Melanie Lynskey.Photo: Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Melanie Lynskeycan’t relate much to the character she plays onYellowjackets— particularly in one area.
“We have opposite parenting styles,” the New Zealand native, 45, told PEOPLE on thered carpetof the Showtime series' season 2 premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles Wednesday night.
She added of the differences between herself and her character, Shauna, “I feel so fortunate to have my daughter, and I love her. It’s like the joy of my life. Every day, I’m like, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you for this child.’ I want to spend every minute with her.”
But Lynskey’s portrayal of the troubled Shauna — who has a 16-year-old daughter andpossibly another child— doesn’t jibe with her real-life role asthe mother of a daughter, whom she shares with husbandJason Ritter.
“It’s different for Shauna,” the star said. “She didn’t want to have a kid. She’skind ofdoing her best. But I don’t know, I think there’s not a lot [of overlap]. There’s not a Venn diagram where the things kind of connect.”
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Melanie Lynskey.Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Yellowjacketsreceived an immediate renewal after it garnered critical acclaim early in its first season in November 2021. Since then, the show has received numerous accolades, including sevenEmmy Awardnominations.
Season 2 picks up where the action left off, with Lynskey,Tawny Cypress,Juliette LewisandChristina Riccias the present-day, adult versions of the core four survivors. Sophie Nélisse,Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher andSammi Hanrattyplay their teenage counterparts, respectively.
Melanie Lynskey onYellowjackets.Paul Sarkis/SHOWTIME
Among the new cast members this season areElijah Wood,Lauren Ambroseand one very special guest star: Lynskey’sParenthood-alum husband Ritter, 43.
His guest appearance will mark the second time the couple has acted together on television, following their roles on theJessica Biel-fronted Hulu true-crime dramaCandy, which also starred Biel’s real-life husbandJustin Timberlake.
Ricci, 43, and Wood, 42, also have an onscreen reunion onYellowjackets, having first starred together over 25 years ago, inAng Lee’s 1997 dramaThe Ice Storm.
“I was superexcited to work with Elijahbefore we started working together because we had been in a movie together when we were 15. And he was amazing to work with,” Ricci told PEOPLE Wednesday at the premiere.
She added, “We’ve run into each other over the years, but we haven’t necessarily stayed in touch. So it was fun to see him and then kind of get to know him and work with him more.”
Yellowjacketsseason 2 premieres Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.
source: people.com
