Inside Clea DuVall And Natasha Lyonne's Friendship
Russian Doll star Natasha Lyonne found great success after starring in the Netflix comedy-drama back in 2019. Prior to the huge Netflix hit the talented actress had been developing her career on-screen since her earliest roles such as that in the 1986 series Pee Wee’s Playhouse. Throughout the years, Lyonne garnered significant public attention that saw her fans support her through her lowest lows and career highs.
Someone who also supported Lyonne through her whirlwind career in the public eye was her best friend and equally talented actress, Clea DuVall. The pair first met way back in the late 90s when they starred in the cult-classic and soon-to-be musical, But I’m A Cheerleader. Since then, the pair have been inseparable and have developed a heartwarming bond. So let’s take a look at the history behind this strong and creative friendship.
8 This Is The Heartwarming Story Of How The Pair Met
Despite the pair of talented creatives having found their rhythm and footing in the industry they now flourish in, there was a time when both DuVall and Lyonne were young hopefuls trying to find their big break in film. During this time, the pair of actresses crossed paths for the first time. During an interview with Criterion, both DuVall and Lyonne described this meet-cute as they detailed their long-term friendship.
DuVall stated, “We had the same agent, who kept telling us about each other. Then one day, when I was in his office, Natasha called, and he was like, ‘Clea’s here, you should talk on the phone,’ and we ended up talking for an hour. Natasha said she was coming to LA, and a week or two later we were both on a studio lot auditioning for the same movie.” Before then adding, “Then I did my audition, and we met up and spent the entire day together, and our friendship just sort of was.”
7 They Paired Up Creatively For The First Time In This Cult Classic
Whilst the pair operated in the same areas and professional circles during the early stages of their careers, it wasn’t until the 2000 Jamie Babbit film, But I’m A Cheerleader, that DuVall and Lyonne shared the screen for the very first time. The film took place in a gay conversion therapy camp in which Lyonne’s Megan discovers herself and her sexuality through her relationship with DuVall’s Graham.
6 They Reunited On-Screen 16 Years Later
Although But I’m A Cheerleader became a huge cult classic of the 00s, DuVall and Lyonne did not work beside each other again until 16 years later, when they reunited in 2016 for DuVall’s directorial debut, The Intervention. The film followed the story of a group of couple friends, with DuVall and Lyonne once again portraying partners, who take it upon themselves to stage an intervention for their seemingly unhappy married friends, portrayed by Cobie Smulders and Vincent Piazza.
5 This Is How Natasha Lyonne Described Working With Clea DuVall
Following over a decade of friendship and two successful on-screen projects, Lyonne had some pretty heartwarming words of admiration towards DuVall. During the Criterion interview, the Orange Is The New Black star praised DuVall as a creative and director as she detailed what it had been like to work for her.
Lyonne stated, “Being directed by Clea in her movie, The Intervention, and being able to fall back into that chemistry, was like a psychedelic experience. It was so special and so interesting that Clea was able to deconstruct the puzzle of what made that chemistry between us and turn it into her own movie.”
4 They Are Each Other's Support Systems
It’s clear that throughout their long friendship, DuVall and Lyonne have been able to develop an incredible bond and chemistry that is palpable even through the film screen. However, it seems as though this bond extends far beyond their professional lives. During an interview with Cosmopolitan, both actresses highlighted how deeply important they are to each other and the key role that they play in each other’s lives.
Lyonne highlighted, “When you have a best friend of decades, you know the way they tick, and you know what triggers their insecurity, and you are able to talk them off the ledge. That's a lot of what I use Clea for. I can't live without her. There are moments where I feel like I'm going nuts, but I know it's not as bad as it feels, and that's when I check in with Clea, and she is a real touchstone of sanity for me.”
3 Yet Being Best Friends And Co-Workers Does Not Come Without Its Challenges
Despite their indestructible bond, all friendships and professional partnerships have their challenges. Later on, in the Cosmopolitan interview, Lyonne highlighted this as she revealed the challenges that she had faced while being directed by her best friend.
The actress stated, “What's tricky about being directed by your best friend is you feel like they can see through you so completely, and it can become scary knowing they are at the monitor because this is the hardest person in my life to lie to.”
2 Their Friendship Transcends “Long Marriage”
It seems as though labeling what the pair share as a “friendship” is not enough to accurately depict the bond that DuVall and Lyonne have developed over the decades. During an exclusive feature with Out, Lyonne highlighted how quirky it was that the pair’s friendship had outlasted her own parents’ marriage.
Lyonne stated, “When you think about it, it’s pretty funny that we’ve been together longer than my parents’ marriage, which ended in divorce. But Clea and I have been together longer than a long marriage.”
1 They Are Not Shy To Show The Public How Much They Love Each Other
As we have seen, DuVall and Lyonne truly found their platonic soulmates through the craft of acting and filmmaking. And it seems as though the pair of actresses are not afraid to show the public just how much this is true. Back in 2016, during the Sundance premier of DuVall’s The Intervention, the pair stepped out onto the red carpet together where they exchanged some heartwarming moments in front of the paparazzi for the whole world to see. Pictures of the pair smooching and cuddling warmed the hearts of their fans who had not seen the pair share such intimate moments since their sweet storyline in But I’m A Cheerleader.
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