Greta Lee is one of the best actresses working today, and though she’s finally getting the recognition she deserves, Lee has been a fixture in movies and television for a long time. Though Lee began her career with more comedic roles, in recent years, she’s demonstrated how well-suited she is for nuanced, quiet dramas, as seen in her work inPast Lives. Additionally,Lee has consistently pushed herself to take on a variety of roleswithin opposing genres, demonstrating her range as a performer.
Lee is part of thecast ofThe Studio, Apple TV’s new comedy series that’s already garnering excellent reviews. With a strong background in comedy, including sketch shows and beloved sitcoms, it’s no wonder that Lee feels right at home in the exciting original series that’s been making waves in Hollywood. In the wake of her recent success and rise to promise, largely thanks toPast LivesandThe Morning Show,it’s certain that Lee will continue to seek out interesting and unique projectsbased on her past work.
ThoughSistersisn’t the most critically acclaimed collaboration between Tina Fey and Amy Poehler,it is a fun romp and features some fun cameo performances by iconic comedians. While Lee wasn’t as famous as some of her castmates at the time ofSisters’s release, she holds her own next to the comedic veterans and stands out in the cast. Her character, Hae Won, is a role that could easily lean into stereotypes about Asian Americans, and Lee leaned into this facet of the role and subverted it.
One of Lee’s more prominent early roles in a movie, it’s interesting to see the difference betweenSistersand the projects she takes on today.
The actress spoke about her relationship to the role and her dynamic with Poehler and Fey to the New York Times when the film came out in 2015, touching upon these issues of stereotyping in Hollywood (viaThe New York Times). Lee’s part isn’t the largest in the movie, but she helps to rebuild the connection between the protagonists and has her own character development throughout the story. One of Lee’s more prominent early roles in a movie, it’s interesting to see the difference betweenSistersand the projects she takes on today.
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The taut drama seriesChancestars Hugh Laurie as Dr. Eldon Chance, a man who becomes embroiled in the life of Jaclyn (Gretchen Mol), a woman being abused by her husband.Chanceis based on Kem Lunn’s novel of the same name, who also helped develop the series. It slowly builds its web of lies and deceit throughout the episodes. Airing on Hulu for two seasons,Chancesees Lee featured as Lucy Baek, a recurring characterand part of the dangerous world Dr. Chance encounters.
Though it’s the relationship between Chance and Jaclyn that defines the series in season 1, the supporting characters like Lee’s Lucy help flesh out the world and make it feel real.Chancereturned for season 2 largely because of Laurie’s anchoring performance,as the actor already had experience as a troubled doctor through his long-running role onHouse. Seeing Lee in a twisting drama likeChanceis interesting, especially because she so easily disappears into the story’s world.
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Lee has been a part of many iconic TV series, but in her small role in the beloved sitcomNew Girl, she’s almost unrecognizable. She plays one of Nick’s (Jake Johnson) love interests, Kai, who’s the granddaughter of Nick’s silent friend, Tran (Ralph Ahn).Kai is featured in season 4after Nick and Jess (Zooey Deschanel) have broken up. WhileNick and Jess’s love story onNew Girlis a fan-favorite relationship, it was necessary for both characters to have other partners for the sake of the show.
Lee’s comedic background made her a perfect fit forNew Girl,and of all of Nick’s girlfriends other than Jess, she’s one of the most fun additions to the series. However, she and Nick ultimately break up because they’re too similar and feed off each other’s tendencies to shut out the outside world and watch TV. Though Kai leaves the show after their relationship ends, it was enjoyable seeing Lee onNew Girl, and her character helped establish Tran’s role as a consistent part of the show.
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Lee is featured inMiracle Workersseason 2, also known asMiracle Workers: Dark Ages,as the anthology series tackles a new period and fantastical premise in every installment. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Karan Soni, and Jon Bass in every season as different characters,Miracle Workersgoes to medieval times in season 2. Lee plays Princess Vicki for a few episodes, sharing scenes with Radcliffe’s Prince Chauncley.
Like every installment ofMiracle Workers, theDark Agesseason takes an anachronistic look at the period and pokes fun at the tropes of period pieces and the medieval genre.It makes sense that Lee would join the cast ofMiracle Workers, as it’s the perfect blend of comedy and offbeat genre workin which Lee shines. She and Radcliffe have lots of fun together onscreen, and she easily fits into the quirky world of the series.
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M. Night Shyamalan served as one of the producers of the thrilling mystery seriesWayward Pines,which only ran for two seasons but shouldn’t fade from memory. With a strong ensemble cast featuring Matt Dillon, Carla Gugino, and Djimon Hounsou,Wayward Pinesincludes sci-fi elements and many complex plot lines to take the audience on a dizzying journey.Wayward Pinesis a great show to watch while waiting forFromseason 4, and the fact that Lee appears in the series is a fun bonus.
Lee hasn’t been in anything similar toWayward Pinessince, but her work in the series indicates that she isn’t opposed to working in speculative fiction.
Lee was underutilized inWayward Pines, but it was a distinct departure for the actress and gave her exciting new material to work with, making it a highlight. Her character, Ruby, is only in a few episodes, but Lee fully commits to the surreal tone ofWayward Pines, which was frequently compared toTwin Peaks. Lee hasn’t been in anything similar toWayward Pinessince, but her work in the series indicates that she isn’t opposed to working in speculative fiction.
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Lee’s role inGirls, Soojin, was a small recurring part in the first few seasons,but Lee made an impact on the series and steals every scene she’s in. She primarily interacts with Marine (Allison Williams) when she’s working in the art world, and the actresses play off each other well.Girlsincluded many hilarious bit parts for fantastic actors like Lee throughout the show’s run, and her episodes are always an unexpected delight when watching the series.
Though Soojin is a very different character from the roles Lee has become best known for, this shows her strong roots in comedy and exposes the actress to a wider audience.Girlswas a lightning rod for conversation and controversy throughout its run,and though it stopped airing in the late 2010s, it’s still widely talked about today. It’s always exciting to see a beloved actor featured in a show with such a rich legacy.
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Natasha Lyonne leads the cast of the innovative and underrated fantastical comedy seriesRussian Doll. The show was cut short, but made a significant impact. Lyonne’s character,Nadia, gets stuck in a time loop on her 36th birthday as Lee’s Maxine is throwing her a birthday partyshe can never escape. Though Maxine isn’t aware of the loop, witnessing the way Lee adapts to the different timelines and keeps her character consistent yet fresh maintains the story’s potency.
There are many reasons to watchRussian Dolltoday, not the least of which is to witness Lee’s performance and chemistry with Lyonne.
Russian Dollwas one of the first TV series that cast Lee in a major leading role, and it’s clear that she thrives in these surrealist projects with unique premises. ThoughRussian Dollseason 1 was a tight and unforgettable story, the series got even better in season 2, paving the way for further installments, even though it would ultimately be canceled. However, there are many reasons to watchRussian Dolltoday, not the least of which is to witness Lee’s performance and chemistry with Lyonne.
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Like all the other aspects of and characters inProblemista,Lee’s Dalia exists somewhere outside our reality but provides further insight into Alejandro’s experiences and emotional development. Though she’s only onscreen for a short time, Lee was the perfect choice to portray Dalia, as she balances comedy and vulnerability with ease. WhileProblemistais more offbeat than other modern comedies, its magical realism and unique tone are what set it apart and show thatLee can fit into any genre and story type.
Lee joined the cast of Apple TV’s dramaThe Morning Showin season 2,and her character, Stella, has been a consistent highlight ever since.The Morning Showseason 1 touched upon issues of sexual misconduct within the high-profile world of morning news shows, while more recent installments have tracked different contemporary issues and the changes in network television. As Stella, Lee is in a position of power over the protagonists and is a shrewd executive, demonstrating a different side of the actress.
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Though the storylines onThe Morning Showare sometimes criticized for being too sensationalized and over-the-top, the performances by the ensemble cast are frequently praised. Lee has strong chemistry with her co-stars and doesn’t shy away from her characters' most dramatic moments, mining these for excitement and intrigue. AsThe Morning Showprogresses,it will be interesting to see where the series takes Stellaand what her next move will be.
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Celine Song’s directorial debut,Past Lives, hit home for many viewers, as it chronicles the complexities of relationships and the juxtaposition between different parts of ourselves. Lee gives one of the best performances of her career as Nora, the protagonist, who moves away from her home in Seoul as a child and maintains a friendship with her childhood sweetheart into adulthood. Deliberately paced and filled with longing and the lingering questions of what might have been,Past Livesgives Lee a lot to work with as Nora.
Song crafted abeautiful romance movie with incredible writing, but without Lee’s central performance as Nora, many of the subtle character nuances and moving moments wouldn’t be as effective. ThoughPast Livestouches on the different parts of her husband and childhood friend, Nora is the unequivocal centerpiece of the film, and it is the first film to give Lee so much room to explore her character.Past Liveswill likely live on as an unforgettable addition to Lee and Song’s filmographies.
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