Natasha Lyonne Biography 2025, Movies, TV Shows, News, Age, Celebrity Facts, Awards & Photos

Natasha Lyonne began her career early, modeling in first grade and making her acting debut in 1986 on Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Lyonne has since appeared in over 100 films and TV shows, including notable titles such as Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), American Pie (1999), But I’m a Cheerleader (1999), Scary Movie 2 (2002), New Girl (2011), and Weeds (2012). Her most famous TV roles include Nicky Nichols on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019) and Nadia Vulvokov on Russian Doll, a show she co-created, wrote for, directed, and produced. Russian Doll premiered on Netflix in 2019 and has garnered critical acclaim.

Early Life

Natasha Bianca Lyonne Braunstein was born on April 4, 1979, in New York City. She was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, living in Great Neck, New York, for her early years before moving to Israel for a year and a half. During her time in Israel, Lyonne acted in the children’s film April Fool, which sparked her interest in acting. After her parents divorced, she returned to New York City with her mother and brother, attending the private Ramaz School. However, after being expelled for selling marijuana, Lyonne moved to Miami, where she attended Miami Country Day School before dropping out to join a film program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Unfortunately, she had to leave Tisch after one year due to financial difficulties.

Film and Television Career

Lyonne’s first film role was an uncredited part in Heartburn (1986). By the end of the 1990s, she had appeared in a dozen more films, including Dennis the Menace (1993), Modern Vampires (1998), and Detroit Rock City (1999). In 1996, she starred in Woody Allen’s Everyone Says I Love You and gained further recognition with her role as Jessica in the blockbuster hit American Pie (1999). She reprised this role in American Pie 2 (2001) and American Reunion (2012), both of which were box office successes.

In 2001, Lyonne starred in Scary Movie 2 and appeared alongside Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman in Kate & Leopold. Her other notable film appearances include Party Monster (2003), Blade: Trinity (2004), All About Evil (2010), and Girl Most Likely (2013). More recently, she has appeared in films like A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018), Ad Astra (2019), and Irresistible (2020).

On television, Lyonne is best known for her role as Nicky Nichols on Orange Is the New Black, where she appeared in 81 episodes and directed a season seven episode. She currently stars as Nadia Vulvokov on Russian Doll, which has received multiple Emmy nominations. Lyonne has also lent her voice to several animated series, including Steven Universe, The Simpsons, Ballmastrz: 9009, and Big Mouth.

What are the Natasha Lyonne Awards and Nominations?

Throughout her career, Lyonne has received numerous awards and nominations. She won an Angel Film Award at the Monaco International Film Festival for Tricks of a Woman (2008) and a Best Actress award at the Golden Door International Film Festival for Night Club (2011). The cast of American Pie won a Young Hollywood Award in 2000, and Lyonne received two Screen Actors Guild Awards with the cast of Orange Is the New Black in 2015 and 2017.

For her work on Russian Doll, Lyonne earned multiple Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. The show itself won a Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding New Program and received nominations from the Gotham Awards, Hugo Awards, and Writers Guild of America.

Natasha Lyonne Facts

The Natasha Lyonne Filmography & Television

Here is a complete table of Natasha Lyonne’s film and television roles: