12 Best Natasha Lyonne Movies And TV Shows
There's no one like Natasha Lyonne. With her distinctive, raspy New York accent, fiery red curls, and penchant for playing disheveled characters with a heart of gold, Lyonne has carved out a unique place in Hollywood. Who else could conceivably be described as a cross between Mae West and Joe Pesci? In the 1990s, Lyonne emerged on the scene, starring in offbeat comedies like "Slums of Beverly Hills," American Pie," and "Detroit Rock City." Her career languished somewhat in the 2000s until she starred as Nicky Nichols in Netflix's breakout hit "Orange Is The New Black."
Recently, Lyonne has stepped into what you might call the auteur phase of her career, writing and starring in "Russian Doll" and starring and producing "Poker Face" with director Rian Johnson. Though Lyonne has become a fixture on our TV screens as of late, she still doesn't get enough credit for her work in the industry and the unmatched quality of her work. With the success of her recent projects, now is the perfect time to conduct a Natasha Lyonne retrospective! Join us as we look back at the best films and TV shows in Lyonne's decades-long career.
Slums of Beverly Hills
1998's "Slums of Beverly Hills" was Natasha Lyonne's first lead role. With it, she announced to the world that she was a rising talent. Set in 1976, the film follows the Abromowitzes, a family that moves from apartment to apartment every few months. They eventually decide to settle in Beverly Hills, so 14-year-old Vivian (Lyonne) and her brothers can attend good schools. Soon their lives are shaken up by the arrival of Vivian's older cousin, Rita (Marisa Tomei), who escaped from rehab and has been placed under the care of the family by Vivian's uncle, Mikey (Carl Reiner).
The film had moderately positive reviews at the time of its premiere. Since its release, it has become a cult classic. Audiences appreciate the film's naturalistic, earnest sense of humor. Lyonne is wonderful in her breakout role, and her organic performance is even more impressive when you consider she was acting opposite legends like Alan Arkin, Tomei, and Reiner. There's a beautiful openness to teenaged Lyonne's performance here, which makes the film's awkward and hilarious moments — many involve sex and puberty — affecting. Of course, this film launched Lyonne's career, as it perfectly showcases her uncanny ability to bring heart to the most absurd circumstances and characters.
American Pie
Following the relative success of "Slums of Beverly Hills," Lyonne landed a role in "American Pie." One of the most beloved teen comedies of the 1990s, "American Pie" follows a group of teenage boys who make a pact to lose their virginity before their high school graduation. Lyonne plays one of their classmates, Jessica, a sexually experienced young woman. She offers advice to her less knowledgeable peers. Lyonne doesn't have a huge part in the film, but she makes the most of her limited screen time. She delivers every one-liner with perfect timing and an air of unaffected maturity that makes her one of the most likable characters in the film.
Speaking with EW, Lyonne revealed that she was "very confused by this movie" because it represented a suburban and "fratty" high school experience that she didn't have. She turned the role down several times before accepting it, telling Drew Barrymore, "Then they gave me money, and I began to understand." That confusion doesn't show up in Lyonne's performance, as she easily inhabits the role of a promiscuous teenager. Lyonne noted that she's ultimately grateful for the film because it allowed her to have a successful career in indie films in the following years.
But I'm a Cheerleader
Lyonne had a pretty amazing run in the late 1990s, starring in three comedy films that would become iconic cult classics. The last of these films was 1999's "But I'm a Cheerleader," which remains Lyonne's greatest film to date. Directed by Jamie Babbit, the film follows a teenage girl, Megan (Lyonne), who is sent to a conversion therapy camp when her parents suspect she's gay. The catch? Megan doesn't think she's gay, leading to the film's incredulous title, "But I'm a cheerleader!"
Upon arriving at True Directions, Megan meets a cast of colorful characters, including cool-girl lesbian Graham (played by frequent Lyonne collaborator Clea DuVall), and Mike (played by the one-and-only RuPaul). The film's incredible supporting cast also includes indie darling Melanie Lynskey, Cathay Moriarty, Eddie Cibrian, and Julie Delpy. Megan soon realizes her parents were right — she is a lesbian. Her burgeoning romance with Graham is adorable, and the cheer she performs near the end of the film to win Graham's heart is pure joy.
A comedy set at a conversion therapy camp might seem like a hard sell, but its snappy script and wonderfully heartfelt performances result in a delightful, timeless classic. Yes, Lyonne's endearing naivete in the film might seem like a far cry from the more cynical roles she would play later in her career. But Lyonne's performances consistently commit to honesty and vulnerability.
Scary Movie 2
Even Lyonne's biggest fans might have forgotten she was once featured in the most popular horror satire series ever. We're here to remind you about her role in "Scary Movie 2." Lyonne only has a small part in the film, but her character is the central figure in the movie's opening scene. In a parody of "The Exorcist," Lyonne plays a teenager named Megan Voorhees who becomes possessed by a malevolent spirit. Her mother (Veronica Cartwright) hires two priests, Father McFeely (James Woods) and Father Harris (Andy Richter), to perform an exorcism on her daughter.
Lyonne is almost unrecognizable in the role due to her exaggerated hair and makeup. She goes all in playing the out-of-her-mind teenager. As in "The Exorcist," possessed Megan acts completely feral — though Lyonne's version of the character lets loose a series of obscenities that were certainly not said in the original film.
The final product is an amusing and well-executed gag — due in no small part to Lyonne's dedication. However, the opening vignette could have been even more absurd. As Lyonne told EW, Marlon Brando was cast in the role of Father McFeely but dropped out due to health reasons. Lyonne still has the dailies of their scenes together. Unsurprisingly, Lyonne describes the encounter as one of the most surreal moments in her career.
The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle
"The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle" may be the strangest project Lyonne has starred in throughout her career. That's saying a lot for an actor known for being eccentric. David Russo's low-budget oddity follows a devoutly religious man, Dory (Marshall Allman), who is fired from his IT job. Dory then works as a janitor and encounters some strange happenings at his workplace.
While cleaning a marketing research firm, Dory and his coworkers ingest a batch of cookies that causes a bizarre kind of male pregnancy. Dory soon learns that they are being experimented on by the company, and the conspiracy is led by one of the firm's employees, Tracy (Lyonne).
Despite its small budget, the film gets an impressive amount done and is a totally outlandish ride. Lyonne fits seamlessly into this offbeat world, and her eerily menacing character is a delicious villain. No, it's definitely not the kind of film that is going to please everyone. Still, Lyonne and her collaborators have never been ones to play it safe.
All About Evil
Lyonne has a talent for playing slightly unhinged characters, which is why 2010's "All About Evil" is the perfect role for her. Lyonne plays Deborah, a passive young woman who runs her family's movie theater. To save the theater from financial ruin, Deborah shows a series of violent exploitation films, much to the delight of her audience. But the moviegoers don't know that these films depict murders that Deborah and her projectionist committed. The film also features the Mistress of the Dark herself, Cassandra Peterson, as the mother of one of Deborah's devoted fans.
"All About Evil" is a campy take on the '80s slasher film, and its low-budget approach to horror is best described as "scrappy." The film's campy style is an absolute hoot, and Lyonne's delightfully over-the-top performance is fantastic. As critic Michael Talbot-Haynes writes, the performances in the film feels like drag, which makes sense given its filmmaker is none other than the legendary drag queen Peaches Christ. Though her career certainly wasn't at its peak in 2010, Lyonne's performance in the film proves she is a star in any decade.
Orange Is The New Black
Though Lyonne continued working as an actor throughout the 2000s, her addictions to drugs temporarily derailed her career. She returned to acting in the late 2000s, appearing in off-broadway shows — thanks to the encouragement of her friend and actor Chloë Sevigny. In 2013, Lyonne had her "comeback," playing Nicky Nichols in the critically-acclaimed "Orange Is The New Black."
While our entry point into "Orange Is The New Black" is from the privileged, ignorant Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), its other inmates, like Nicky, are the heart of the show. Nicky is a sardonic, foul-mouthed lesbian lothario addicted to drugs. Despite her many flaws, Nicky is eminently lovable. Nicky allows Lyonne to do what she does best, balancing the wisecracking, devil-may-care side of her character with an underlining desire to be loved and understood. Lyonne plays Nicky with an earnestness that goes right for the jugular while providing plenty of comedic fodder.
Despite her initial appearance as a sidekick, Nicky is one of the most tragic figures on the show. Her dynamic with her maternal figure, Red (Kate Mulgrew), and her love interest, Lorna (Yael Stone), are some of the most moving relationships in the series. It's impossible to single out any one actor's contributions to the show because the ensemble is so great, but Lyonne's performance here is absolutely one of the series' high points.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Portlandia
Lyonne is probably best known for her work in comedy, so it's not a surprise that she was featured on one of TV's most sought-out sketch comedy shows, "Portlandia." Created by Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen, "Portlandia" is set in Portland, Oregon, and features a recurring group of characters. Brownstein and Armisen portray many of these characters.
Throughout the series, Lyonne appears in five different episodes — playing different characters in each sketch. You can find Lyonne attending a music festival, patronizing Seaworld, or exploring the wild world of dating apps. Despite Lyonne's distinctive style, her stint on "Portlandia" illustrated the fact that she can pull off any type of role you throw at her. The series remains one of the most beloved sketch comedy series in recent memory. "Portlandia" ran for an impressive eight seasons and its guest stars — like Lyonne — made it a memorable piece of pop culture.
The Intervention
Along with her good friend Chloë Sevigny, one of Lyonne's frequent collaborators is Clea DuVall. Considering their long-standing relationship, it's fitting that Lyonne starred in DuVall's directorial debut, 2016's "Intervention." The film follows a group of four couples who take a weekend getaway together. The trip becomes increasingly fraught when it's revealed that the entire vacation was planned as an intervention for one of the couples, Peter (Vincent Piazza) and Ruby (Cobie Smulders).
The film's cast is composed of many of DuVall's close friends, including Melanie Lynskey, Jason Ritter, Lyonne, and Alia Shawkat. These pre-existing relationships likely account for the easy chemistry the actors have with one another — despite the film's tense situations and setup.
No stranger to playing romantic partners, DuVall and Lyonne are perfectly believable as a couple. Both actors shine as the cracks in their relationship emerge. What the film lacks in innovation it makes up for with well-drawn characters and compelling emotional excavation. Indeed, "The Intervention" plays to all of the actor's strengths. Lyonne and DuVall's collaboration is, as always, an offbeat pleasure to behold.
Russian Doll
Though Lyonne has long proven herself to be an inimitable figure in Hollywood, it wasn't until 2019's "Russian Doll" that she showed us just how far her creative capabilities go. Lyonne served as a writer, director, producer, and actor in the series. "Russian Doll" follows Nadia (Lyonne), a woman stuck in a time loop on the evening of her 36th birthday. Nadia meets Alan (Charlie Barnett), who is experiencing the same phenomenon, and together they try to figure out how to escape the loop.
Season 1 absolutely stuck the landing, which makes it even more impressive that Lyonne came back with a second season that is just as interesting as the first. Season 2 of "Russian Doll" follows Lyonne as she approaches her 40th birthday: She's sent back in time to 1982 where she finds herself inhabiting the body of her mother (Chloë Sevigny).
"Russian Doll" is a remarkable piece of television. First, the writing and directing are brilliant, and it manages to take an outlandish — and seemingly repetitive — story and make it nothing short of gripping. Lyonne's performance is deeply heartfelt, searching, and, of course, hilarious. It's an incredibly moving portrait of generational trauma that is unlike anything in television.
Big Mouth
Being that she has one of the most distinctive voices of any actor working today, it makes perfect sense that Lyonne would be cast in an animated series. Starting in 2016, Lyonne appeared in four episodes of "The Simpsons." But her most glorious voice acting role is in Nick Kroll's critically acclaimed series, "Big Mouth." Lyonne was featured in seven episodes of the series, usually playing Suzette, a motel pillow who is in a relationship with Jay (Jason Mantzoukas), or Nancy, Jessi's (Jessie Klein) therapist.
There was also a "Big Mouth" and "Russian Doll" crossover sequence in season 4 that delighted fans. Nick (Nick Kroll) gets stuck in a time loop, a sequence that is soundtracked by Harry Nilsson's "Gotta Get Up," the same song featured in "Russian Doll." At the end of the scene, Nick finds himself in an episode with an animated Natasha Lyonne, who enchants us with her wonderfully protracted pronunciation of the word cockroach (pronounced cock-a-roach by Lyonne). As Nadia so eloquently puts it in "Russian Doll," "What a concept!"
Poker Face
In many ways, the Peacock series "Poker Face" feels like the culmination of Lyonne's entire career. Created by Rian Johnson and with Lyonne serving as an executive producer, the show follows Charlie Cale (Lyonne), a casino worker with the uncanny ability to tell when people are lying. When Charlie gets involved with some unsavory sorts at the casino, she has to escape. She travels the United States in her vintage car — running from an accidental incident.
While traveling the country, Charlie encounters all kinds of interesting people. Each episode sees her working to solve a murder using her unique skill. Since it's stylized and case-of-the-week detective mystery, "Poker Face" feels like a modern-day "Columbo." Peter Falk and Lyonne bring a disheveled ingenuity to their respective leading roles in their series. But Lyonne makes "Poker Face" her own creation. Considering her throwback style, it's no surprise that Johnson wrote the part specifically for her.
"Poker Face" features an astounding lineup of guest stars, including Adrien Brody, Hong Chau, Judith Light, Cherry Jones, Nick Nolte, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. While all of these guest stars are incredible, Lyonne is the show's emotional and moral center. Her performance therein is in a league of its own. At its core, "Poker Face" is a show about the power of empathy. In addition to her perfect comedic timing, she hits the show's poignant moments with deadly, heartbreaking accuracy — proving (once again) that there's just no one like Natasha Lyonne.