Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty
And the winner is …Melanie Lynskey!
The actress took home the Critics' Choice Award for best actress in a drama series on Sunday night for her role in Showtime’sYellowjackets.
Other nominees in the category includedUzo Abudafor HBO’sIn Treatment,Chiara Aureliafor Freeform’sCruel Summer,Christine BaranskiforThe Good Fighton Paramount+,Katja HerbersforEvilon Paramount+ andMJ Rodriguezfor FX’sPose.
Upon accepting the award, the 44-year-old New Zealand actress admitted she “wasn’t expecting” to come out on top.
“I’m gonna be really bad at this speech. There’s so many amazing women in this category,” she began. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe I’m mentioned alongside you.”
Lynskey then called out her acclaimed drama’s “beautiful cast,” saying they’re “the most talented group of people I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with.”
“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,” she said. “All my wonderful friends who I got to work alongside, thank you.”
Melanie Lynskey.Matt Baron/Shutterstock
After thanking the network and her agent, Rhonda Price, she gave a special shout-out toher daughteras well as her husband,Jason Ritter, whom she called the “love of my life” and “the greatest support.”
“She’s an absolute angel. She’s with my child and my child is safe and taken care of and she allows me to go and do my work,” she added. “Thank you, Sally. I love you so much.”
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Lynskey stars inYellowjacketsas a member of a high school soccer team that crashed in the Canadian wilderness in 1996, only to be blackmailed 25 years later for what happened during their time in the woods.
She previouslyopened up about body-shamingthat took place on set, revealing that a member of theYellowjacketsproduction team criticized her shape during filming.
“They were asking me, ‘What do you plan to do? I’m sure the producers will get you a trainer. They’d love to help you with this,'” Lynskey recounted in an interview withRolling Stone. She also noted that her costarsTawny Cypress,Christina RicciandJuliette Lewiscame to her defense, with Lewis, 48, penning a letter to the producers.
Melanie Lynskey.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Lynskey explained that body positivity was an important factor in how she developed the character. “It was really important to me for [Shauna] to not ever comment on my body, to not have me putting a dress on and being like, ‘I wish I looked a bit better,'” Lynskey said.
“I did find it important that this character is just comfortable and sexual and not thinking or talking about it, because I want women to be able to watch it and be like, ‘Wow, she looks like me and nobody’s saying she’s the fat one,'” she added. “That representation is important.”
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The 27th annual Critics’ Choice Awards aired Sunday night on The CW and TBS.
source: people.com
