‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ Star Melanie Lynskey Admits She ‘Dreams’ of Buying a Home in Her Native New Zealand—but Can’t Afford It

Actress Melanie Lynskey has had a whirlwind few years in front of the cameras, appearing in hit after hit—from "Yellowjackets" and "The Last of Us" to Adam Sandler's latest Netflix release, "Don't Say Good Luck." But despite being one of Hollywood's most consistent performers, the mother of one still hasn't been able to achieve her ultimate dream: owning a home in her native New Zealand.

Lynskey, 49, who was born in New Plymouth, New Zealand, but has been living in Los Angeles for the past 26 years, opened up about her desire to one day return to her home country while speaking to the NZ Herald.

She admitted that, while she is perfectly happy residing in California with her husband, actor Jason Ritter, and their 8-year-old daughter for now, she still considers New Zealand her true home.

"I completely consider New Zealand home. I get off the plane and I just feel ... just like the air is different. You just feel like, 'Oh, now I'm at home,'" the actress explained.

However, owning a piece of that paradise is, sadly, still out of her reach, she noted. Property in New Zealand is far more expensive than she had realized.

"We have this dream of being able to buy a house in New Zealand. Not quite there yet, it's very expensive, as it turns out! And, yeah, can't have two houses quite yet," she admitted.

Although her finances may stand in the way of her goal, the actress revealed it hasn't stopped her from keeping an eye out on the real estate market in the country, just in case.

"When I'm going to sleep, all I do is look at real estate in New Zealand and have a dream of my house when I'm going off to sleep," she added. "I just love it so much."

The actress conceded that there is another reason why they cannot make the move overseas just yet: Her daughter is currently enrolled in her "dream school," while her husband's family is also all located in California.

"Obviously L.A., my husband's family is in L.A. and from L.A. Our daughter is at a school, which is our dream school for her. She got in there, and so it does feel like, for a period of time, we're going to stay there," she said of her child, whose name they have decided to keep private.

As for the things she misses the most about her home country, Lynskey was quick to point to the food and drink.

"I do love [L.A.], but I dream of home all the time. The milk is better, the butter is better, the wine is better," she said. "The bottle of wine you get at the supermarket is going to be a great bottle of wine. Vogel's bread, marmite.

"It's just very simple things. People are always like, 'Oh, do you want a piece of chocolate?' and I'm like, 'Oh, what's the point.'"

Lynskey, who shot to fame after starring in director Peter Jackson's 1994 movie "Heavenly Creatures" alongside Kate Winslet, moved to Los Angeles in 2000, after completing high school in her home country—and spending 18 months at university.

That same year, she landed a role in the hit musical movie "Coyote Ugly," which was filmed primarily in and around New York City.

She purchased her first home in California in 2004 for just $597,500. She sold the adorable Victorian bungalow 13 years later for $950,000.

The sale of that property came four years after she met Ritter on the set of the film "The Big Ask" and the same year that the couple got engaged.

In 2018, the couple welcomed their daughter, whom they have kept entirely out of the spotlight.

In 2020, the couple said "I do" in an intimate ceremony on their home's porch with just two of their friends present.

The duo then carried out a dramatic overhaul of their shared home, which they proudly showcased in a March 2026 shoot for Architectural Digest.

Lynskey explained that they spent a few years living in the property before deciding to renovate.

"The house itself has a lovely feeling, and it’s so warm," she shared. "But there was this cold tile on everything. It’s such a happy place, and I wanted to make it as cozy as its soul is."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lynskey has filled the dwelling with art pieces from New Zealand, which she said help her to keep her favorite memories of her home country alive.

"Almost all of my art is from New Zealand," she explained. "When I look at it, I see the hills outside of Wellington or people with moko tattoos—things that just make me instantly think of home."

Since welcoming their child, the actors have maintained her privacy by not sharing her name or posting any images of her face online, while their home has become even more of a special sanctuary.

In 2022, Lynskey told InStyle to keep their family strong, her husband has refused any acting roles that aren't "life-changing," so he is not away from them for long.

Meanwhile, while the actress is filming, she writes notes to her daughter to help keep them connected.

“She loves to write notes and receive notes, like little cards that say, ‘I love you so much,’ or if she gets upset about something, she'll write out an apology card," she said.

"It says, ‘I'm sorry for getting upset that I wasn't allowed a lollipop,’ or whatever. So we have stacks and stacks of cards that we've written each other."

In 2024, she gushed about her daughter while speaking to People, telling the outlet, "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.”