“The scripts were so detailed in all the moments,” Lynskey said.

In so doing, Lynskey found some relatable surprises in her research.

She could kind of have her pick of anybody.

Melanie Lynskey with hair up and wearing earrings

And I loved that."

But surprisingly, she doesn’t see herself as an extrovert.

Instead, she related deeply to Betty Gore’s shyness and vulnerability.

Melanie Lynskey and Jessica Biel in “Candy”

“I felt very moved by a lot of aspects of her personality,” she said.

And I just felt like I knew her, kind of on a cellular level.

I just was like, ‘I understand this person.'"

Melanie Lynskey in red dress