Natasha Lyonne was left totally ‘confused’ when her former American Pie co-star Jennifer Coolidge once confused her with Hilary Duff years ago.
The actress, 45, recalled the awkward encounter while appearing on this week’s episode of Happy, Sad and Confused Podcast.
“I remember one time I stepped away (from the spotlight) for a while because I was writing all these novels, and Jennifer Coolidge saw me at the Chateau Marmont,” he told host Josh Horowitz.
And I had straight hair and she thought I was Hilary Duff. I was so confused.’
Lyonne was so taken aback by Coolidge’s mistake because her style, both personal and professional, differs completely from that of the 37-year-old Duff.
Duff is a perky blonde who previously reigned on the Disney Channel, while Lyonne has long been a tough, husky-voiced indie gal who takes on “edgy” roles in film and television.
Natasha Lyonne (left) was left totally ‘confused’ when her former American Pie co-star Jennifer Coolidge (right) once confused her with Hilary Duff years ago.
One thing Lyonne and Duff have in common is that they both previously starred in comedy films with Coolidge.
Lyonne in the raunchy R-rated film American Pie (1999) and Duff in the romantic comedy A Cinderella Story (2004).
‘I thought, maybe I’ve recovered too much. You know what I mean?’ Lyonne said of her thought process at the time of the confusion. ‘Because whatever I’m projecting is something I’d rather eliminate quickly: I’ve lost my edge.
“Hilary seems like a lovely person and sometimes I look at pictures of her and say, ‘I think maybe this is a good thing. “I think they say it kindly.”
As for “how far into the conversation” she and Coolidge got before she realized it wasn’t Duff, Lyonne said “not far.”
‘Jennifer moves quickly. She said, “Oh, I thought you were Hilary Duff,” and I said, “I’m not,” and it was over.
Lyonne concluded the story by joking: ‘But yes, I would prefer to be confused with Keith Richards. or something like that.’
Lyonne’s appearance in the Happy, Sad and Confused Podcast arrives in the middle of filming the highly anticipated second season of his Peacock series Poker Face.
Lyonne (left) was so taken aback by Coolidge’s mistake because her style, both personal and professional, differs completely from that of the 37-year-old Duff. Duff (right) is a perky blonde who previously reigned on the Disney Channel, while Lyonne has long been a tough, husky-voiced indie gal who takes on “edgy” roles in film and television.
She stars as Charlie Cale in the gripping multi-part series Poker Face, created by Knives Out director Rian Johnson.
Lyonne’s character uses her honed truth-telling skills to investigate a murder, but then becomes the prime suspect after casino boss Sterling Frost Jr. is shot.
In the first season finale, which premiered in March 2023, Cale outwitted the men pursuing her after Sterling’s death as she fled again.
The mystery comedy received a 99% approval rating from critics on film and television review website Rotten Tomatoes.
Johnson wrote and directed several episodes of the first season, and Lyonne also directed one.
While Poker Face is her latest project, Lyonne is best known for her roles in Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black and American Pie (1999).
She began as a child actress in the early 1990s, even starring in the family film Dennis the Menace (1993).
Shortly after, she landed a role in the independent cult classic Slums of Beverly Hills (1998) with Oscar winners Alan Arkin and Marisa Tomei.
One thing Lyonne and Duff have in common is that they both previously starred in comedy films with Coolidge. Lyonne co-starred with Coolidge in the raunchy R-rated film American Pie (1999)
Duff played Coolidge’s abused stepdaughter in the romantic comedy A Cinderella Story (2004).
The following year, she landed the lead role in the queer comedy But I’m A Cheerleader, which follows a cheerleader (Lyonne) whose parents send her to a gay conversion camp.
While Lyonne has appeared in a long list of beloved films, she has dominated television over the past decade after her memorable role in 2013’s Orange Is The New Black.
In 2019, Lyonne co-created the short-lived Netflix comedy series Russian Doll with Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland.
Lyonne played the main character, game developer Nadia, who is forced to relive the night of her 36th birthday over and over again.
The show was a huge critical success, and the first season earned 14 Primetime Emmy nominations.
It was renewed for a second season that aired in 2022, but virtually nothing has been heard about a possible third season.
Co-creator Headland gave a disappointing update on the show earlier this year, telling Collider that she hasn’t ‘heard anything from Netflix about it.’
However, he gave fans hope by saying that a third season is not totally out of the question.
‘I thought, maybe I’ve recovered too much. You know what I mean?’ Lyonne said of her thought process at the time of the confusion. “Because whatever I’m projecting is something I’d rather quickly eliminate: I’ve lost my edge”; seen in October 2024
‘No, I think there is (a possibility). 100%. Yes, I definitely think so. I just haven’t heard anything about it,” Headland told the outlet in March.
As for her personal life, Lyonne was last romantically linked to Saturday Night Live alum Fred Armisen.
The couple is believed to have split in 2021 after six years together.
Lyonne confirmed the breakup to The Hollywood Reporter in 2022.
She jokingly shared that they broke up over different opinions about adding a pool to the Los Angeles home they once shared.