- She was discovered by Fran Walsh during an exhaustive search for a teenage actress to play Pauline Parker in Heavenly Creatures (1994), just two weeks before filming was due to commence.
- Close friend Emily Deschanel was a bridesmaid at her wedding.
- Has a daughter (b. December 2018) with her husband Jason Ritter.
- Announced to Hollywood Today Live (2015) on Thursday, February 16, 2017, that she is engaged to her boyfriend of four years, actor Jason Ritter. They later married sometime before December 2018.
- Her father is an orthopedic surgeon and her mother is a real estate agent.
- Was the first person to kiss Kate Winslet in a film (Heavenly Creatures (1994)).
- Friends with Clea DuVall and Natasha Lyonne, both of whom she worked with in But I'm a Cheerleader (1999).
- Her surname, "Lynskey", is Irish.
- (September 25, 2012) Filed for divorce from her husband of five years, Jimmi Simpson, after five months of separation.
- She had just turned 18 when she made a cameo appearance in The Frighteners (1996), which was her second collaboration with Peter Jackson (the first being Heavenly Creatures (1994)).
- Turned down a role in Mansfield Park (1999) for fear of typecasting - she'd already played a similar part in Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998).
- Showgirls (1995) is one of her favorite movies, along with Blue Velvet (1986), Kicking and Screaming (1995), Naked (1993) and Wet Hot American Summer (2001).
- One of her best friends is Michael Weston, whom she met during the making of Coyote Ugly (2000) (he played her husband in the film). Twelve years later, Weston's real-life father - John Rubinstein - played her character's dad in Hello I Must Be Going (2012).
- Almost landed the role of Valerie in Little Nicky (2000), but lost out to Patricia Arquette.
- Supporter of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and HSUS (The Humane Society of the United States).
- (1999-2000) Lived in London with Andrew Howard, whom she met during the filming of The Cherry Orchard (1999).
- She once had a dog called Mouse, a chihuahua-dachshund mix, which she named after her character in Abandon (2002).
- She attended New Plymouth Girls' High School, and later studied at Victoria University of Wellington, NZ.
- Received coaching from co-star Sarah Peirse for her debut in Heavenly Creatures (1994).
- Friends with Joss Whedon.
- As of 2022, she has been in two films that were Oscar nominated for Best Picture: Up in the Air (2009) and Don't Look Up (2021).
- Her favorite authors are Margaret Atwood and Milan Kundera.
- Her daughter's name-Kahikatea; pronounced "kaa-hee-kuh-tay-uh"-is taken from a tall cone-bearing tree, native to New Zealand and valued for its timber and resin.
- Starred in a production of Jean Genet's 1947 play "The Maids" at BATS Theatre (Wellington, New Zealand) between 9-15 March, 1997.
- Was considered for the role of Giselle in Mona Lisa Smile (2003); the part would eventually go to Maggie Gyllenhaal, but Lynskey sent the film's director (Mike Newell) a "thank you" note to express her gratitude for his kindness during her audition.
- Has appeared in three films (to date) with Gillian Jacobs: Helena from the Wedding (2010), Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) and The Big Ask (2013).
- Had to dub over all of her dialogue in They Came Together (2014) when director David Wain decided during post-production that the character, Brenda, should have an American accent. Lynskey had initially performed the part using her own New Zealand accent, but Wain later realized this wasn't the right fit for the film.
- The directors she'd most like to work with are Noah Baumbach, Jane Campion, Michael Haneke and Nicole Holofcener.
- Frequently works with past co-stars.
- Named one of E! Online's "Sizzlin' Sixteen" in 2003.
- Daughter-in-law of John Ritter and Nancy Morgan.
- Stepdaughter-in-law of Amy Yasbeck.
- Sister-in-law of Carly Ritter and Tyler Ritter; half-sister-in-law of Stella Ritter.
- The actresses she most admires are Katrin Cartlidge - whom she worked with on The Cherry Orchard (1999), three years before her death - and Olivia Colman.
- Originally cast as Mindy in Big Stan (2007), but was replaced by Jennifer Morrison due to scheduling conflicts.
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