'Tattooist of Auschwitz' Actress Melanie Lynskey Reveals Filming Challenge

Melanie Lynskey has revealed her biggest "challenge" while filming Peacock's new historical drama The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

The Critics' Choice Award winner is known for playing complex female characters, such as Shauna in psychological horror Yellowjackets, or revolutionary leader Kathleen in zombie drama The Last of Us.

However, Lynskey has taken on a tamer, but no less stimulating role in The Tattooist of Auschwitz. The 46 year old stars as Heather Morris, the author behind the book the six-episode series is based on.

"In a way, it's a relief to not be fighting zombies or eating anyone," Lynskey told Newsweek, referencing her recent TV roles. "But you know it was hard in its own ways. It is its own kind of challenge."

Lynskey finds it "fun" to play complicated women, but the Emmy nominee said portraying a real person came with "a lot of responsibility."

"I just [wanted] her to be happy," Lynskey said. "I [wanted] her to feel represented, and feel like she was seeing herself without [me] doing an impersonation of her, which would be so weird."

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Although she described the process as a "balancing act," Lynskey discovered she could relate to Morris's sudden success in midlife.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz was Morris's debut novel, based on her real-life conversations with Holocaust survivor Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—portrayed by Oscar nominee Harvey Keitel and The Little Mermaid actor Jonah Hauer-King in the show.

While tasked with tattooing identification numbers onto the arms of other prisoners, Sokolov fell in love with a woman named Gita (Anna Próchniak), with Morris documenting their years-long struggle to be together.

The 2018 novel became an international bestseller, with Lynskey following a similar career journey. She landed her first movie role aged 17, starring alongside Kate Winslet in Peter Jackson's 1994 drama Heavenly Creatures.

Her performance was praised by critics, but while Winslet headed to Hollywood, Lynskey preferred low-budget indie projects. This ensured she produced work she was proud of, but meant that few people outside of the industry knew her name.

Mainstream film and TV shows often relegated Lynskey to small parts, such as Reese Witherspoon's childhood friend in Sweet Home Alabama or as Charlie Sheen's stalker neighbor Rose in the early 2000 sitcom Two and a Half Men.

Lynskey left the role after two seasons due to a fear of only being seen as the show's "wacky neighbor," despite Rose being her steadiest acting job to date. At the time, her agent called her "crazy" for turning down a spot as a series regular.

However, Yellowjackets changed the game, making Lynskey a bonafide star as well as critically acclaimed. Lynskey stars as the adult version of Shauna in the Showtime series, a Surburban mom who survived a plane crash as a teenager and spent a year-and-a-half stranded in the Canadian wilderness. Her portrayal has led to multiple awards nominations across the show's two seasons, including an Emmy, a Satellite Award and an Independent Spirit gong.

"There is something about having led a relatively private life and then suddenly being a lot more public," Lynskey said.

"I think Heather took to it a lot more easily than I did. I'm still quite shy and awkward. You know people sort of recognize me and I feel like I'm in trouble, but she's great with people."

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There is another benefit to playing Morris—the New Zealand native gets to use her real voice for the role.

"It's always nice to get to use my own accent," she said. "She's from Te Awamutu, which is a town that I know. It's incredible."

Stream The Tattooist of Auschwitz on Peacock from May 2.