The bestNatasha Lyonnemovies and TV shows reveal her innate and outstanding ability to play nuanced oddball characters, especially in projects that mix dark comedy with other genres. Born in New York in 1979, Natasha Lyonne first started as a child model in the late 1980s, making her on-screen debut in the 1986 comedy-dramaHeartburn.Her big break came a decade later when, in 1996, sheco-starred in Woody Allen’sEveryone Says I Love You.
However, while her performance inEveryone Says I Love Youbrought plenty of attention to her name, it was 1998’sSlums of Beverly Hillthat proved to be her career-launching role. In the decades since, she appeared in several well-known movies, includingAmerican Pie,though it was in 2013 that she became a household name thanks to playing Nicky inOrange is the New Black.Since then she’s experienced a significant career resurgence, though the best Natasha Lyonne movies and TV shows reveal she’s delivered incredible performances at every stage of her career.
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy
Cast
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy is an animated comedy series from showrunner Cirocco Dunlap. The series centers on Dr. Sleech and Dr. Klak, two alien surgeons who encounter anxiety-eating parasites, illegal time loops, and a variety of space illnesses. All eight episodes of season 1 premiered on Prime Video in February 2024.
Voice acting roles have appeared several times throughout Natasha Lyonne’s career, starting with Loretta Geargrinder in 2005 family movieRobots.However, when it comes to the best Natasha Lyonne movies and TV shows, the only animated project worthy of consideration is 2024’sThe Second Best Hospital In The Galaxy.Created by Cirocco Dunlap for Amazon Prime Video,The Second Best Hospital In The Galaxyis a surreal sci-fi comedy about alien doctors at an intergalactic medical facility.
InThe Second Best Hospital In The GalaxycastNatasha Lyonne plays Nurse Tup, the ever-disgruntled and detail-oriented who can barely tolerate the presence of central characters Dr. Sleech (Stephanie Hsu) and Dr. Klak (Keke Palmer).It’s an intriguing role for Lyonne (since in many of her other projects, it’s her character that irritates many others instead), and one she’s absolutely hilarious in.
Hello, My Name Is Doris
Hello, My Name Is Doris stars Sally Field as Doris Miller, a woman in her sixties who becomes romantically infatuated with a younger coworker. Directed by Michael Showalter, the film delves into themes of aging, loneliness, and self-discovery, as Doris navigates her feelings and attempts to integrate into the contemporary social landscape.
Natasha Lyonne’s role in the 2015 coming-of-age romcomHello, My Name Is Dorismay be relatively minor, but this doesn’t make it any less memorable. Directed by Michale Showalter from a script co-written with Laura Terruso,Hello, My Name Is Dorisfocuses on an introverted yet eccentric woman in her 60s (Doris, played by Sally Field) who decides to pursue a romantic relationship with a much younger co-worker.
In the movie, Natasha Lyonne plays Sally, one of Doris’s co-workers who reacts to Doris’s attempts to woo John (Max Greenfield) with a mixture of emotions.Hello, My Name Is Dorisstands out among Natasha Lyonne’s best movies because it shows theOrange is the New BlackandRussian Dollstar is just as adept at playing straightforward characters who act as a counterbalance to the more bombastic roles she usually takes on.She also has exceptional chemistry with co-star Sally Field.
Portlandia
Portlandia is a satirical sketch comedy series set and filmed in Portland, Oregon. Premiering in 2011, it humorously explores the eccentric characters and social trends that define contemporary culture, showcasing a variety of quirky personalities through its unique comedic lens.
The sketch-comedy showPortlandiaran from 2011 to 2019 on the cable channel IFC. Natasha Lyonne joined the cast in 2015, and while she only appeared in 5 episodes before making her exit three years later,Portlandiais more than deserving of recognition as one of the best Natasha Lyonne TV shows. While a sketch series,Portlandia’ssegments all focusin some way or another on the stereotypical hipsters Portland, Oregon has become known for, and Lyonne takes part in several of the best the show has to offer.
Of particular note are Natasha Lyonne’s Seaworld and Male Dating App sketches.Portlandiaalso stands out among her best roles since, unlike many of her other most memorable projects, it’s straight comedy free from fusion with other genres.Few other Natasha Lyonne movies or TV shows demonstrate her comedic talents as clearly, andPortlandiashould be considered a must-watch for her fans.
America Brown
America Brown is a coming-of-age drama released in 2005. The film explores the journey of a young quarterback from West Texas and a priest in New York, delving into the complex interactions with the two significant women influencing their lives.
Directed and written by Paul Black, 2004’sAmerica Brownis a grounded and gripping drama starring Ryan Kwanten and Hill Harper alongside Natasha Lyonne. Like several of the best Natasha Lyonne movies,America Brownflew relatively under-the-radar when it was initially released. However, in the decades since it has resurfaced and found a new following - largely thanks to the presence of Natasha Lyonne’s presence in the cast as Vera.
The coming-of-age story focuses on Ricky (Kwanten), a West Texas teen who relocates to live with a friend in New York. However, he soon finds life in the Big Apple comes with its own problems. One of these is Lyonne’s Vera, a young woman who Ricky initially thinks might help him figure out where he wants his life to go.It’s not the most prominent role of Lyonne’s career, but she makes every minute of her screen time count, and it remains one of her strongest performances (especially when it comes to straightforward and emotional dramas).
Slums Of Beverly Hills
Slums of Beverly Hills is a coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by Tamara Jenkins. Set in 1976, it stars Natasha Lyonne as Vivian, a teenage girl navigating adolescence while her nomadic family struggles to stay afloat in the wealthy suburbs of Beverly Hills.
1998’sSlums of Beverly Hillsremains one of the best Natasha Lyonne movies, and was one of her earliest appearances taking on a lead role in a feature-length film. Written and directed by Tamara Jenkins, who would later become known for 2007’sThe Savagesand 2018’sPrivate Life, Slums of Beverly Hillsfocuses on Lyonne’s Vivian Abromovitz. Vivian is a teen from a lower-middle-class Jewish family who regularly relocates, and Lyonne brings the emotional struggles of the character to the fore with ease.
Starring alongside Marisa Tomei and Alan Arkin,Slums of Beverly Hillssits with an 81% critical score onRotten Tomatoes,highlighting the acclaim the movie continues to receive. Of particular note is the on-screen chemistry between Natasha Lyonne as the 14-year-old Vivian and Marisa Tomei as her cousin, Rita.The coming-of-age comedy remains a hilarious watch, and an undisputed highlight of the earlier years of Lyonne’s career.
All About Evil
All About Evil is a horror-comedy film released in 2010, centered around a librarian who inherits a struggling cinema. In her quest to revive the family business, she discovers a dark side, producing shockingly realistic horror shorts that captivate unsuspecting audiences unaware of the gruesome truth behind the scenes.
A recurring theme of Natasha Leonne’s filmography is movies and TV shows that blend other genres with a dash of dark comedy - and few encapsulate this trend better than the 2010 black slasherAll About Evil.The directorial debut of Joshua Grannell,All About Evilstars Natasha Lyonne in the lead role as Deborah Tennis, a reclusive theater operator who holds a secret dark fascination with snuff movies and other macabre forms of entertainment.
The role of Deborah Tennis was perfect for Natasha Lyonne, and her performance gave glimpses of aspects of her range she’d later display in acclaimed shows likeOrange is the New BlackandRussian Doll.While the indy horror-comedy flew relatively under the radar, many niche genre critics praised Lyonne’s portrayal of Deborah, and her ability to bring out the surprising depth of nuance in Granell’s script.
The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle
The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle follows Dory, who becomes a night janitor after losing his job. While working for a market research firm, he uncovers that the company is conducting experiments on their janitors, leading to bizarre and surreal developments.
2009’sThe Immaculate Conception Of Little Dizzlewas the directorial debut of surrealist filmmaker David Russo, and saw Lyonne co-lead the cast of the dark comedy as Tracy. Like many of Natasha Lyonne’s best movies and TV shows, the plot ofThe Immaculate Conception Of Little Dizzleis incredibly bizarre (and, in this case, shares several similarities to the Apple TV+ seriesSeverance).
The movie focuses on Dory, a religious man who finds himself working as a janitor after losing his IT manager job. However, he soon comes to learn the company he works for, Corsica, is secretly a front for strange experiments that are carried out on the staff.Natasha Lyonne plays Tracy, a product researcher, and the role perfectly showcases her ability to balance quirky comedy with genuinely tense and dramatic moments.
Orange is The New Black
Based on the memoir by Piper Kerman, Orange Is the New Black follows Piper Champman (Taylor Schilling) after she turns herself in for a 15-month sentence in a minimum-security women’s prison for aiding in a drug-smuggling operation run by her ex-girlfriend Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). One of Netflix’s most popular original series, the show explores the corruption inherent in the US prison system through the lens of Piper’s experiences.
Many viewers were introduced to Natasha Lyonne through the hit Netflix seriesOrange is the New Black,which debuted on the streaming platform in 2013. Based on the autobiography of author Piper Kerman,OITNBfocuses on the lives of the female inmatesof a minimum security prison. Natasha Lyonne quickly proved herself to be a standout member of the cast thanks to her skillful portrayal of Nicky, a recovering heroin addict who was arrested after robbing the apartment of a rare book collector.
Nicky quickly became a fan-favorite character inOrange is the New Black,and this was entirely due to Natasha Lyonne’s incredible performance.Lyonne was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series forOITNBin 2014 - an accolade that ensured Nicky was elevated from being a recurring presence to one of the main characters.
2Russian Doll (2019-2021)
Natasha Lyonne Plays Nadia Vulvokov
The comedy-drama seriesRussian Dollarrived in 2019 to critical acclaim, and proved that Natasha Lyonne’s grippingOrange Is The New Blackperformance only marked the beginning of the most successful phase of her career so far. Like many of the best Natasha Lyonne movies and TV shows,Russian Dollhas an intriguing and bizarre premise. Lyon stars as Nadia Vulvokov, a software engineer who finds herself in a time loop that always ends in her death.
Natasha Lyonne’s portrayal of the ever-frustratedNadia trying to figure out and end the loopthat has her constantly facing her own mortality earned the star a string of award nominations.These include a Golden Globe for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy, and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.Russian Dollseason 2 only increased the bombastic nature of the plot, which in turn brought out even more of Lyonne’s impressive skills as a performer.
Poker Facestands out as the best Natasha Lyonne TV show for several reasons, though its greatest strength is without a doubt Lyonne’s performance as Charlie Cale. The murder-mystery series was created for Peacock by filmmaker Rian Johnson, with Nora and Lilla Zuckerman serving as showrunners.Poker FaceseesNatasha Lyonne in the central role as Charlie, a waitress who can tell when those around her are lying.
Natasha Lyonne’s performance inPoker Facewas highly praised, and saw her land a slew of awards and nominations. These include winning the 2023 Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement In Comedy, and receiving a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series the same year. The show also features an astounding supporting roster of guest stars including Adrien Brody, Ron Perlman, and Chloe Sevigny, among others. WhileRussian Dollis a close second and her performance inOITNBwas a highlight of the Netflix series,Peacock’sPoker Faceis, inarguably, the best Natasha Lyonne TV show or movie.
