Natasha Lyonne Hated Being Called ‘Brave’ For Playing A Lesbian: ‘The Most Offensive Thing In The World’

Natasha Lyonne’s Hollywood rise took her the better part of two decades. Before emerging as one of the top showrunners of the prestige TV era following the success of ‘Russian Doll’ in 2019, she had success as a teen star in films like ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ and ‘Poker Face’ star has some insight into how some critics have discussed his previous work.

In a new interview with the independent, Lyonne recalled an initial burst of fame when she starred in “But I’m a Cheerleader” opposite Clea DuVall in 1999. Some writers praised her for playing a gay character and promoting the film in gay publications, as if doing so were an act of courage.

“It was the most offensive thing in the world,” said Lyonne. “Like when they also told Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal how ‘brave’ he was. fuck you! How dare you say that? Or like, ‘Why are you on the cover of Out Magazine with Clea DuVall but don’t identify as gay?’ Like, fuck you! It’s the cover of Out Magazine and Clea and I are in love to death. Then we’re going to have our sexy little photo shoot. Nipples out, baby, let’s go! Here because!”

Lyonne reiterated her support for the LGBTQ community and explained that she has no patience for people who try to make life harder for anyone based on immutable characteristics.

“Trust me, everyone is having a hard enough time being a human being on their own: straight, gay, fucking white and black alike,” she said. “Like we’re all in this race together trying to figure out why we’d have to work so hard knowing we’re going to die in the end. We are all in the same existential problem. So the idea that you will make things more difficult by causing unnecessary suffering? I hate it. I really can’t stand it.