"I never saw [Susan Smith] more focused than after attending a screening of Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures. Kate Winslet was all the rage — every major agency wanted her — but Susan was far more interested in her costar, Melanie Lynskey, who was barely 17 at the time and living halfway around the world in New Zealand. Susan gave Melanie a place to stay during trips to the U.S. and was determined to get her work. I still don't believe I've seen an audition on tape as amazing as Melanie's for the Nicholas Hytner version of The Crucible starring Winona Ryder, which she did almost immediately after signing with Susan."