Melanie Lynskey Sings National Anthem Naked, Creates Buzz at Sundance

The Sundance Film Festival has stated and everyone seems to be talking about Melanie Lynskey’s unforgettable performance in “Hello I Must Be Going.” I mean, how could you forget a naked rendition of the Canadian National Anthem?

Lynskey, who has typically played soft spoken supporting roles, breaks out of her shy persona with her new movie. In “Hello I Must Be Going,” Lynskey stars as a 35-year-old divorcee who is forced to move back in with her parents.

Before the movie, Lynskey told Entertainment Weekly that it felt good to be the star of her own film. Lynskey said:

“I’m a character actress, and I’m very grateful for all that I’ve gotten to do. But this was just something that was so fully realized, a complete journey that this person makes. It felt like such a gift…. It was a really nice feeling.”

Lynskey’s character, Amy, finds her way out of depression in the arms of a new young lover as she experiences the emotions of a teenage romance all over again. Lynskey goes skinny dipping, sings the national anthem naked, has a little fling during a family party, and sneaks into her 19-year-old boyfriend’s room while his parents are away during the movie.

Lynskey said:

“It’s really romantic… I was just in my hometown in New Zealand, and there’s something about being back there that makes you remember all your first teenage romances and what they felt like and how strong those feelings were, and sneaking out and all that stuff. [The character] is 35 and was married, but she’s experiencing all this stuff again at her parents’ house.”

Director Todd Louiso said that Lynskey was overdue for her own starring role. Louiso said:

“Melanie didn’t know she was going to get the part. She thought she was just doing a reading, and said to me, ‘I’ll be so happy when I see it made, and Michelle Williams will get it, and I’ll get to say, I once read that part.’”

“Hello I Must Be Going” doesn’t have a wide release date yet, but hopefully someone picks it up at Sundance. Do you want to see Melanie Lynskey’s new movie?

Here’s a look at some of the other movies at Sundance.