Natasha Lyonne believes that the traumatic family history – her grandmother was an Auschwitz survivor – profoundly influenced her life choices.
Yes, the four-time Emmy nominee ponders the big questions as she promotes the second season of her Netflix series Russian Doll, which premieres Wednesday.
“I’ve obviously had a very checkered past, to say the least, and I’ve been very open about it,” Lyonne, 43, told the Post in her characteristic sandpaper voice. “And it’s like having to search for a meaning in life other than self-destruction on the side.”
Of her high-profile battle with drug addiction in her early years, she said, “I don’t think you can take Hitler out of the equation, especially as I’ve moved through my teenage years. I was almost unable to reconcile the true weight of what it means that this can happen, and that it can happen in a family so close to you.
Natasha Lyonne in a shot from the second season of Russian Doll. “Listen, I love Rosalind Russell. I love Barbara Stanwyck. I even love Jean Harlow,” she told the Post in her iconic, raspy New Yawk accent, projecting the aura of an old Hollywood actress. Netflix
Lyonne told The Post: “I’ve obviously had a very checkered past, to say the least, and I’ve been very open about it. And it’s like having to search for a meaning in life other than self-destruction on the side.” Netflix
The New York native went on to point out that trying to contemplate the broader implications of the Holocaust was too overwhelming.
“It’s too big a concept to digest and I think that comes up quite a lot, especially because of social media,” she said. “It’s like we’re constantly being inundated with ideas that are too big to hold.”
In the first season of Russian Doll, Lyonne’s character gets caught in a loop where she goes to a party and then dies – only to wake up unharmed and come back to life the same day. This season revisits the themes of mortality and existentialism, jumping between generations and countries.
Lyonne’s Netflix series Russian Doll returns for Season 2 on Wednesday.REUTERS
While the veteran actress — who started out as a 6-year-old playing Opal in 1986’s ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse’ — isn’t sure if she believes in time travel, Lyonne said she’s at least “very curious about” the “big kind.” scientific concepts” surrounding it.
“I’m a high school dropout,” revealed the Orange Is the New Black star, “so I certainly don’t claim to know a lot about quantum physics or anything like that, but I definitely read a lot of books and do stuff like that. So it piqued my curiosity.”
In terms of what’s next for Lyonne, she’s also leaning into her off-camera work.
Lyonne recently confirmed her split from SNL and Broad City star Fred Armisen, 55. “I honestly think we broke up because I wanted a swimming pool,” she claimed. “We love each other as much as two people can love each other and we still talk all the time, but Freddy doesn’t like a swimming pool.” Getty Images
Lyonne showed off her decidedly glamorous side at the 2019 Met Gala for the Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Getty Images for The Met Museum/
“Listen, I love Rosalind Russell. I love Barbara Stanwyck. I even love Jean Harlow,” explained the American Pie vixen, with her iconic raspy New Yawk accent, projecting the aura of an old Hollywood actress.
“I always liked that advice-a-tat frenzy of the old days. But maybe we’ll throw in some of those Hungarian guys who ran the studio, because that’s where I want to go. I also really enjoy being behind the scenes so I’ll take it all please ma’am and thank you.”