Melanie Lynskey says confused fans think she was in Fargo

The huge success of “Yellowjackets” made Melanie Lynskey famous. The Showtime series, which follows the lifelong effects of a plane crash that leaves a women’s soccer team stranded in the wilderness, was an instant cultural phenomenon when it premiered in 2021, and after years of typing, Lynskey has gained more recognition for her talent.

But despite all the accolades Lynskey has received — including a 2022 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series — some people still don’t know what kind of work she does. The Happy Sad Confused podcast to promote Season 2 of “Yellowjackets,” Lynskey was asked about other actors she gets mistaken for. She revealed that fans often mistake her for Fargo star Allison Tolman – and she doesn’t quite see the resemblance.

“It happens all the time, and I don’t think we’re all that alike,” Lynskey said. “I think there are two types of chubby brunette ladies in Hollywood. I’m just like, “Okay, guys.” But the number of people who are like, “I wonder where you went after ‘Fargo.’

Lynskey explained that the assumption that she is Allison Tolman and hasn’t worked since “Fargo” is incorrect for several reasons. Tolman played Deputy Police Officer Molly Solverson in Season 1 of Noah Hawley’s FX series. Her performance in the limited series earned her an Emmy nomination Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. While this is arguably Tolman’s most significant role to date, he hasn’t exactly disappeared.

“He did a lot of things after Fargo,” Lynskey said of Tolman. “And I did a lot of stuff after ‘Fargo,’ but I wasn’t in ‘Fargo.’

Lynskey made it clear that he had no problem being compared to Tolman – if anything, he was flattered by the comparison. But at this point, both actresses are grounded enough in their own work that there’s no reason to confuse them with serious people.

“It was unbelievable (in Fargo),” Lynskey said. “He is a good man to be mistaken for. She’s wonderful and beautiful, I just don’t think we’re very similar.”

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