The multi-faceted Natasha Lyonne

Actress, writer, director and producer Natasha Lyonne, who earned Emmy nominations for "Orange Is the New Black," "Russian Doll" and "Poker Face," has been an infectious presence on-screen for decades, playing characters who tend to be funny, perceptive, and a little weird. Lyonne talked with "Sunday Morning" contributor Kelefa Sanneh about bringing her magnetic talent to the new film "His Three Daughters," and about how her chaotic childhood may have prepared her for a life being, as Time magazine put it, "the coolest person in the room."
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[@screenshotscenes]

“coolest person in the room” is really the best and most accurate description anyone could ever use when talking about natasha lyonne

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

If you're trapped in a storage unit full of people who didn't pay their coke dealer.

[@monaobremski2068]

From one Brooklyn girl to another: Loved the garbage can slider! You rocked it.

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

I'm sure her assistant trained her

[@evanetter]

I’m so happy that she’s filming season two of Poker Face because I’ve been waiting for it!

[@SunLightFawn]

Same here! It's a really good show with drama, and comedy!

[@orion8835]

Russian Doll & Poker Face are pure entertainment. Lyonne has found her stride beyond the childhood 20 sonetgung years which were quirky and interesting yet there was more. Now her projects are just right THERE. Adore these projects.

[@azohundred1353]

Natasha Lyonne is a wonderful actress and woman. She consistently gives great performances in anything she's in.

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

And destroyed her apartment while refusing to pay for it? Yep. class act.

[@janelleallbritton2199]

Amen. Grief is the river running under every year of my life. Thank you, Natasha, for saying it out loud. Great interview!

[@simplytruth9729]

"Every year of my long life" grief for a lost childhood, emotionally neglected--wounds that never heal but you hide them the best way that you can and hope to do no harm.

[@lorilee2485]

I'm a 60 yr old woman and I found her so relatable. I have no idea how, but I did. ❤

[@laylascott6096]

I take care of my mom who has Alzheimer’s and I’ve been grieving her loss even though she’s still here for 6 years. It’s unimaginably painful

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

She’s always had such a cool personality

[@mililaniman]

I enjoy learning about Natasha Lyonne has evolved as an actress. I look forward to watching His Three Daughters.

[@anncoultress7026]

I can definitely see Natasha Lyonne playing Stevie Nicks

[@loganswiss6903]

Natasha Lyonne always brings a smile on my face! So smart, so clever, so funny, so very incredibly... fascinating!!! My mom's 1st name was Natasha and I just love that Ms. Lyonne is able to radiate all this good energy without me crumbling down to my knees because my mom passed away almost two years ago... September 1st is her birthday 💔💔💔Thank you Natasha Lyonne 🙏🙏🙏...I miss you mom ❤❤❤

[@maryburrell3948]

She’s such a talented actress. I really enjoy her acting performances.

[@Magdalena8008s]

To go from living in Skid Row and basically death. To where shes at now. Big props.

[@nternetrat]

pardon my potential l but literally skid row or metaphorically ?

[@ir3111]

If there will ever be a Clara Bow biopic soon, Natasha Lyonne would be the perfect actress to play her. She’s Clara Bow’s doppelgänger.

[@freemakerthings4518]

She's gonna be in What If season 3 as an original character, and in the new Fantastic Four film.....hoooo boy she's onto something

[@lindseyann6562]

I have loved Natasha Lyonne since I saw Slums of Beverly Hills as a teen back in the day. But I'm a Cheerleader is a personal favorite too. She is always my favorite in anything I see her in. Can't wait for season 2 of poker face

[@artvrl]

so excited for season 2 of poker face

[@michaelcain9324]

She's a gem. ❤

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

I would have used the term "lump of coal", but .....sure

[@richardwilliams7374]

She may have the biggest glow up in human history. Sooooo so fine ! And one of the best actresses ever. My suicidal sweet heart is incredible

[@vivandav67]

LOVE her...she is a national treasure...

[@theck672]

Yeah❣️ Looking forward to more of the brilliant show: Poker Face❣️❣️❣️❣️🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@katdujka4760]

I have admired her since seeing her Slums of Beverly Hills. My cousin rented it when it came out on video. changed my life.

[@ghostriderx916]

She’s fantastic 😂

[@plankface]

She is amazing and so talented….I’m glad she’s out there busting a move….love her ❤️🧡

[@maryburrell3948]

Loved her in Orange Is The New Black and Russian Doll.

[@puertoruiz]

Imagine her and Jeff Goldblum in the same interview.

[@paxromano7264]

I love this woman. I think she could do a great job playing Mae West!

[@b.visconti1765]

I just Love her! Found her on Russian Doll and Now will look for her series

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

It's horrible. Her family is in with CBS, that's why she's on here

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

It's great!

[@PogieJoe]

She's a treasure. Just brilliant.

[@thomasmohr6743]

She was cast as Birdie, Kat Dennings and Seth Green as her parents. Great castings

[@Light6ify]

She deserves a million Oscars ❤ Period !

[@archiechoke23]

Loved her in Slums of Beverly Hills.

[@ecwdude17]

Redheads are so cool. Natasha Lyone is one of them. 👩🏻‍🦰

[@sorayaassar1602]

She’s amazing. I’ve loved her for years.

[@kamadesire]

is it not a natasha lyonne interview if she’s not roaming around the streets of the lower west side? love her always

[@RIP19851]

Lesbian cheerleader movie was one of my favorites

[@Light6ify]

I love this actress so much she is hilarious an amazingly real!! ❤

[@theck672]

Love her❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

[@oldhollywoodangels]

She's a great actress

[@karronlaneNOLA]

love her and her work. grief. yes.

[@Sky-jq4xs]

I soooo love her❤

[@heynowls3058]

Who doesn’t dig Natasha! Can’t wait for second season of poker face.

[@italianbaby]

Me too... love that show, reminds me a little bit of Colombo...

[@leahjuniper2031]

@@italianbaby exactly! she's the female Colombo !

[@johnurban7333]

Except Columbo wasn’t running from anything

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

You forgot your question mark.

[@thenightporter]

She's the love child of Bernadette Peters and Christopher Walken, with a touch of Jack Nicholson.

[@RubyTyson-pf8ly]

I am in love with Natasha lyonne

[@strykertool]

She is a broad! She came from the depths of darkness and didn’t become a casualty. I can see her as the saucy auntie roles.

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

I bet you also like Jack Black. Maybe they can play a married couple.

[@rodolfoleyva5157]

Russian Doll is a must see! 😁

[@laylascott6096]

2nd season was disappointing to me. Loved the first one

[@YinkaLuvsRainbows]

My fav! Charlie Cale is my current style icon.

[@SHARON.I]

I love her! Looks like she's had some work done

[@GreenTea-y4s]

no she just lost a lot of weight, it changes the face.

[@user-uj9zj4uv5r]

She is so awesome and funny

[@volvoguy804]

She has a very strong accent.

[@markricks]

Have loved Natasha for as long as I can remember - She's wonderful ❤

[@HannaIvy-pi4qn]

Love love love and support her she is so amazing..... perfection

[@SailorsGirl1957]

I like her and she gets on my nerves 😆

[@davidlong1786]

I can understand that. It's like how I felt about Robin Williams. He was fun to watch on TV and movies but if I had to be around him for a whole day I would have run away screaming.

[@maryhurst4663]

I agree….it’s the voice

[@marcojimenez595]

@@maryhurst4663 TOTALLLLLLY!!!!! I really like her, just such an annoying voice

[@leahjuniper2031]

I adore her.

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

So do her drug dealers.

[@leahjuniper2031]

@@JamesWyatt-o5j did. past tense you negative noah/ nancy!

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

@@leahjuniper2031 Your grammar is adorable and wasn't she recently engaged to FRED ARMISEN??? Obvious, sign of continued drug use.

[@leahjuniper2031]

so many are praising her.. why are you so ridiculous? did she turn you down?

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

@@leahjuniper2031 No, she sounds like Marge Simpson and looks like the woman you settle for at closing time. It's just because I've seen her acting and didn't she trash Michael Rappaport's condo and refuse to pay for it? Also, that wig isn't helping.

[@nancied]

She reminds me of Mae West, brilliant, funny, and beautiful.

[@oscarp4328]

1:51 Just got goosebumps. I was 10 when I saw slums of Beverly Hills.

[@shamamawhitt854]

We love you Tash & can't wait for those "simulation" ideas of yours to become another film great!!!!!

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

I've had a crush on this redhead from first sight, and it just gets stronger as the years go on... ;-)

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

Yeah, but you're.....'Igor'. That's actually appropriate

[@Masterdebater-q5c]

Does she always speak in a transatlantic style accent? Interesting if so, that would explain why she seems like “old hollywood”

[@lisamcbarron6047]

yeah...almost with a little bit of "Mae West" built into her speech style, don't you think? At least that's what popped into my mind within the first few mins of this interview..........

[@donrodgers4111]

I noticed this too, more than usual

[@marytheresejacksonlutz2533]

Is this her natural speaking voice? Or is it her “acting” voice?

[@maxrobertson9008]

@@marytheresejacksonlutz2533 She sounds very affected.

[@chrisharris_arizona]

@@maxrobertson9008 she was really playing up the “eshes” when saying the “esses”…know what I’m shaying?

[@connimallchok7857]

She’s the best!!!

[@einbertalstein1394]

If New York City were a person. And i mean that in the best way possible.

[@maurawhelan3530]

She’s very cool!

[@maryhurst4663]

First thing I saw her in was Poker Face.

[@ogkushbreath8607]

Good grief I love this woman 😊

[@eugeniaperry4278]

She is a Fantastic actress! 🌟🌟🌟🌟👑🙏🏾

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

Maybe when she's acting sober and unprivileged.

[@dimebagdave77]

Natasha simply kicks A$$🤘✌️

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

Not at selecting wigs

[@crystinamarie1]

Russian Doll was fantastic. Season 1 in particular. Give it a watch if you haven't already.

[@laylascott6096]

Loved season 1

[@reneebledsoe3152]

If they ever do a new rendition of Sweet Charity.... it's hers :) Or a biopic of Shirley McLaine

[@material___]

She looks kind of like Faye Dunaway. Regardless, she’s so beautiful.

[@TylerD288]

And you look like Clark Gable.

[@whitneydenise]

My fave movie was “slums of beverly hills”

[@maryhurst4663]

That hair!

[@TylerD288]

wig

[@LadyMorganLavon]

It never feels like she’s acting. I always feel she’s just being herself

[@JennySiede]

❤❤❤❤ Always love her

[@timothyharrison8953]

PeeWee's Playhouse first episode. There she is!

[@stetson1503]

Love Natasha!

[@RebelBuddha1971]

Love love love Natasha - hard not to ❤

[@oscarp4328]

0:51 Amen sister.

[@JaylenPotts-zs2qw]

Shes very special and talented.

[@aux8344]

She certainly is attractive ! Sounds like she is doing a voice from The Simpsons. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing ...

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

Get therapy.

[@jordanyeager9220]

I want her in the Narnia reboot!

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

Will she have hooves?

[@faithallen1169]

She's a great actress, I get a kick out of her.

[@capt_howdy]

Wait are we just allowed to make up a new accent if we don't like our old one? Nobody told me that was a thing we could do! lmao

[@lisaclark1181]

I think she may be a genius!! The best kind.

[@amusicment4829]

❤

[@mopthermopther]

🌹Poker Face🌹

[@sherylcrowe3255]

HUGE FAN! 🎉❤💋

[@professionalbystander2574]

Can we please get a Lucille Ball Biopic starring Natasha? Pretty please.

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

Before Ball died?

[@crystinamarie1]

Yasssss

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

@@crystinamarie1 Lyonne looks like my socks and Ball was 40 (wasaaay prettier) when the Tab show began

[@hissendaoud1373]

🌺

[@Mostlymattie]

God I love her

[@UncleSam-USofA]

great actress

[@apok1980]

I’d really like to be friends with her. 😊

[@margieerwin5798]

I’m so glad you beat the drug craze. Wishing you continued success, Fellow New Yorker.

[@billyalarie929]

She’s got such an interesting way of speaking. Idk how to explain it

[@amonrodriguez3518]

Annoying. Perfect way to explain it

[@JamesWyatt-o5j]

Cocaine.

[@chriswoosley1697]

Like she's in the 1940's

[@cathyferguson1590]

Love her!

[@Marinaaduran]

She's insanely skinny

[@whitneydenise]

Shes like 80 n can still play 36

[@dennisud]

I would LOVE to see Natasha on either on Wednesday as an Addams Cousin, OR as Betelgeuse's Sister! 😉

[@nternetrat]

5:46

[@alanvallazza9781]

She's around my age so basically she graduated High School around 1997 or 1998. If she even attended school. She was already an aspiring actress. Her break was somewhere around 1997. That's when she started appearing in movies on a more frequent level.

[@joelsmith6641]

There's something about her, the way she carries herself, I could see her playing a variety of famous women in biopics. I could see her playing Bette Milder, Mae West, even Tallulah Bankhead (although she did that recently in the 2021 film The United States VS Billie Holliday, I think she'd be amazing in a film about Tallulah's life)

[@scherryvalentine9673]

Christian Slater in Heathers?