Turned professional since 1986, Natasha Lyonne, an American actress, director & producer is widely famous for portraying Nicky Nichols in Orange Is the New Black (2013- 2019). The 4-time Primetime Emmy nominee starred, directed & wrote the Netflix comedy-drama Russian Doll (2019-present).
Including TV and films, Lyonne records 107 acting credits so far. From 1999 to 2012, she played Jessica in the American Pie films (3 movies) and has appeared in other commercial successes like Scary Movie 2 (2001), Blade: Trinity (2004), and Honey Boy (2019).
Raised In a Jewish Family
Natasha was born on April 4, 1979, in New York City, New York, USA, to Ivette Buchinger and Aaron Braunstein. Her father was a boxing promoter, race car driver & radio host. Her parents were Orthodox Jewish. At the age of 8, she moved to Israel with her parents & older brother Adam. But returned after a year & a half as Lyonne's parents divorced.
Reportedly, she was estranged from her father, who died in October 2014 & is also not close to her mother. Lyonne has lived independently since the age of 16.
Natasha attended Ramaz School but was expelled for selling marijuana. Although the American actress went to Miami Country Day School, she didn't graduate but took NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. However, left after she couldn't pay tuition fees.
Lyonne's Age & Height
As of May 2023, Lyonne is 44 years old & has a height of 5 ft. 1.5 inch (156 cm).
Career In Acting: Film and TV Series Appearances
While living briefly in Israel, she worked in the children's film April Fool, after which she found passion in acting. Natasha, then after her return to New York, the USA, signed with Ford Modeling Agency. In 1986, Lyonne appeared in the TV series Pee-wee's Playhouse.
At the age of 16, Natasha Lyonne made her film debut with an appearance in the 1996 film Everyone Says I Love You, & appeared in other movies: Slums of Beverly Hills (1998) and Modern Vampires (1998). In 1999, she worked in the comedy American Pie starring Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, and Alyson Hannigan.
Some of her famous film appearances are Scary Movie 2 (2001), American Pie 2 (2001), Blade: Trinity (2004), The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle (2009), American Reunion (2012), alongside actors Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Wesley Snipes, and Jessica Biel.
Throughout the 2010s, Natasha Lyonne appeared in critically acclaimed films G.B.F. (2014), Hello, My Name is Doris (2016), Antibirth (2016), John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch (2019), and Honey Boy (2019).
Worked In 'Orange Is the New Black'
From 2013 to 2019, Natasha Lyonne starred as Nicky Nichols in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black in 81 episodes. There, she shared the screen with Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, and Michael Harney, earning a nomination for Primetime Emmy.
Natasha Lyonne as Nicky Nichols in Orange Is the New Black SOURCE: Pinterest
On February 1, 2019, Lyonne's Netflix comedy-drama Russian Doll premiered totaling 8 episodes. Alongside being the main cast, she also directed & produced the series. It renewed for 2nd season in June 2019. The series earned her another 3 Primetime nominations.
Her TV career includes brief appearances in Will & Grace (2000), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2011), Girls (2015), and Documentary Now! (2019).
Other Projects
The actress' film The United States vs. Billie Holiday was released in 2021. She also worked on a short film Lip Service.
Net Worth In 2023
Throughout her career journey, Natasha Lyonne has worked in 107 TV series and films. Currently, the actress is estimated to have around $6 Million. According to Celebrity Net Worth, she had a net worth of $5 million as of September 2020. The major source of her income is acting; The Richest reports a $500,000 payroll from the film American Reunion.
Alongside acting, the American actress made a considerable sum of money through directing & producing credits. Here is the list of her film's box-office collection:
- American Pie (1999)- $235.5 million
- Scary Movie 2 (2001)- $141.2 million
- American Pie 2 (2001)- $287.6 million
- Blade: Trinity (2004)- $132 million
Is Natasha Lyonne Dating or Married?
The Orange Is the New Black actress is currently single and not dating anyone. Currently, Natasha lives in New York City. She was previously in a relationship with Fred Armisen, a veteran personality on Saturday Night Live. They were dating since 2014.
Natasha Lyonne and her ex-boyfriend Fred Armisen
SOURCE: Elle
On August 26, 2014, the duo's relationship topic made highlighted after they attended the Variety and Women in Film Emmy Nominee Celebration. Their official duo appearance was at Independent Film Spirit Awards in February 2015.
On September 5, 2016, she shared an Instagram post featuring Armisen backstage at The Misfits concert with the caption "Boyfriend of the Year award, basically."
From time often, the couple shared adorable posts mentioning each other on social media. Sadly, they ended their long-time relationship in 2022 without marriage or sharing a child together.
Awards and Achievements
Natasha Lyonne has had a successful career in acting and has received recognition for her work through several awards and nominations. Here are some of her notable achievements:
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Primetime Emmy Awards: Lyonne has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, both for her work on the Netflix series "Russian Doll." She was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2019 and 2020.
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Screen Actors Guild Awards: In 2020, Lyonne and her fellow cast members from "Orange is the New Black" won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
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Independent Spirit Awards: Lyonne was nominated for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards in 2000 for her performance in "But I'm a Cheerleader."
In addition to these awards, Lyonne has also been praised for her performances by critics and audiences alike. Her work in various films and TV shows has cemented her as a talented and versatile actress in the industry.
Health Issues
After suffering from hepatitis C, a heart infection, and a collapsed lung, Lyonne was admitted to Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan in 2005. Reportedly, she was undergoing drug and alcohol treatment in 2006; methadone treatment for heroin addiction.
In March 2012, while appearing in The Rosie Show, Natasha opened up about her health problems & stated she underwent open-heart surgery to correct heart valve damage.
Inside her Controversies
Natasha Lyonne has had some controversies throughout her career in the entertainment industry. Here are some notable examples:
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Drug and legal issues: In the early 2000s, Lyonne had a well-publicized struggle with substance abuse and legal troubles. She was arrested for charges including DUI and cocaine possession and spent time in rehab.
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Divisive comments: In 2018, Lyonne faced criticism for comments she made about the #MeToo movement during an interview with the Guardian. She suggested that the movement could become "a bit of a witch hunt" and expressed concern about the potential for false accusations.
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Offensive language: Lyonne has also faced backlash for using offensive language and making controversial statements. In 2014, she used a racial slur during a performance at a comedy club, and in 2020 she was criticized for making a transphobic comment during an interview.
Despite these controversies, Lyonne remains a respected actress and has continued to work in the entertainment industry. She has also apologized for some of her past behavior and expressed a commitment to learning and growing from her mistakes.
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