Russian Doll has its own fictional characters that are great fun to follow, but let’s not forget about the show’s real-life inspiration, who also happen to be part of the cast! Actress Greta Lee plays Russian Doll’s version of Nadia’s friend Maxine, whose 36th birthday party serves as the inciting incident for our heroine in her journey through multiple lifetimes. So who really is Maxine? What other roles has she played in past seasons? And what does Lee think about playing this role? Russian Doll Nadia Friend Maxine
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Who is Maxine?
Greta Lee plays a role that is more subdued than most of her roles, but no less funny: Nadia’s (Natasha Lyonne) friend, and occasional frenemy, Maxine. On top of working as a guidance counselor at Schur High School in Los Angeles, she throws 36th birthday parties for herself to make sure she doesn’t get old. It’s like when you hit 30, it’s just like ‘Oh my god! I don’t want to be 40! I don’t want to be 50! Let me have one last hurrah before I turn 30! And then when you turn 31 you’re like ‘Okay.
Her role in Nadia’s life
For 36 years, Greta Lee has played that best friend—for both being there for her character’s greatest milestones and accompanying her through her lowest lows. As we first meet Maxine in Russian Doll , she is throwing a 36th birthday party for our protagonist, who we later learn has died before reaching age 37.
The best part about working with Natasha Lyonne (Maxine)
It was a really good dynamic. She is a close friend of mine and she’s sort of my family as well. It was so nice to see her on set in her element, because usually we’re just texting each other or hanging out at my house with our kids and stuff like that, so it was cool to see her with no makeup, hair all crazy and wearing a dirty bathrobe.
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Greta Lee
She plays one of my favorite characters on television (Maxine in Russian Doll ), she’s beautiful, and a delight to talk to. A little while ago I spoke with Greta Lee about her role in Netflix’s Russian Doll , her experience working with Natasha Lyonne, and what it was like playing a fictionalized version of herself. And here are 5 things you didn’t know about Greta Lee… 1) She was born in Mexico City and grew up mostly speaking Spanish. 2) Her mother is Chinese, and her father is Mexican. 3) When she moved to Los Angeles at age 17, she took classes at UCLA for three years before moving back home for two years because she couldn’t afford rent there.
Maxine Background
Greta Lee plays Maxine, a cynical but caring friend to Nadia. Lee is also an Emmy-nominated actor known for her roles in Ugly Betty and New Girl. The closest thing she has done to Russian Doll is her role as Kimmie Gubbins in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. In that show, she played a character who was kidnapped by cult leader Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm) and imprisoned in an underground bunker for 15 years. Her character later helps lead a group of women out of captivity. She’s certainly used to playing characters who have been through hell—and back again.
Maxine Biography
When we first meet Maxine (Greta Lee) in Russian Doll, she’s throwing a birthday party for her friend, Nadia (Natasha Lyonne). With pink streamers and vibrant balloons all over her apartment, and a table full of finger foods, it’s an extremely colorful and lively affair. It also seems like everyone is having a great time at Maxine’s party, including Nadia herself. However, when Nadia goes to make her speech about how much everyone means to her and how happy she is that they could be there with her on such an important day, she starts to choke up with emotion. She can barely get out that she loves them before breaking down into tears.
Maxine Personality
Greta Lee Is Russian Doll’s Reluctant Party Girl, Maxine. As an actor, Greta Lee has had plenty of memorable roles, but on Netflix’s new series, Russian Doll , she’s playing someone just as interesting as a main character—the kind-hearted and quirky best friend. At first glance, Lee’s character in Russian Doll—Maxine Greenfield—might seem like a minor one to fans of Natasha Lyonne’s Nadia Vulvokov.
