It’s been a tough road for Natasha Lyonne. Throughout the late ‘90s, the big-eyed, frizzy-haired actress made a name for herself playing tough-yet-vulnerable young women in both noted indie fair (But I’m a Cheerleader, Slums of Beverly Hills) and mainstream hits (American Pie). Her promising career took a nosedive, however, after a public battle with substance abuse, tussles with the law, and multiple health problems left her a has-been before she turned 25.
Now, after a decade of obscurity, the 32-year-old actress is slowly making a comeback. She recently appeared on the hit show New Girl, rejoined her fellow American Pie alums for the franchise’s latest – and, hopefully, final – sequel, the soon-to-be-released American Reunion, and will be seen with Kristen Wiig when Imogene hits later this year. And the work just keeps coming.
It was announced that Lyonne will star in the independent dark comedy Clutter, alongside Joshua Leonard (The Blair Witch Project), Carol Kane (The Princess Bride, Scrooged), and Halley Feiffer (The Squid and the Whale). Directed by Diane Crespo and written by Paul Marcarelli (The Green), the film will follow a trio of siblings forced to deal with their mother’s compulsive hoarding. Kane will play the mother, while Leonard, Lyonne and Feiffer will fill the roles of the siblings. Rounding out the cast are Maria Dizzia, Daniel London, Dan Hedaya, and Kathy Najimy, who have signed on to co-star. [Deadline]
Now in pre-production, Clutter will start shooting in and around New York City this month. As a fan of Lyonne and the very funny Kane, I look forward to more updates on this project.
What do you think of Lyonne’s comeback? Do you think Clutter sounds like a good vehicle for her?