Quitting any major project is never any easy decision for a performer. After all, you've word tirelessly for years just to get an opportunity like this, and people come to know and love the character. Despite this, we've seen stars leave sitcoms, ditch out on critically-acclaimed films, and some even leave during the height of their fame.
Melanie Lynskey is a successful actress, and she's done some great TV work. During the 2000s, she nearly left a massive sitcom, and we have the reason why below!
Melanie Lynskey Is A Successful Actress With A Background In Film And Television
With an acting career spanning back to the 1990s, chances are you've seen Melanie Lynskey in a variety of offerings. She might not be a household name, but Lynskey is a fantastic performer who has been around the block a time or two.
On the big screen, Lynskey got her start in the 1990s, and she has been able to land roles in a variety of projects. Some movie fans might know her from projects like Ever After, Sweet Home Alabama, Flags of our Fathers, Up in the Air, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Don't Look Up.
On the small screen, the actress has found quite a bit of success, too. She has been featured on shows like The Shield, Psych, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, House, and Mom. She's also currently starring on Yellowjackets, one of TV's best new shows.
Earlier on in her career, the actress landed a recurring role on a sitcom that was destined for great things.
Melanie Lynskey Was Featured On 'Two And A Half Men' For 63 Episodes
In 2003, Melanie Lynskey began her time on Two and a Half Men, which was a brand new sitcom at the time.
"I went out for every single pilot. I got cast as a guest star on Two and a Half Men and I just thought, 'Do a sitcom — that seems like fun.' When the show got picked up, they asked me to be a regular; that was a harder decision. But everyone around me was like, 'Wow, this is great, congratulations.' So I decided to try it on," she said about getting cast on the show.
There was no way of knowing just how big the show would get, and for Lynskey, it was an opportunity to regularly showcase her skills in front of a large audience.
Though landing the show as a big break, and though the show was a massive success, it wasn't exactly giving Lynskey a premium salary.
"Also it was nice to be getting a paycheck. It wasn't huge; it was literally the least they could possibly pay me, according to SAG," she continued.
When a show rockets to success, the vast majority of the cast stays on board for as long as they can. After all, the checks tend to get bigger, and the exposure is invaluable. However, Lynskey wasn't quite satisfied with one aspect of what seemed like the gig of a lifetime.
The Reason Melanie Lynskey Wanted To Leave The Show
"I did one season, and I thought, 'Oh, this is not for me.' It felt very hard knowing that most of my year was gonna be this," the actress said.
Turns out, the show was eating up the majority of her time, which impacted her ability to take on other projects. This was a point of contention for the actress, who told creator Chuck Lorre that she wanted out.
"The show was a huge hit, and he just said, 'Please don't. You have this storyline and that story line coming up next season.' He really felt excited. Then the next season happened — all of the story lines happened in one episode!" she said.
Thanks to being forward with her plea, an arrangement was struck, and Lynskey was able to manage a schedule that kept her on the show, and that gave her some freedom to work on other projects.
"They really tried to talk me out of it. Finally, we came to an agreement where I could come and go. A couple of people were like, 'You could be a millionaire.' I get it. We're going into the third season, and that's the time you can ask for a raise. But it didn't matter," she added.
Melanie Lynskey is currently on an upward swing thanks to her work on Yellowjackets, so here's hoping that she's able to strike a nice balance on this show, as well.