Greta Lee Is Ready for Her Close-Up

AFTER YEARS OF PLAYING MEMORABLE SUPPORTING ROLES, HE ACTRESS BREAKS OUT IN PAST LIVES, A MOVING DRAMA THAT'S ALREADY GETTING OSCAR BUZZ

- ERIC ANDERSSON

Greta Lee is not a household name. Then again, she's not unknown, either. Over the past decade the actress has built a steady career with scene-stealing guest and supporting roles in shows like HBO's Girls (as privileged gallerist Soojin), Netflix's Russian Doll (as Natasha Lyonne's eccentric friend Maxine) and Apple TV+'s The Morning Show (as frosty news exec Stella). While there may not be a term for the level of stardom Lee has achieved, her parents would like one. "They ask me things like, 'Are you medium famous yet?" says the actress, clearly amused. "What can we tell our friends?""

The Lees' bragging rights are about to get a big boost. Their daughter's new movie Past Lives-a heartfelt drama about a married New Yorker (Lee) who wonders "what if?" when her childhood crush (Teo Yoo) visits from their native South Korea-has charmed critics and landed on early Oscar prediction lists. For Lee, getting attention for her first major leading role at age 40 "is a total dream" but not one she can bask in for too long. "I am still a mother of two very young children," says the L.A. based actress and writer, who shares Apollo, 6, and Raphael, 4, with her husband, comedy writer and actor Russ Armstrong, 39."It's a sharp pivot from great reviews to, Where is my breakfast?""