Movies

Natasha Lyonne remains unconventional as a sleuth in ‘Poker Face’ and in her career

BBG News

In a cinematic sort of self-description, I’d say my locks are fiery red, big and untamed – a wild mane that turns heads wherever I go. My stride is confident, a swagger that’s all mine. As for my voice, it’s not the sultry purr of Lauren Bacall or the smooth rumble of Peter Falk, but more like a gravelly mix of both, adding a unique charm to every word I speak.

Years before embodying unique characters in “Orange Is the New Black,” “Russian Doll,” and now “Poker Face,” opportunities were scarce for someone as spirited as myself, Natasha Lyonne. As I transitioned from a malleable child actor into a self-aware adult, roles that truly resonated with me were hard to come by.

46-year-old Lyonne expresses that it’s peculiar when people start treating you differently overnight, and you notice it happening. “I recall the ‘Lolita’ audition,” she says, “and it was as if they asked, ‘Would you casually eat this apple?’ I understood their request for a comedic performance, but I made it clear that I wouldn’t simulate sex with an apple on camera. After all, I had familiarized myself with the history of cinema. These weren’t new discoveries.

The unexpected twist? Lyonne carved out her career by discovering and eventually producing projects that highlighted her bold character, fitting the roles around her quirks instead of adhering to the norms for a female performer in Hollywood. Lyonne’s latest act of rebellion is Season 2 of the Peacock series “Poker Face,” a weekly murder mystery created by Rian Johnson (“Knives Out,” “Glass Onion”) where she stars and serves as an executive producer. This season, besides writing, she’s also directing two episodes.

The show, airing again on Thursday with three episodes initially and then one per week thereafter, chronicles Charlie Cale (Lyonne), a resourceful casino worker in Vegas who possesses a unique gift – she can instantly tell when someone is lying. After her dearest friend’s murder, she finds herself evading the mob in a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda. As she flees, she navigates various American highways and solves mysteries as they arise along the way.

The hour-long show is inspired by detective dramas from the ’70s, particularly “The Rockford Files,” “McCloud,” and especially “Columbo” with Peter Falk in the lead. It’s this latter series that seems to have had the greatest impact on “Poker Face.

Television

In a Peacock series produced by Rian Johnson, Natasha Lyonne assumes the role of an unintended sleuth. The show draws inspiration from ‘Columbo’ and ‘The Fugitive.’

Natasha Lyonne plays the part of an inadvertent detective in a Peacock series conceived by Rian Johnson, which borrows elements from both ‘Columbo’ and ‘The Fugitive.’

And here’s one more for variety:

On Peacock, Natasha Lyonne portrays an unexpected detective in a series created by Rian Johnson that is reminiscent of both ‘Columbo’ and ‘The Fugitive.’

Lyonne recalls the 1971 debut episode of an old TV series, which was helmed by a young, unknown director named Steven Spielberg. “I borrowed from it stylistically,” Lyonne states. “I appreciate the single, extended shot, reminiscent of Robert Altman, that moves slowly through the office window to the car. And it’s amazing to think about what Spielberg has accomplished since then. It’s as if he said, ‘You enjoyed that long shot? Wait until you see what this man does next! Incredible! Are you ready for a wild ride!’

Charlie Cale isn’t like Columbo. Instead of smoking cigars and wearing a trench coat, she uses a vape pen and wears cut-off shorts. However, just like Columbo, she has an extraordinary ability to show up at the exact moment a murder is happening, whether it’s on an alligator farm in Florida or a grand East Coast mansion. She constantly encounters new characters in each location, and the actors who portray these roles are quite remarkable. The cast features Cynthia Erivo, Giancarlo Esposito, Katie Holmes, Justin Theroux, Alia Shawkat, John Mulaney, Kumail Nanjiani, Lili Taylor, Margo Martindale, Melanie Lynskey, and Rhea Perlman.

(In this version, I’ve tried to make the sentence structure more conversational while maintaining the original meaning.)

This season features a guest appearance by Katie Holmes on the left, and also appearing as a guest is Giancarlo Esposito. (Image credit: Sarah Shatz / Peacock)

According to Lyonne, Charlie has an exceptional affection for people. Reminiscent of Nadia from ‘Russian Doll’ that she co-created with Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland, Charlie seems to have embarked on a personal quest where self-interest diminishes and empathy for others flourishes. She finds herself pursued by the mob, unable to possess a phone or establish roots, and her romantic connections are limited due to her circumstances. It’s a life of solitude for her.

Through her own experiences, Lyonne transitioned into a skilled actor at an age younger than the voting threshold. Born and raised in New York, she was working on commercials before even starting school, and by elementary school, she had secured the role of Opal in “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” on TV. Her film credits include “Heartburn,” “A Man Called Sarge,” and “Dennis the Menace.” In her late teens, she scored her breakout role as the daughter of a financially struggling single father (portrayed by Alan Arkin) in the 1998 indie comedy “Slums of Beverly Hills.

Lyonne, whose acting career stretches over four decades, playfully comments, ‘I’ve been at this since I was just 4 years old!’ As a child actor, there was a sense of innate understanding within us. We were like miniature entrepreneurs, always aware. By the age of 6, we had a good grasp of what was happening around us, like understanding that Minute Maid didn’t appreciate mumbling in their commercials. By the time we turned 8, we knew where the proverbial bodies were buried and how to read an audience, ready to perform on cue. Even today, I can still recall the scent of Pine-Sol from a Pine-Sol commercial I did back in 1986.

As a child, Lyonne didn’t quite conform to the typical image of a precocious yet relatable girl next door: “I was trying to create my own unique path, while grappling with the disappointment of not getting the role in ‘Curly Sue.’ I thought, I’m ideal for this part. What’s the problem? Ah, I understand now. You either have to be Shirley Temple or you can’t really fit in.

Instead of focusing solely on acting, Lyonne shifted her focus to another interest: the realm of film and television history. She’s like a living, breathing encyclopedia, filled with knowledge about outstanding performances and rare, obscure instances found within both mediums. For a brief period, she delved into film and philosophy at NYU. “I realized I needed to transition my passion for acting into filmmaking from the ground up, not just being an actor for hire,” she explained. “It took twenty years for this idea to become a tangible reality.

Natasha Lyonne, in her own words, expressed that she had been contemplating shifting her career focus from acting to filmmaking, not just being a hired actor. After a span of 20 years, this ambition finally became a tangible reality for her. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

For more than a decade, she stayed out of public view while dealing with drug addiction issues. Later, she made her return to the limelight by landing a recurring role as Nicky Nichols in “Orange Is the New Black,” a popular series on Netflix that quickly gained a following. Lyonne has admitted that she had ample inspiration for the character, who was also a former drug addict fighting recovery. Nicky became a beloved figure among fans.

By 2019, Lyonne collaborated on the creation of Netflix’s own series titled “Russian Doll,” a witty and philosophical dark comedy. In this production, she portrayed Nadia, a video game developer in New York City who finds herself trapped in a time loop at her 36th birthday party. She embarks on a journey to unravel the secret behind her repeated deaths.

Lyonne mentions that she had to master various skills such as directing, scriptwriting, and production – all aspects of real filmmaking. She explains that suitable roles were scarce during her career, and they’re still lacking today. It seems as though no one is creating the characters she needs.

But she credits collaborators like Johnson for creating parts for actors such as herself.

Rian truly transformed a role I was playing into a character study. He brought depth to what I was doing, making it more than just a self-made performance. This is me, raw and authentic, and Rian captured that essence beautifully.

Poker Face” offers a vibrant, engaging exploration into the realms of a retro-style mystery, eccentric modern-day American subcultures, and the character of Charlie, serving as a lens for Ellen Page’s personal odyssey.

Jodie Lyonne explains that the series revolves around giving up this pessimistic, self-harming pattern and establishing a bond with another person. It’s about constructing a life without constantly battling against oneself, almost like a marathon runner or long-distance athlete. However, she has faced her inner turmoil and emerged stronger, with the light of hope behind her.

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2025-05-08 13:31

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