Is Nicky Nichols based on Natasha Lyonne?

Nicky Nichols is a fictional character played by Natasha Lyonne on the Netflix series, Orange Is the New Black. She is a recurring character in season one and the main character from season two onwards.

She received an Emmy nomination in 2014 for the role.

Is Nicky Nichols based on Natasha Lyonne?

Natasha Lyonne feels that she can relate closely to Nichols’s storyline as she has had the experience with drug addiction. She said, “believe me, there’s no shortage of things for me to draw on when it comes to Nicky’s backstory”. 

The scar that is visible on Nichol’s chest during the series is a real scar from Lyonne’s heart surgery in 2012. Orange Is the New Black is Lyonne’s first time as a series regular.