51�Թ�

Long before finding her groove with unconventional roles in “Orange Is the New Black,” “Russian Doll” and now, “Poker Face,” there weren’t many options for a free spirit like Natasha Lyonne, especially when she aged from a pliable child actor into a self-aware adult.

By 2019, Lyonne co-created her own Netflix series, the existential dark comedy “Russian Doll,” where she played Nadia, a New York City-based video game developer who gets caught in a time loop at her 36th birthday party.

For a time it seems that we may be watching a story, like “Groundhog Day” or “Russian Doll,” where the universe pranks a person into getting right with themselves and the world; and while her unfortunate situation will force Ruby to face her self-centered, self-destructive behaviors, mere enlightenment isn’t likely to turn the spigot off.

The “Russian Doll” and “Poker Face” star has portrayed plenty of stoners in her career, and she does again as Rachel, who spends her aimless days betting on sports.

At a time when she is very busy as a producer, director, writer and showrunner on projects such as “Russian Doll” and “Poker Face,” there is still something satisfying for Lyonne in acting in someone else’s project — just to be, in her words, “like a Traveling Wilbury or something. I’m just out here being a session musician and the gig is to service the idea as best you can. I love to be a part of watching somebody make their thing.”