Today: “Orange is the New Black” Laura Prepon + Makeup in Prison

Kathie Lee & Hoda: Laura Prepon As Alex on Orange Is The New Black

Actress Laura Prepon played Donna on That ’70s Show but now she’s playing an entirely different type of character.

She’s playing Alex on the Netflix series Orange is the New Black. She plays drug smuggler turned prisoner Alex Vause. Her story includes her complicated relationship with her ex-girlfriend and fellow inmate.

Kathie Lee & Hoda: Laura Prepon

I noticed, and Kathie Lee and Hoda pointed out, that Laura Prepon seems to really transform into whatever character she’s playing. I’ve seen her with blonde, red, and now black hair, depending on who she’s playing at the time. I’ll admit, I got so used to seeing her with red hair on That ’70s Show that I almost didn’t recognize her on the Today Show.

Kathie Lee and Hoda also pointed out that country seems to be obsessed with this show. Laura said she thinks the reason for it is that there isn’t another show with this many strong, independent female characters and they really push the envelope with each episode.

She was asked if she has ever looked at a script and just thought “oh my God” and she answered yes, and said it actually just happened to her the day before. She said it’s so exciting because it’s those moments when you’re pushed outside of your comfort zone that you really grow as an actress.

Kathie Lee & Hoda: Laura Prepon on Playing Alex Vause

Kathie Lee and Hoda said fans of the show are absolutely crazy about her character. She plays the bad girl, but there were questions on whether she would come back.

She explained that Netflix doesn’t have typical contracts for a certain number of seasons, and at one point a conflict came up, but she will be in season three. She also apologized to the fans for not being in season two more than she was.

Kathie Lee & Hoda: OINTB Makeup in Prison

Kathie Lee and Hoda pointed out how Laura’s character’s hair always looks so good, given that she’s in prison. Even my sister, Sara, who was watching with me said “her hair really does always look perfect”. So how do they manage to look so good without the tools that women use outside of prison?

Laura explained that in prison, people smuggle things in for them or they find creative ways to create makeup such as mixing Kool-Aid with vasoline to make lipstick. She said her character uses pills to make eyeliner. She said each woman has little things they do to keep some sense of themselves.