8 fun facts about Russian Doll star Natasha Lyonne (you might be surprised to learn)

Are you ready to see Natasha Lyonne reprise her role as Nadia in a brand new season of Russian Doll? Russian Doll season 2 is coming to Netflix on April 20, and this season looks even more trippy than the first.

In season 1, viewers were introduced to Nadia as she tried to figure out how to stop dying and reawakening in the restroom at her 36th birthday party. Along her journey, she meets Alan who has a time loop problem to work out himself. In season 2, there’s a time jump of four years, and this time around, Nadia and Alan are dealing with time travel. Like in many TV shows and movies, messing with time travel never ends well. We can’t wait to see what Nadia and Alan get up to this season and how everything pans out.

While we wait for the second season to arrive on Netflix, we’ve done a deep dive search on the show’s leading star, Natasha Lyonne. We’ve found some pretty interesting facts about Natasha that you might be surprised to learn.

Was Natasha Lyonne in Orange Is the New Black?

Yes! Natasha played the sarcastic and down-to-earth Nicky Nichols. Nicky was a recurring character in season 1 but became a main character from season 2 onwards. Even though Nicky showed a hard exterior, she actually was quite sensitive and had a vulnerable side.

Natasha Lyonne is an Emmy-nominated actress

Her first Emmy nomination was in 2014 for her role as Nicky Nichols in Orange Is the New Black. She was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. In 2019, she was nominated for three Emmys for her work on the Netflix original Russian Doll. Her nominations were for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Comedy Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

Natasha Lyonne’s grandparents were Holocaust survivors

Natasha’s mother was born in Paris, France to Hungarian-Jewish parents. Her grandmother came from a large family, but not all of her family survived The Holocaust. Her grandfather disguised himself as a non-Jew and hid in Budapest during the war. He found work in a leather factory in Budapest.

What made Natasha Lyonne want to act?

After she and her family moved to Israel for a short period, Natasha auditioned for a role in an Israeli children’s film April Fool. She enjoyed acting and decided that she could see herself acting as a career.

Did Natasha Lyonne and Fred Armisen date?

Yes, Natasha and Fred dated for eight years before breaking up. They met through a mutual friend in 2014 and instantly hit it off. In April 2022, Natasha announced that they had broken up but were still on good terms with each other.

Natasha Lyonne began her acting career at 6 years old

At just 6 years old, Natasha was cast in Pee-wee’s Playhouse. She played the character Opal. She spoke with Backstage and gave her reasoning for wanting to act. She said, “I had so much excess energy, I was dying to entertain people.” After her performance in Pee-wee’s Playhouse, she went on to have appearances in many other projects.

What was Natasha Lyonne’s directorial debut?

Natasha directed her first short film in 2017. She wrote and directed a short film titled Cabiria, Charity, Charlotte for the brand Kenzo. Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Greta Lee, Leslie Odom Jr., and Macaulay Culkin starred in the film.

Natasha Lyonne co-founded Animal Pictures

Natasha and her good friend, Maya Rudolph, teamed up to create a production company called Animal Pictures in 2018. The first project they produced was the comedy special Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine.

Were you surprised by any of these fun facts about Natasha Lyonne? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Also, make sure to check out Natasha in Russian Doll season 2 coming to Netflix on April 20!