellowjackets -- and was the first person cast -- because creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson "had so many focused ideas. They had a plan. They know these people; they know these characters. I felt like there was five years’ worth of interesting material." In picking a role, Lynskey says she focuses on how the character makes her feel. “It’s kind of like putting on a dress and you know if it’s comfortable or not," she says. "You’re like, ‘Oh, God, I’m not gonna want to wear this,’ or ‘OK, this feels good.’ Something kind of happens when I feel like I’m in it. Shauna sometimes feels very different for me. Sometimes Shauna feels like my ideal, what I hope I become one day.” She quickly adds with a laugh, “without all the murdery bits!” Lynskey chose Candy with a month left of filming on Yellowjackets because the Betty Gore role felt familiar. "Betty unfortunately is a lot easier for me to act because I’m a person who has tended towards depression at times and I am very, very shy," she says. "I’m not sure of myself at all. I’m filled with self-doubt a lot of the time. I’m working on it and doing my best. But it’s a lot easier for me to play that person than to be not feeling especially confident and then have to go and play somebody who was filled with confidence.”

Dr. Thong · 06-04-2022, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocolate Moose

Her character added so much to the show!!!

I agree. She brought such a spark of life to a character who was indeed crazy, but lovable at the same time. Very cute and filled out the cast well.

I wasn't aware until much later that she's not American.

Did a great job at covering up her accent.

livinglarge · 09-12-2022, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

She sure did, as did Holland Taylor. Really an outstanding supporting cast.

Yes, we've been watching the early seasons again (that is, the seasons with Charlie Sheen), and I always want to say "more Rose, more Evelyn." They're both great. The actress playing Berta is terrific, too, obviously, but a little of that character goes a long way.

stevea · 09-12-2022, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livinglarge

Yes, we've been watching the early seasons again (that is, the seasons with Charlie Sheen), and I always want to say "more Rose, more Evelyn." They're both great. The actress playing Berta is terrific, too, obviously, but a little of that character goes a long way.

Yes, the late Conchata Ferrell. They give her some great lines.

05-25-2022, 04:26 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,387	Melanie Lynskey recalls her Two and a Half Men paycheck https://www.vulture.com/article/mela...versation.html Lynskey just got her green card when she auditioned for the Rose character on what would later become the No.1 sitcom. "So I went out for every single pilot," she tells Vulture. "I got cast as a guest star on Two and a Half Men and I just thought, Do a sitcom — that seems like fun. When the show got picked up, they asked me to be a regular; that was a harder decision. But everyone around me was like, Wow, this is great, congratulations. So I decided to try it on. Also it was nice to be getting a paycheck. It wasn’t huge; it was literally the least they could possibly pay me, according to SAG. I did one season, and I thought, Oh, this is not for me. It felt very hard knowing that most of my year was gonna be this. I wasn’t in every episode, but I couldn’t do any other work. At the end of the first season, I had a conversation with Chuck Lorre where I told him I wanted to leave. The show was a huge hit, and he just said, 'Please don’t. You have this story line and that story line coming up next season.' He really felt excited. Then the next season happened — all of the story lines happened in one episode! Around that time, I saw Brokeback Mountain. It’s not like I thought I could get cast in it, but I was like, I didn’t audition for this. I’m not in a conversation around movies like this. I’m not doing things I want to do. I said I needed to be able to do other things. And they really tried to talk me out of it. Finally, we came to an agreement where I could come and go. A couple of people were like, You could be a millionaire. I get it. We’re going into the third season, and that’s the time you can ask for a raise. But it didn’t matter. Around that time, I did Shattered Glass. I loved that movie. I had a tiny part. I was with all these great actors, and I believed in the story. Watching it at the premiere, I thought, This is the only way I want to feel watching something I’m in." ALSO: Lynskey credits an ex-boyfriend, actor Andrew Howard, for changing her life by helping her overcome her eating disorder.

05-25-2022, 10:56 AM	#2
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	Her character added so much to the show!!!
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

05-26-2022, 09:29 AM	#4
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	Oh, yes, the mom. I've seen her in a lot of things since then. She's great!!!!

06-04-2022, 05:18 AM	#5
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,387	Melanie Lynskey became choosy with her TV roles after Two and a Half Men, but she couldn't say no to Yellowjackets or Candy "Contractually, getting out of a show that’s doing well is tough. So ever since then, it’s been terrifying. I haven’t said yes to very many things," Lynskey says of leaving Two and a Half Men as a series regular. But Lynskey says she was open to Yellowjackets -- and was the first person cast -- because creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson "had so many focused ideas. They had a plan. They know these people; they know these characters. I felt like there was five years’ worth of interesting material." In picking a role, Lynskey says she focuses on how the character makes her feel. “It’s kind of like putting on a dress and you know if it’s comfortable or not," she says. "You’re like, ‘Oh, God, I’m not gonna want to wear this,’ or ‘OK, this feels good.’ Something kind of happens when I feel like I’m in it. Shauna sometimes feels very different for me. Sometimes Shauna feels like my ideal, what I hope I become one day.” She quickly adds with a laugh, “without all the murdery bits!” Lynskey chose Candy with a month left of filming on Yellowjackets because the Betty Gore role felt familiar. "Betty unfortunately is a lot easier for me to act because I’m a person who has tended towards depression at times and I am very, very shy," she says. "I’m not sure of myself at all. I’m filled with self-doubt a lot of the time. I’m working on it and doing my best. But it’s a lot easier for me to play that person than to be not feeling especially confident and then have to go and play somebody who was filled with confidence.”