My, my, miss… Natasha Lyonne? The Russian Doll talked about her past starring in 90s classic American Pie during her Saturday Night Live debut.
Actress, director and writer Natasha Lyonne made her SNL debut on 21 May 2022 and she certainly looked at home. The lifelong New Yorker took to stage for the season 47 finale, a particularly poignant episode which is the last for some SNL cast members such as Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant.
While the episode was tinged with sadness, Lyonne steered comedy back to its core with a cracking opening monologue which touched on her extensive Hollywood résumé.
Natasha Lyonne talks Hollywood résumé in SNL opening monologue
Natasha Lyonne took to the stage on Saturday night (21 May 2022) for the 47th season finale. As expected of SNL hosts, the star opens the show with a five-minute monologue about themselves and their career.
For those unaware of Lyonne’s lengthy career working in film and television, her opening monologue may have come as a bit of a surprise. Not only did she show a clip from her first role as Opal in Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, but touched on starring in 90s classics such as American Pie.
“I was in all those 90s movies… American Pie, American Pie 2, American Pie and the Multiverse of Madness,” Lyonne joked in the monologue. She also made reference to her role in cult favourite But I’m A Cheerleader.
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Who did Natasha Lyonne play in American Pie?
American Pie was filled with a number of memorable characters from Jason Biggs’ Jim to Stifler and his mom (played by Seann William Scott and Jennifer Coolidge respectively). But Natasha Lyonne was also one of the core cast members.
Natasha Lyonne starred as Jessica in the American Pie series, the witty voice of reason in their group of high schoolers.
Lyonne starred as Jessica in three American Pie films: the first two in the series and American Reunion (2012). In an interview from 2019, Natasha Lyonne revealed that she turned down the first movie several times, admitting she took the role eventually for money. “I’m also very grateful to it because it allowed me to have a huge independent movie career for decades,” Lyonne explained.
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A look back at young Natasha in the 90s
Born in New York on 4 April 1979, Natasha Lyonne would have been 20 years old by the time American Pie was released (1999). The sequel came two years later, in 2001.
For those who know Natasha Lyonne from her role in Russian Doll, you might not recognise the actress in American Pie without her signature red locks.
Take a look at young Natasha in American Below.