The 1999 teen comedy American Pie is one of the most iconic films about sex and dating, but Natasha Lyonne came close to not becoming part of the cast. Known as the first major movie for young actors such as Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, and Mena Suvari, the story follows clueless high school students who want to lose their virginity. Lyonne’s bold and knowledgeable character Jessica stands out against the others. The movie grossed over $200 million (via Box Office Mojo) and the scene of Bigg’s character Jim having an intimate moment with an apple pie in his kitchen is still surprising years later.
Lyonne played her American Pie role the same year that she portrayed Vivian Abromowitz in the 1998 comedy Slums of Beverly Hills. She continued to play confident and sure of themselves characters, from Megan Bloomfield in But I’m A Cheerleader to Nadia Vulvokov in the Netflix time loop series Russian Doll and Nicky Nichols in Orange is the New Black. It became a staple of her career. It’s difficult to picture American Pie without Lyonne’s dry and humorous delivery when speaking to Tara Reid’s character Vicky but the actor recently explained why she was uncertain about saying yes to the part of Jessica.
Natasha Lyonne Almost Didn’t Star In American Pie Because She Couldn’t Relate
Speaking to Coachsurfing, Lyonne shared that she couldn’t relate to American Pie and thought about saying no to the role. She said, “I will tell you the truth, I was very confused by this movie. For me, the confusion came from — it was very, almost like a fratty, suburban high school experience that I did not identify with at all.” Lyonne explained that because she lived in New York City, she couldn’t see herself in the American Pie cast of characters who live in the suburbs. She’s glad she did because after, she was able to “have a huge independent movie career for decades.” (via People).
Natasha Lyonne’s American Pie Character Is Essential
Natasha Lyonne’s American Pie character Jessica contributes to the movie’s humorous tone as she is frank and honest about not thinking that sex is a topic worth stressing about. When Vicky frets over the “right time” to sleep with her boyfriend Kevin Myers (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Jessica says, “it’s not a space shuttle launch, it’s sex.” While the other characters are worried about graduating from high school without having lost their virginity, Jessica remains calm and appears wiser than her peers. Although not every American Pie movie is good, Jessica is a memorable presence and the perfect example of a smart, sarcastic teenager waiting for her real life to begin.
