Natasha Lyonne Movies and Career Information

Natasha Lyonne (born April 4, 1979) is a stage, film, and television actress. Lyonne was born Natasha Braunstein in New York City, the daughter of Yvette Lyonne, a product licensing consultant, and Aaron Braunstein, a native of Brooklyn who worked as a boxing promoter. Lyonne grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household and lived in Israel with her family during her childhood; her maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors. When her parents divorced, Lyonne moved back to New York and lived with her mother and older brother Adam in a one-bedroom apartment. In New York, Lyonne attended Ramaz, a private Jewish school. Her mother then moved to Miami, where Lyonne attended and graduated from Miami Country Day School. Lyonne began acting at an early age with her first role as "Opal" on Pee-wee's Playhouse. She appeared in the 1990 film A Man Called Sarge during the time her family lived in Israel. Lyonne is perhaps best known for her roles in the first two American Pie films as the wise-cracking Jessica. She has also appeared in more than 30 other movies, including starring roles in the independent films Slums of Beverly Hills and But I'm a Cheerleader. Lyonne also appeared in Party