‘Powerful’: Natasha Lyonne’s story of assault moves Instagram users
Like a worrying number of other women within the entertainment industry, Natasha Lyonne has experience of assault.
And earlier this week, she decided to share it in a move which many of her fans and followers say brought them to tears.
In an account which paints a vivid picture of Natasha at just 19-years-old, the now 38-year-old actress recalls her desire to impress a man who would be instrumental in whether she would be hired to play music icon Janis Joplin.
Having experienced success with the film Slums of Beverly Hills, Natasha hoped her experience and passion for the role would ultimately work in her favour – a hope which was dashed when she found herself 'overpowered' by the man she refers to simply as 'G' in her post.
"I’d always felt like the oldest girl in showbiz. By the time I met G—for his Janis Joplin film I was roughly 19 and already had been at work as a kid actor for 13 years. I wanted the part so bad," she began her post.
"No one knew Janis like I did from the inside out. I’d known her that way since I’d memorized all her lyrics as a little girl actress readying myself for the day I got to play her. And here it was. Slums of Beverly Hills had just come out & I was a hot commodity."
"We would meet in LA while I was in town to discuss the project. He was 35-40. I was staying at my friend Zoe’s apt in West Hollywood. I didn’t have a car cuz I lived in New York City," she remembers.
"I thought I was a real tough guy back then. Sometimes I still do. I wore baby blue corduroy bell bottoms stolen from my friend Annie P and a white wife beater. My hair was huge, curly, messy. Big platform boots."
"G— offered to pick me up since I had no car. That seemed fair. I’m pretty sure it was still daylight. We went to a bar on Sunset & I started drinking Southern Comfort figuring, hey- this’ll prove how Method I am. Janis loved Southern Comfort. Being broken & freewheeling. People loved identifying with her pain & her mess."
Natasha went on to provide her fans and followers with an overview of how the situation escalated upon their leaving the bar.
"I can remember him driving me back to Zoe’s place & me saying not to come up but really what I recall is suddenly having this huge guy overpowering me and me saying the word “NO” quite clearly. He won I guess. When we woke up I vaguely remember some form of a goodbye on his part like we’d had a fun night."
"I was pretty devastated by the whole scene and declined flying back to LA for the screentest."
"In my head at the time I tried to comfort myself with some of her “get it while you can” shtick or maybe that one about how “freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose/nothing, I mean nothing, honey if it isn't free”; beating myself up for not being clear headed, wondering what the hell had just gone down and if I’d allowed it."
"But now, I also think of these words of hers to the young girls unsure if to speak up, in awe of those who already have & to the teenager inside me still questioning if my truth is valid enough: “Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got.”
Natasha followers were quick to offer their support, with one writing: "Dammmmmn powerful. You are a beautiful soul."
"You are such an unbelievably strong woman in my eyes, & the eyes of many others," added another.
