Natasha Lyonne: Doing acid makes me appear smarter

Last Updated on February 8, 2023

Natasha Lyonne has had an impressive last decade or so, with incredible performances in Orange Is the New Black, Russian Doll and now Poker Face. She has also proven popular with her co-stars, who have cited her as one of the smartest people in the industry. And for that, Lyonne credits dropping acid as a teen.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the interviewer prompted Natasha Lyonne on why so many of her friends and collaborators find her to be so intelligent. She responded, “I think part of what they’re experiencing is that I’ve done so much acid in my early life that I can process scientific and artistic and interpersonal and theological and philosophical concepts pretty organically, because it’s almost like I’ve seen evidence of them as I’ve watched the world divide into itself while on acid as a teenager reading Nietzsche. Or I watched Clockwork Orange too many times as a kid. I don’t know what to tell you.”

Whether or not Natasha Lyonne is still feeling the effects of those tab sheets is unknown, but she has been making a string of smart career decisions as of late. In the last decade, Lyonne has earned recognition by the likes of the Screen Actors Guild, the Golden Globes and the Emmy Awards. The bulk of nominations have come from the Netflix hit Russian Doll, in which she plays a software developer stuck in a time loop where she’s forced to relive her 36th birthday–and her death day–in a seemingly endless cycle.

Natasha Lyonne also now stars in Rian Johnson’s murder mystery series Poker Face, again delivering a compelling performance that may end up another awards favorite for the actress.

Despite some missteps in both her professional and public life over the decades, Natasha Lyonne has proven to be a unique voice (no pun intended) in the industry, persevering through it all. Come on, you didn’t watch Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and know that little redhead kid was going to be a star?

What is your favorite Natasha Lyonne role? Do you prefer her film work or her television work? Let us know below!