Natasha Lyonne is an American actress, writer, TV director, and producer born on April 4, 1979. She’s known for her unique raspy voice and tough characters. She won two Screen Actors Guild Awards and was nominated for five Primetime Emmys and two Golden Globes.
She started acting as a kid but became famous in the late 1990s with roles in movies like Everyone Says I Love You (1996), Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), But I’m a Cheerleader (1999), and American Pie (1999). In the 2000s, she appeared in many indie films but hit it big with her role as Nicky Nichols in Orange Is the New Black on Netflix (2013–2019).
She’s also been on Peacock’s Poker Face (2023–present) and Netflix’s Russian Doll (2019–2022), a show she helped create, produce, write, and direct. In 2023, Time magazine named Lyonne one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
| Full Name | Natasha Lyonne |
| Date of Birth | April 4, 1979 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, Director, Writer, Producer |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) |
| Spouse | Fred Armisen (partnered 2014–2022) |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
Natasha Lyonne’s Early Life and Education
Natasha Lyonne was born in New York City. Her parents were from Orthodox Jewish families, and she grew up in an Orthodox household. Her dad, Aaron Braunstein, had a diverse career as a boxing promoter, race car driver, and radio host. Her mom, Ivette Buchinger, was born in Paris to Hungarian-Jewish parents who survived the Holocaust.
Lyonne’s family history is marked by both tragedy and resilience. She once humorously remarked that her family tree includes “my father’s side, Flatbush, and my mother’s side, Auschwitz.” Her grandmother, Ella, survived the Holocaust with only a few family members due to their appearance, which Lyonne attributes to their blond hair and blue eyes. Her grandfather, Morris Buchinger, hid as a non-Jew in Budapest during the war.
Natasha Lyonne spent her early years in Great Neck, New York before her family moved to Israel for a brief period. It was in Israel that she got her first taste of acting in a children’s film. However, her parents later divorced, and she returned to the United States with her mother and brother. She attended a private Jewish school in New York City but was expelled in her sophomore year for selling marijuana.
Growing up on the Upper East Side, Lyonne often felt like an outsider. Her family relocated to Miami briefly, where she attended another school before dropping out. Despite not finishing high school, she pursued her passion for film by enrolling in New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Financial constraints forced her to leave the program before completing her first year.
Lyonne had a strained relationship with her father, who passed away in 2014 and was not particularly close to her mother, who died in 2013. Since the age of 16, she has essentially lived independently from her family.
Natasha Lyonne Reflects on Her Journey from Child Star to Acclaimed Actress
As a kid, Natasha Lyonne got signed by a big modeling agency, Ford Modeling Agency. She started acting young, like when she played Opal on Pee-wee’s Playhouse when she was seven. Her first movie role was in Heartburn, a comedy-drama, also when she was seven. Lyonne says being a child actor made her grow up fast. She had to learn how to handle business stuff when she was just six. By the time she was ten, she felt like she was already a pro and had lost some of the innocence of childhood. She thinks her parents didn’t know what they were getting into and just hoped for the best.
When she was 16, Lyonne got a part in Everyone Says I Love You, a musical comedy directed by Woody Allen. In it, she played D.J., the daughter of one of the main characters. This role got her noticed, and she soon landed a lead part in Slums of Beverly Hills, a comedy about growing up. Critics praised her performance, saying she came into her own as an actress.
In 1999, Lyonne starred in But I’m a Cheerleader, playing a teenager named Megan who’s confused about her sexuality. The movie wasn’t a huge hit when it came out, but it helped start conversations about the dangers of conversion therapy. It’s gained a cult following since then. That same year, she had a small but important role in American Pie, which was a huge success at the box office. She also appeared in Detroit Rock City and Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby. While the second one wasn’t well-received overall, Lyonne’s performance as a tough teenage character was praised.
Natasha Lyonne Shines in Diverse Roles: From Activist to Serial Killer
Natasha Lyonne starred in a bunch of different movies and shows over the years. She played a college activist fighting for lesbian rights in “If These Walls Could Talk 2” in 2000. Then she was in a serious movie about the Holocaust called “The Grey Zone” in 2001. After that, she kept busy with big movies like “Scary Movie 2,” “Kate & Leopold,” and “Blade: Trinity,” as well as smaller ones like “Zig Zag,” “Die, Mommie, Die!,” and “Party Monster.”
In 2009, she took the lead role in a weird comedy called “The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle.” Critics said it was strange but cool. Then in 2010, she played a crazy serial killer in a horror comedy called “All About Evil.” People liked her performance, saying she’s a superstar and can bring a lot of intensity to her roles.
Natasha Lyonne’s Journey: From Emmy Nominations to Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four’!
Natasha Lyonne has been busy over the years, starring in various movies and TV shows. One of her notable roles was in a movie called “4:44 Last Day on Earth” in 2011, where she played a supporting character. Critics found it interesting, calling it “weirdly compelling”. Then, she got her big break in television with the show “Orange Is the New Black” in 2013, where she played a funny and likable character named Nicky Nichols. People loved her performance so much that she even got nominated for an Emmy Award.
She didn’t just stick to TV though; she also did some cool stuff in movies. In 2016, she played a character named Lou in a weird and wild horror movie called “Antibirth”. Critics said she did an awesome job, bringing a lot of energy to the role. After that, she appeared in a bunch of other films like “Sleeping with Other People”, “Yoga Hosers”, and “Honey Boy”.
But her biggest TV success came with “Russian Doll”, a show she created and starred in. It’s about a woman named Nadia who keeps reliving her 36th birthday party over and over. People loved the show, praising Lyonne for her amazing performance and unique storytelling. She even got nominated for three Emmy Awards!
Recently, Natasha Lyonne has been branching out even more. She played Tallulah Bankhead in a movie called “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” and made a cameo in a mystery thriller called “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”. She also hosted an episode of “Saturday Night Live” and starred in a series called “Poker Face”. Critics liked “Poker Face”, saying it was exciting and Lyonne’s performance was captivating. The show is coming back for another season.
And now, she’s joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe! She’s set to star in the upcoming “Fantastic Four” movie, although her role hasn’t been revealed yet. It’s scheduled to come out in July 2025, and fans are excited to see what she’ll bring to the superhero world.
Natasha Lyonne’s Notable Stage Performances: A Journey Through Theater Highlights
Natasha Lyonne had her first New York stage appearance in 2008 in a play called Two Thousand Years by Mike Leigh. Then, she joined the original cast of Love, Loss, and What I Wore, a play based on a book by Ilene Beckerman and written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron.
In 2010, Lyonne was praised for her role in Tigers Be Still, a funny play by Kim Rosenstock, where she played a character named Grace who is overwhelmed with grief.
She was also in a play called Blood from a Stone in 2011. The next year, she took part in a special show called Women Behind Bars to help raise money for a cause.
Natasha Lyonne’s Cinematic Evolution: From Quirky Short Films to Powerhouse Productions
In 2017, Natasha Lyonne tried her hand at directing for the first time with a short film called Cabiria, Charity, Chastity, made for the fashion brand KENZO. It’s a bit weird, following a performer named Chastity who’s trying to come to terms with her past. She worked with a talented cinematographer named Chung-Hoon Chung for this.
Since then, she’s been busy. She wrote and directed episodes for shows like Russian Doll and Poker Face. Plus, she directed an episode for the last season of Orange is the New Black, and one each for Hulu’s Shrill and High Fidelity.
She didn’t stop there. Lyonne teamed up with Maya Rudolph to start a production company called Animal Pictures. Their first big project was a comedy special with Sarah Cooper called Everything’s Fine, which Lyonne also directed. They’re behind other shows like Russian Doll, Poker Face, and a new animated series called The Second Best Hospital In The Galaxy.
But things changed in 2023 when Rudolph left the company. Lyonne kept it going solo under the Animal banner. Then, in 2024, she made a deal with a production company called Sister to work together on future Animal projects.
When it comes to her directing style, Lyonne isn’t into keeping things simple. She likes to pack her shots with lots of stuff, saying that just making things look nice and neat isn’t always the best storytelling. She also believes in doing lots of research to understand the stories she’s telling, whether it’s reading books, watching movies, or listening to music.
What Is Natasha Lyonne’s Net Worth?
Natasha Lyonne’s Net Worth is estimated to be $5 Million as of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Breaking Stereotypes in Hollywood and LGBTQ+ Advocacy
Natasha Lyonne has been on the front covers of many magazines like Backstage, Bust, Diva, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, The Hollywood Reporter, Interview, Nylon, Out, Paper, Variety, Venus, and TheWrap.
In 2023, Lyonne talked about her “tough guy” image, saying she’s been inspired by actors like De Niro. She feels a connection to characters played by actors like Peter Falk, Joe Pesci, and Jimmy Cagney, even though she loves actresses like Bette Davis and Mae West. When she was writing Russian Doll, she aimed for a character that blended both feminine and masculine traits.
Lyonne is often seen as a role model for the LGBTQ+ community because she’s played gay characters in shows like Orange Is the New Black and But I’m a Cheerleader, and she supports LGBTQ+ rights. In 2015, she received the Ally for Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign.
Natasha Lyonne: NYC Living, Chosen Family, and Love Life Update
Back in 1997, Natasha Lyonne used the money she got from the movie Everyone Says I Love You to buy an apartment near Gramercy Park. Nowadays, she lives in New York City’s East Village and also has a house in Los Angeles.
Natasha doesn’t have much contact with her biological family, but she talks a lot about how important her chosen family is. These are the friends and collaborators she’s close to. Some of her closest friends include Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Janicza Bravo. She’s especially tight with Melanie Lynskey and Clea DuVall. She even sees Chloë Sevigny as more than just a friend, almost like a sister.
Natasha says she’s straight, but she’s also talked about her sexuality differently. She doesn’t see it as a big deal and describes it more as being mischievous and playful.
As for her love life, Natasha dated Edward Furlong back in the late 1990s and Andrew Zipern in the early 2010s. She started dating Fred Armisen in 2014, but they broke up in April 2022. They’re still good friends, though.
Natasha Lyonne’s Turbulent Past and Inspiring Road to Recovery
In the early 2000s, Natasha Lyonne faced some serious problems with the law. She got arrested for driving while drunk and for behaving aggressively toward her neighbors. Things got even worse when she got kicked out of her apartment by actor Michael Rapaport because other people living there complained about her actions.
Then, in 2005, she ended up in the hospital in New York City. She was sick with hepatitis C, a heart infection called infective endocarditis, and one of her lungs had collapsed. On top of all that, she was getting treated with methadone for her addiction to heroin. Things got even messier when she missed a court date because of some emergency her lawyer mentioned, but didn’t explain.
Later that year, she went into a rehab facility for her drug and alcohol problems. After completing her treatment, she went back to court, and the judge let her off the hook with some conditions. Since December 2006, she’s been clean from drugs and has been very open about her struggles and her journey to recovery.
In 2012, she had to have surgery on her heart because the infection had damaged one of her heart valves. And just recently, in 2023, she decided to quit smoking for good.
Natasha Lyonne’s Inspirations, Passions, and Puzzles: A Peek into Her Fascinating World
Natasha Lyonne looks up to some cool people like John Cassavetes, Peter Falk, Lou Reed, Nora Ephron, and Delia Ephron for her work. She admires performances by Giulietta Masina in Nights of Cabiria, Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence, David Thewlis in Naked, and Roy Scheider in All That Jazz.
She’s into crossword puzzles and even made one for The New York Times in 2019. During the 2023 WGA strike, she let fans solve a crossword with her to help raise money for the Union Solidarity Coalition. She also likes thinking about deep stuff like philosophy and watching old movies. Oh, and she’s got a cute dog called Rootbeer who shows up on her social media and in interviews.
