What’s Up, Natasha Lyonne? The Blood From a Stone Star Opens Up on Surviving Her Own Career

Natasha Lyonne's career path has been anything but straight and narrow. The indie film darling burst onto the scene in 1998’s Slums of Beverly Hills, paid her mainstream dues in American Pie, and famously hit rock bottom several years ago with a period involving stays in jail, the hospital and rehab. Now 31, Lyonne is on the off-Broadway stage in Tommy Nohilly’s Blood From a Stone, a family drama so raw it borders on blue collar apocalypse. During a rehearsal break, Broadway.com chatted with the actress, who was candid about her former self-destruction and how the theater world has helped her heal.

You’re tremendous in Blood From a Stone. How did you get involved with the play?
I did my first play ever, Two Thousand Years, with [director] Scott Elliott at the New Group a couple of years ago, and I’ve been waiting for them to call again. They asked me to do a reading of this and I loved it. Obviously I come from a very dysfunctional place so it resonates deeply.

Your character, Sarah, is the most functional of the lot.
Growing up I always had the same feeling Sarah does, which is a desperation to be normal. In the context of my family, normalcy is on sliding scale, so strangely enough I am the "Sarah."

You’ve been acting since childhood but didn’t start doing theater until three years ago. What lured you to this side?
The damage of public life is the obsession with what people think of you. There’s something about theater that squashes the self-critical voices because you have to be in the moment. I’m glad that I didn’t do this before I was ready, before I was capable of showing up every day. That is not a skill set I had before.

That isn't required in filmmaking?
In movies it's like they’re going to "Judy Garland" you onto your feet, whether you can actually be there or not. You’re going to get your hair and your makeup done, and they’re going to put you in your outfit and you’ll land on your mark, they’ll feed you your lines and then you’ll collapse. I was thinking recently about how I survived at all. But I’d be even more screwed up if I didn’t have a creative way to express myself. I’m lucky to act and to have my musician buddies and my artist buddies.

Are you also a musician and/or artist?
No, I’m not a musician. But I do enjoy sleeping with them.

You said in a recent interview that you there was a time you thought you’d never act again.
Absolutely. I’m really glad I took time off, even though I wasn't exactly relaxing in my Connecticut home with my husband and adorable towheaded children. I got my passion and interest in life back, and theater has been a big part of that. The women of Love, Loss and What I Wore helped me really get this whole theater thing.

How did you get involved with that show?
I went into the meeting with Nora and Delia [Ephron] and said, “Listen, ladies, I’m going to need a lot of relationship advice and I’m thinking this is the place to get it because you’re sort of the authorities on the subject.” Not only did they give me the part but they did give me so much advice.

So are the Love, Loss ladies now on your speed dial?
Sure, I play poker with Tyne Daly, I go to theater with Rosie [O’Donnell]. They made me want to show up and do a good job even when I’d rather be smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee.

Is the same true of your current co-star, Ethan Hawke?
I feel like if it was the Civil War—keeping in mind I know nothing about history—he would be a General. He’s a leader, he’s really loving, he doesn’t crack under pressure, he keeps morale up. I’m not trying to make anyone fall more deeply in love with him, but it’s true.

You’re a New York native. Did you see a lot of theater growing up?
Not really; it was a busy childhood. There was a lot of gymnastics going on. Also I was a child actor. I had to get to Pee-Wee’s Playhouse!

That’s right, your first role was Opal on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. Have you seen his Broadway show?
No, but I saw it in L.A. We walked around on the set, I sat back on Chairy. That show really was the highlight of my childhood. My mind is so jumbled and surreal anyway that it was perfect.

Any other screen highlights?
I’ll always have a soft spot for Slums of Beverly Hills and But I’m a Cheerleader. I like that people are coming out of closets because of me; it makes me feel like I’ve done some good.