Critics Choice Awards: Fans hail Melanie Lynskey's Best Actress win for 'Yellowjackets'

Melanie Lynskey took home the Best Actress award for her role in 'Yellowjackets' and fans were so proud of this recognition
UPDATED MAR 14, 2022
Melanie Lynskey poses with the Best Actress trophy for 'Yellowjackets'at the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards (Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
Melanie Lynskey poses with the Best Actress trophy for 'Yellowjackets'at the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards (Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)

Actress Melanie Lynskey received the surprise of a lifetime when her name was announced as the winner in the Best Actress in a Drama Series category for her role in the Showtime series ‘Yellowjackets’. The win came as a surprise to many, but everyone who has seen her work on the show feels that she definitely deserved the trophy.

The 44-year-old star faced stiff competition from her competitors. It edged past fellow nominees like Uzo Aduba (‘In Treatment’), MJ Rodriguez (‘Pose’), Chiara Aurelia (‘Cruel Summer’), Christine Baranski (‘The Good Fight’), and Katja Herbers (‘Evil’) to win the trophy.

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While accepting the award, Lynskey admitted that she did not have a speech ready for this moment and “wasn’t expecting” to come out on top. The actress also thanked her cast for being the “most talented group of people” she has ever had the opportunity to work with. She added, “Sophie Nélisse, you did about 70 percent of the work for me playing young Shawna. You're a miracle and I love you. You're all amazing. All my wonderful friends who I got to work alongside, thank you.”

She also thanked his husband and actor Jason Ritter for being the “greatest support”. But the most extraordinary moment came when she thanked her nanny, Sally, for being an “absolute angel”. Lynskey said, “The most important person I think I have to thank before I finish is my nanny, Sally. I love her. She's with my child and my child is safe and taken care of and she allows me to go and do my work. Thank you, Sally. I love you so much.”

(L-R) Melanie Lynskey and Jason Ritter attend the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards at Barker Hangar on February 27, 2022 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for WarnerMedia)

Fans were really happy with Lynskey’s win and flooded social media with amazing messages. Many people said that she has been “under-rated” her whole career and she thoroughly deserves this recognition. One of the fans wrote, “Actually so emotional at the Melanie Lynskey recognition right now because this woman has been such a force her whole career, and to see her get a critics choice award makes me so fucking happy. Like, I know you’re not supposed to idolize celebrities but ill idolize her until the end of time.”



 

Another fan wrote, “Melanie Lynskey finally getting her due makes me so happy. She's always been underrated and she seems to be such a genuinely nice person. I hope the Emmys are next. Go watch Yellowjackets!”



 

“Melanie Lynskey put everything she had into Shauna. Shauna’s character is so complex and dark. I’m really not sure anyone else could’ve brought what Melanie did and truly brought her to life. Such a deserved win,” said another fan. “I'm so happy for Melanie Lynskey and her #Yellowjackets win. She's a wonderful actor and really deserved this recognition,” said another fan.



 



 

Meanwhile, another social media user said a holiday should be announced in New Zealand to celebrate her win. She wrote, “I propose a new public holiday in New Zealand to celebrate Melanie Lynskey and Jane Campion winning Critics Choice Awards.”



 

Another fan shared, “Screaming, crying, throwing up. Melanie Lynskey finally getting the praise and recognition she rightfully deserves is going to get me through this year for real.”



 

This was Lynskey’s second Critics Choice nomination. In 2015, she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category for her role in the comedy-drama series ‘Togetherness’.

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