Natasha Lyonne, born Natasha Bianca Lyonne Braunstein on April 4, 1979, in New York City, is an American actress, writer, director, and producer. She is known for her distinctive raspy voice and tough persona. Her parents, Ivette Buchinger and Aaron Braunstein, were both from Orthodox Jewish families.

Her mother was born in Paris to Hungarian-Jewish parents, and her father was a boxing promoter, race car driver, and radio host. She spent part of her childhood in Israel before returning to New York City. She attended the prestigious Ramaz School but was expelled in her sophomore year for selling marijuana to classmates.

Her career began at the tender age of six when she was signed by the Ford Modeling Agency. Her first major acting gig was on Pee-wee's Playhouse in 1986. She made her film debut in Heartburn directed by Mike Nichols.

She came to prominence in the late 1990s with roles in Everyone Says I Love You (1996), Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), and American Pie (1999). These roles cemented her reputation as an indie darling with a knack for playing quirky yet relatable characters.

Natasha Lyonne faced personal struggles during the early 2000s due to substance abuse issues. After overcoming these challenges through rehabilitation and open-heart surgery in 2012, she experienced a career resurgence.

In 2013, she joined Netflix's Orange Is the New Black as Nicky Nichols, a role that earned her critical acclaim and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Her subsequent television work has included Peacock's Poker Face (2023–present) and Netflix's Russian Doll (2019–2022). In addition to starring in Russian Doll, she co-created, wrote for, directed, and served as an executive producer of the series.

Her personal life has been marked by both challenges and triumphs. She was previously in a relationship with Fred Armisen from 2014 to 2022. She has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2023.

Her career is filled with accolades, including nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. Her notable works include Orange Is the New Black, Russian Doll, and her portrayal of Tallulah Bankhead in Lee Daniels' The United States vs. Billie Holiday.