Greta Lee’s 10 Best Movies & Shows, Ranked

Greta Lee is one of the best actresses working today, and though she’s finally getting the recognition she deserves, Lee has been a fixture in movies and television for a long time. Though Lee began her career with more comedic roles, in recent years, she’s demonstrated how well-suited she is for nuanced, quiet dramas, as seen in her work in Past Lives. Additionally, Lee has consistently pushed herself to take on a variety of roles within opposing genres, demonstrating her range as a performer.

Lee is part of the cast of The Studio, Apple TV’s new comedy series that’s already garnering excellent reviews. With a strong background in comedy, including sketch shows and beloved sitcoms, it’s no wonder that Lee feels right at home in the exciting original series that’s been making waves in Hollywood. In the wake of her recent success and rise to promise, largely thanks to Past Lives and The Morning Show, it’s certain that Lee will continue to seek out interesting and unique projects based on her past work.

10

Sisters (2015)

As Hae Won

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Sisters

R

Comedy

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6/10

Release Date

December 18, 2015

Runtime

118minutes

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    Amy Poehler

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    James Brolin

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Though Sisters isn’t the most critically acclaimed collaboration between Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, it is a fun romp and features some fun cameo performances by iconic comedians. While Lee wasn’t as famous as some of her castmates at the time of Sisters‘s release, she holds her own next to the comedic veterans and stands out in the cast. Her character, Hae Won, is a role that could easily lean into stereotypes about Asian Americans, and Lee leaned into this facet of the role and subverted it.

One of Lee’s more prominent early roles in a movie, it’s interesting to see the difference between Sisters and the projects she takes on today.

The actress spoke about her relationship to the role and her dynamic with Poehler and Fey to the New York Times when the film came out in 2015, touching upon these issues of stereotyping in Hollywood (via The New York Times). Lee’s part isn’t the largest in the movie, but she helps to rebuild the connection between the protagonists and has her own character development throughout the story. One of Lee’s more prominent early roles in a movie, it’s interesting to see the difference between Sisters and the projects she takes on today.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Sisters (2015)

60%

52%

9

Chance (2016–2017)

As Lucy Baek

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Chance

TV-MA

Drama

Thriller

Release Date

2016 – 2016

Network

Hulu

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    Ethan Suplee

    D

  • Headshoit Of Hugh Laurie

    Hugh Laurie

    Eldon Chance

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Judah Simard

    Travis

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    LisaGay Hamilton

    Suzanne Simms

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The taut drama series Chance stars Hugh Laurie as Dr. Eldon Chance, a man who becomes embroiled in the life of Jaclyn (Gretchen Mol), a woman being abused by her husband. Chance is based on Kem Lunn’s novel of the same name, who also helped develop the series. It slowly builds its web of lies and deceit throughout the episodes. Airing on Hulu for two seasons, Chance sees Lee featured as Lucy Baek, a recurring character and part of the dangerous world Dr. Chance encounters.

Though it’s the relationship between Chance and Jaclyn that defines the series in season 1, the supporting characters like Lee’s Lucy help flesh out the world and make it feel real. Chance returned for season 2 largely because of Laurie’s anchoring performance, as the actor already had experience as a troubled doctor through his long-running role on House. Seeing Lee in a twisting drama like Chance is interesting, especially because she so easily disappears into the story’s world.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Chance (2016–2017)

75%

86%

8

New Girl (2011–2018)

As Kai

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New Girl

TV-14

Comedy

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9/10

9.4/10

Release Date

2011 – 2017

Network

FOX

Cast

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    Zooey Deschanel

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    Max Greenfield

Showrunner

Elizabeth Meriwether

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Lee has been a part of many iconic TV series, but in her small role in the beloved sitcom New Girl​​​​​​, she’s almost unrecognizable. She plays one of Nick’s (Jake Johnson) love interests, Kai, who’s the granddaughter of Nick’s silent friend, Tran (Ralph Ahn). Kai is featured in season 4 after Nick and Jess (Zooey Deschanel) have broken up. While Nick and Jess’s love story on New Girl is a fan-favorite relationship, it was necessary for both characters to have other partners for the sake of the show.

Way New Girl Got Better After Ditching Premise

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Lee’s comedic background made her a perfect fit for New Girl, and of all of Nick’s girlfriends other than Jess, she’s one of the most fun additions to the series. However, she and Nick ultimately break up because they’re too similar and feed off each other’s tendencies to shut out the outside world and watch TV. Though Kai leaves the show after their relationship ends, it was enjoyable seeing Lee on New Girl, and her character helped establish Tran’s role as a consistent part of the show.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

New Girl (2011–2018)

95%

85%

7

Miracle Workers (2019–2023)

As Princess Vicki

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Miracle Workers

Comedy

Release Date

2019 – 2023-00-00

Network

HBO Max

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    Daniel Radcliffe

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    Geraldine Viswanathan

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    Steve Buscemi

Showrunner

Simon Rich

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Lee is featured in Miracle Workers season 2, also known as Miracle Workers: Dark Ages, as the anthology series tackles a new period and fantastical premise in every installment. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Karan Soni, and Jon Bass in every season as different characters, Miracle Workers goes to medieval times in season 2. Lee plays Princess Vicki for a few episodes, sharing scenes with Radcliffe’s Prince Chauncley.

Like every installment of Miracle Workers, the Dark Ages season takes an anachronistic look at the period and pokes fun at the tropes of period pieces and the medieval genre. It makes sense that Lee would join the cast of Miracle Workers, as it’s the perfect blend of comedy and offbeat genre work in which Lee shines. She and Radcliffe have lots of fun together onscreen, and she easily fits into the quirky world of the series.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Miracle Workers (2019–2023)

84%

76%

6

Wayward Pines (2015–2016)

As Ruby

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Wayward Pines

Thriller

Drama

Mystery

9/10

Release Date

2015 – 2015

Network

FOX

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    Tim Griffin

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Matt Dillon

Showrunner

Chad Hodge

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M. Night Shyamalan served as one of the producers of the thrilling mystery series Wayward Pines, which only ran for two seasons but shouldn’t fade from memory. With a strong ensemble cast featuring Matt Dillon, Carla Gugino, and Djimon Hounsou, Wayward Pines includes sci-fi elements and many complex plot lines to take the audience on a dizzying journey. Wayward Pines is a great show to watch while waiting for From season 4, and the fact that Lee appears in the series is a fun bonus.

Lee hasn’t been in anything similar to Wayward Pines since, but her work in the series indicates that she isn’t opposed to working in speculative fiction.

Lee was underutilized in Wayward Pines, but it was a distinct departure for the actress and gave her exciting new material to work with, making it a highlight. Her character, Ruby, is only in a few episodes, but Lee fully commits to the surreal tone of Wayward Pines, which was frequently compared to Twin Peaks. Lee hasn’t been in anything similar to Wayward Pines since, but her work in the series indicates that she isn’t opposed to working in speculative fiction.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Wayward Pines (2015–2016)

60%

68%

5

Girls (2012–2017)

As Soojin

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Girls

Comedy

Release Date

2012 – 2016

Network

HBO Max

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  • Headshot Of Lena Dunham

    Lena Dunham

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    Adam Driver

  • Headshot Of Allison Williams

    Allison Williams

Showrunner

Lena Dunham

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Lee’s role in Girls, Soojin, was a small recurring part in the first few seasons, but Lee made an impact on the series and steals every scene she’s in. She primarily interacts with Marine (Allison Williams) when she’s working in the art world, and the actresses play off each other well. Girls included many hilarious bit parts for fantastic actors like Lee throughout the show’s run, and her episodes are always an unexpected delight when watching the series.

Though Soojin is a very different character from the roles Lee has become best known for, this shows her strong roots in comedy and exposes the actress to a wider audience. Girls was a lightning rod for conversation and controversy throughout its run, and though it stopped airing in the late 2010s, it’s still widely talked about today. It’s always exciting to see a beloved actor featured in a show with such a rich legacy.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Girls (2012–2017)

89%

76%

4

Russian Doll (2019–2022)

As Maxine

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TV-MA

Comedy

Drama

Mystery

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7/10

8/10

Release Date

2019 – 2022-00-00

Showrunner

Leslye Headland, Natasha Lyonne

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Natasha Lyonne leads the cast of the innovative and underrated fantastical comedy series Russian Doll. The show was cut short, but made a significant impact. Lyonne’s character, Nadia, gets stuck in a time loop on her 36th birthday as Lee’s Maxine is throwing her a birthday party she can never escape. Though Maxine isn’t aware of the loop, witnessing the way Lee adapts to the different timelines and keeps her character consistent yet fresh maintains the story’s potency.

There are many reasons to watch Russian Doll today, not the least of which is to witness Lee’s performance and chemistry with Lyonne.

Russian Doll was one of the first TV series that cast Lee in a major leading role, and it’s clear that she thrives in these surrealist projects with unique premises. Though Russian Doll season 1 was a tight and unforgettable story, the series got even better in season 2, paving the way for further installments, even though it would ultimately be canceled. However, there are many reasons to watch Russian Doll today, not the least of which is to witness Lee’s performance and chemistry with Lyonne.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Russian Doll (2019–2022)

97%

76%

3

Problemista (2023)

As Dalia

Problemista 2023 Movie Poster

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Problemista

R

Comedy

LGBTQ+

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8/10

Release Date

March 13, 2023

Runtime

98 minutes

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    Julio Torres

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    Tilda Swinton

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The brilliant comedian and filmmaker Julio Torres wrote, directed, and starred in Problemista, his first feature film. Problemista is a surrealist comedy that features Tilda Swinton as Elizabeth, who Alejandro (Torres) starts working for so he can get sponsorship for a work visa and remain in the U.S. Lee plays a small but pivotal role in Problemista as one of the many people Alejandro encounters on his journey to fulfill of out Elizabeth’s outrageous demands.

Like all the other aspects of and characters in Problemista, Lee’s Dalia exists somewhere outside our reality but provides further insight into Alejandro’s experiences and emotional development. Though she’s only onscreen for a short time, Lee was the perfect choice to portray Dalia, as she balances comedy and vulnerability with ease. While Problemista is more offbeat than other modern comedies, its magical realism and unique tone are what set it apart and show that Lee can fit into any genre and story type.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Problemista (2023)

86%

85%

2

The Morning Show (2019–Present)

As Stella Bak

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The Morning Show

TV-MA

Drama

Release Date

November 1, 2019

Showrunner

Kerry Ehrin

Cast

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    Marcia Gay Harden

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    Holland Taylor

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    Bel Powley

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    Tom Irwin

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Lee joined the cast of Apple TV’s drama The Morning Show in season 2, and her character, Stella, has been a consistent highlight ever since. The Morning Show season 1 touched upon issues of sexual misconduct within the high-profile world of morning news shows, while more recent installments have tracked different contemporary issues and the changes in network television. As Stella, Lee is in a position of power over the protagonists and is a shrewd executive, demonstrating a different side of the actress.

A composite image of Reese Witherspoon looking determined while looking on in front of Jenifer Aniston hosting the show with a smile in The Morning Show

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Though the storylines on The Morning Show are sometimes criticized for being too sensationalized and over-the-top, the performances by the ensemble cast are frequently praised. Lee has strong chemistry with her co-stars and doesn’t shy away from her characters’ most dramatic moments, mining these for excitement and intrigue. As The Morning Show progresses, it will be interesting to see where the series takes Stella and what her next move will be.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Morning Show (2019–Present)

67%

33%

1

Past Lives (2023)

As Nora Moon

Past Lives Movie Poster

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Past Lives

PG-13

Drama

Romance

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9/10

8/10

Release Date

January 21, 2023

Runtime

106 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Greta Lee

    Greta Lee

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    Teo Yoo

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Celine Song’s directorial debut, Past Lives, hit home for many viewers, as it chronicles the complexities of relationships and the juxtaposition between different parts of ourselves. Lee gives one of the best performances of her career as Nora, the protagonist, who moves away from her home in Seoul as a child and maintains a friendship with her childhood sweetheart into adulthood. Deliberately paced and filled with longing and the lingering questions of what might have been, Past Lives gives Lee a lot to work with as Nora.

Song crafted a beautiful romance movie with incredible writing, but without Lee’s central performance as Nora, many of the subtle character nuances and moving moments wouldn’t be as effective. Though Past Lives touches on the different parts of her husband and childhood friend, Nora is the unequivocal centerpiece of the film, and it is the first film to give Lee so much room to explore her character. Past Lives will likely live on as an unforgettable addition to Lee and Song’s filmographies.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Past Lives (2023)

95%

93%