Natasha Lyonne's parents were the reason she got into acting. They pushed her to be a professional at a very young age, and now as an adult, she does not approve of how they handled her. She comes from a family with a lot of agonies in their history.
Natasha Lyonne got her start in Hollywood when she was cast in "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" as a child. Since then, she has become a go-to actress for dynamic female roles. She is widely recognized for her role in "Orange is the New Black, " which revived her career after family drama and a health-deteriorating battle with addiction hindered her trajectory.
Natasha decidedly dropped her father's Jewish last name and replaced it with her French mother's last name. Though she may be the hilarious, ever-youthful darling from "But I'm A Cheerleader," the actress has a background vandalized by many things that aren't as funny.
Natasha Lyonne at New York Fashion Week hosted at 548 West 22nd Street in New York City, New York, on February 12, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
Natasha's Family History Books Include Some Tough Chapters
Natasha was born in the "sweet spot" between two conservative families. Her mother's side of the family is Auschwitz, and her father's side is Flatbush. Natasha became increasingly sensitive to jokes about the Holocaust growing up and felt they needed to be "lighter" as they represented a heavy reality of suffering.
Natasha's grandmother, along with her three sisters and one brother, were the only ones from their big family who managed to survive the war. She recalled her grandmother simplifying the horror story, telling her that their blonde hair, blue eyes, and slim bodies helped them get through the Holocaust.
They managed to build a comfortable life in the US by creating the infamous Spiro Agnew watch line. She added that her father told her they were related to the revered cartoonist Al Jaffee. Her grandfather, who is now deceased, used to transport Jews in the underground tunnels to safety.
Natasha Lyonne at SiriusXM Studios in New York City, NY, on January 31, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
In preparation for her role in "The Grey Zone," a holocaust film starring the father of three,
, she called her grandmother to ask historical research questions. As a survivor of the war, Ella responded with a dislike for the
in revisiting war memories.
The documentation of her grandparents' lives shows them as kids in black and white, goes blank for a few years, and continues in their affluent American lives. Such are the scars of their endurance of the Holocaust.
In an interview with Bust, she praised Madonna for disregarding the opinions of society and the societal perception of a woman having a child at the age of forty.
The actress credits Viktor Frankl for keeping her from self-destructing by sharing his "Man's Search for Meaning" biography, detailing life as an inhabitant of Auschwitz during the Holocaust.
Natasha Lyonne at Peacock's "Poker Face" premiere at Hollywood Legion Theater in Los Angeles, California, on January 17, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
Her Parents Fantasized about Her Being an Actress
Natasha was shoved into business by her parents at the tender age of six. Did that provide her with an advantageous head start? The actress does not think so. She mentioned that she forgave her parents for their mismanagement of her young life and revealed that it was ultimately their idea to turn her into a money-making actress, though unsuccessfully. She added:
"It was my parents' fantasy to materialize their very own Shirley Temple that was going to pay the bills. Sadly the money was spent. My big dream was doing enough commercials to get a Lamborghini someday. I'll tell you how many Lamborghinis I have: zero."
Natasha explicitly divulged that her parents were not the best at all but offered restraint in her criticism, saying they were not bad people overall. By 16, she was already living beyond her youth due to her parents' "hopeful ignorance."
Actress Natasha Lyonne at Lionsgate Films' Broadway offices on January 01, 2000, when she starred in "But I'm a Cheerleader." | Source: Getty Images
Her Childhood Impacted Her Thoughts about Living Alone
The actress lived a luxurious lifestyle with her parents as a child. However, everything changed when they spent two years living in Israel (their move to the homelands was for tax evasion reasons). Natasha was ten years old when her parents separated, and she moved back to the US with her mother.
Since the divorce and subsequent return to America, her relationship with her father became nonexistent. She mentioned that living in a one-bedroom apartment with her mother taught her about the responsibilities of a single parent, particularly in an affluent city like Manhattan.
It wasn't until her adolescent years that Natasha felt sharing a bed with her mother was not cool. Since then, she has adopted a standoffish attitude toward sharing a space with anyone. She bought an apartment at 18 and decided never to let it go, "...like in the movie Annie Hall, you know? It's like, 'This is my island. Always keep your island,'" the "American Pie" star said.
Natasha Lyonne is seen attending the Critics Choice Awards hosted at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, CA, on January 15, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
Natasha's experience in life has built up a fear of giving up what she owns to live with someone else. The "Poker Face" star is actively avoiding the possibility of an unexpected turn in life, leaving her homeless and stranded. Natasha's interviews display that she stands in her opinions and supports women for their decisiveness about their own lives.
In an interview with Bust, she praised Madonna for disregarding the opinions of society and the societal perception of a woman having a child at the age of forty. Madonna is now a mother of six and still living her best life, aged 64. She slighted Julia Roberts, who became a mother at 39, for failing to thank Erin Brockovich, who handed her an Academy Award.
Besides the controversial and political forklifts that have raised Natasha, she has attained massive success in Hollywood with films like "American Pie" starring Seann William Scott, who has been married since September 2019. The efforts of her parents who gave her the early start in entertainment have manifested into an accomplished career.
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