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Aubrey Plaza
Aubrey Plaza by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
Plaza at WonderCon 2019
Born
Aubrey Christina Plaza

(1984-06-26) June 26, 1984 (age 40)
Education New York University (BFA)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
Years active 2004–present
Spouse(s)
Jeff Baena
(m. 2021)

Aubrey Christina Plaza (born June 26, 1984) is an American actress, comedian, and producer. She starred as April Ludgate on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–2015), played Julie Powers in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023), and featured as the Shadow King and Lenny Busker in the FX superhero series Legion (2017–2019). In 2022, she starred in the second season of the HBO anthology series The White Lotus, for which she received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.

After beginning her career performing improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, Plaza had her first leading film role in Safety Not Guaranteed (2012). She has also appeared in the films Mystery Team (2009), Funny People (2009), The To Do List (2013), Life After Beth (2014), Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016), Child's Play (2019), and Happiest Season (2020). Plaza has produced and starred in the films The Little Hours (2017), Ingrid Goes West (2017), Black Bear (2020), and Emily the Criminal (2022).

Early life and education

Plaza was born in Wilmington, Delaware, to Bernadette, an attorney, and David Plaza, a financial advisor. She has two younger sisters, Renee and Natalie.

Plaza was named after the song "Aubrey" by Bread. Her father is of Puerto Rican descent; her paternal grandfather Ismael was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and moved to the mainland US when he was 17 years old. Her mother is of Irish and English descent. She has also stated that she has Taíno ancestry.

Plaza has stated: "I'm half-Puerto Rican. But, yeah, I have a huge family and tons of cousins in Puerto Rico." She grew up "very Catholic in a very Catholic household". She graduated from Ursuline Academy, an all-girls Catholic school, in 2002. In high school, she was student council president and participated in productions with the Wilmington Drama League. She studied film at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 2006.

Career

2004–2015: Beginnings and Parks and Recreation

Aubrey Plaza 2009
Plaza at the Parks and Recreation premiere party in 2009

Plaza had many internships and worked as an NBC page. Plaza has performed improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater since 2004. She also performed stand-up and has appeared at the Laugh Factory and The Improv.

Plaza starred in the online series The Jeannie Tate Show and as Robin Gibney in ESPN's Mayne Street. She appeared in the first episode of "Terrible Decisions with Ben Schwartz" on Funny or Die. She played Seth Rogen's love interest, Daisy, in 2009's Funny People, directed by Judd Apatow. She appeared in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Derrick Comedy's Mystery Team, which debuted at 2009 Sundance. She appeared in a CollegeHumor short alongside Jason Bateman and Will Arnett.

She played April Ludgate in Parks and Recreation from 2009 to 2015. She received universal praise throughout the entire show for her performance as the deadpan employee, being referred to as one of the show's breakout characters.

On March 12, 2010, Plaza performed at "A Night of 140 Tweets: A Celebrity Tweetathon for Haiti", produced by Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, Ben Stiller, and Mike Rosenstein, at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles. In 2011 she appeared on Portlandia. Plaza appeared as a guest judge during a roast segment on The Next Food Network Star in 2011. ..... She also had a recurring role as "the Princess" in the comedic sci-fi web series Troopers on CollegeHumor.

In 2012, she was featured in Father John Misty's music video for the song "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" from the album Fear Fun and in 2014 she was in Cassorla's "Bona Fide" video where she also made her saxophone-playing debut. In 2012, Plaza earned her first starring role in a major film, alongside Mark Duplass, in the comedy, Safety Not Guaranteed. Plaza played Darius, a jaded intern who answers a curious want ad "seeking a companion for a time traveling adventure". Her performance in the film was critically acclaimed. She won the award for Breakthrough Performance (Female) at the 2012 Young Hollywood Awards (YHA). During a 2012 shooting of an episode of Parks and Recreation at the White House, she met then-Vice President Joe Biden and stole his notes about her from his desk.

..... In 2013, she also had the starring role in the CBS Film The To Do List. In an impromptu attempt to promote this film, Plaza ran onto the stage at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards and grabbed Will Ferrell's award for "Comedic Genius", inspired by Kanye West's interruption of Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, all with a drink in hand while the film's name was written across her chest. Similar to West, this resulted in her ejection from the studio lot at which the ceremony was held.

At the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, Plaza's film, Life After Beth, which was written and directed by her now-husband Jeff Baena, premiered. Plaza also voiced Grumpy Cat in the Lifetime Network's original movie Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever (2014).

Since 2016: Career expansion

Aubrey Plaza at MTV Awards
Plaza at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards

In 2016, Plaza starred in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates alongside Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick and Adam DeVine. Her role as the rebellious Tatiana earned her critical praise. ..... She also provided a guest voice for the SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Mall Girl Pearl" with Betty White.

In 2016, she portrayed Cat Adams, a contract killer, first in Season 11 of the CBS television series Criminal Minds, and then again in Season 12 and 15. In 2017, Plaza both starred in and produced two films, The Little Hours and Ingrid Goes West. The latter premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and later earned the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Plaza starred as the social media obsessed fan of a celebrity played by Elizabeth Olsen. Variety film critic Peter Debruge praised Plaza's performance writing, "Plaza's tortured performance captures all of this, which is saying something for an actress whose blasé persona hinges on the fact that she can't be bothered: Nobody plays ambivalence better, and yet, Plaza allows herself to seem vulnerable here." In 2018, she starred in the indie comedy An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn.

Plaza starred as both Amahl Farouk / Shadow King and Lenny Busker in the FX series Legion from 2017 to 2019. In both 2019 and 2020, Plaza hosted the Independent Spirit Awards. In 2019, she starred in Child's Play, a reboot of the 1988 film, as Karen Barclay, Andy's mother who brings home a killer doll, Chucky. In 2020, Plaza produced and starred in independent film Black Bear and starred in Happiest Season. In 2021, Plaza wrote a children's book, The Legend of the Christmas Witch, along with co-author Dan Murphy and illustrator Julia Iredale. Plaza produced and starred in the film Emily the Criminal, which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. She also appears in the film Spin Me Round, which premiered at the South by Southwest film festival in 2022.

In January 2022, it was announced that Plaza would star in the second season of the HBO series The White Lotus. Plaza played Harper, a lawyer vacationing in Sicily with her husband, Ethan, played by Will Sharpe. She received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. On August 25, 2022, Little Demon premiered on FXX. The series stars Plaza (who is also an executive producer), with Danny DeVito and Lucy DeVito. On October 16, 2022, Plaza was given the Artist of Distinction Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. In November 2022, Plaza was cast as witch Rio Vidal in the Disney+ series Agatha: Darkhold Diaries, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In 2023, Plaza received backlash for her participation in an ad for the dairy industry that mocked plant-based milk. On July 26 it was announced that she would be making her stage debut off-Broadway in the revival of John Patrick Shanley's Danny and the Deep Blue Sea opposite Christopher Abbott.

Personal life

Jeff Baena & Aubrey Plaza 01 (cropped)
Plaza and her husband Jeff Baena at the Seattle International Film Festival in 2017

Plaza has been in a relationship with writer and director Jeff Baena since 2011. In May 2021, Plaza revealed that she and Baena are married, referring to him as her husband in an Instagram post. In a 2016 interview with The Advocate, she stated: "Girls are into me—that's no secret. Hey, I'm into them, too. I fall in love with girls and guys. I can't help it."

Plaza suffered a stroke when she was 20 years old that caused temporary paralysis and temporary expressive aphasia. A couple of years later, she had a transient ischemic attack while on the set of Parks and Recreation.

Filmography

Not yet released Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Killswitch Girl with Head Wound Short film
In Love Julie Short film
2009 Mystery Team Kelly Peters
Funny People Daisy Danby
2010 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Julie Powers
2011 Damsels in Distress Debbie
Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You Jeanine Breemer
10 Years Olivia
2012 Safety Not Guaranteed Darius Britt
A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III Marnie
2013 From Up on Poppy Hill Sachiko Hirokouji English dub
She Said, She Said Woman in Park Short film
Failure Woman Short film
The End of Love Aubrey
The To Do List Brandy Klark
Charlie Countryman Ashley
Monsters University Claire Wheeler Voice
Center Jenny Monika Nark
2014 Life After Beth Beth Slocum
About Alex Sarah
Ned Rifle Susan
Playing It Cool Mallory
Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever Grumpy Cat Voice
2015 Addicted to Fresno Kelly
The Driftless Area Jean
2016 Dirty Grandpa Lenore
Joshy Jen
The Pistol Shrimps Herself Documentary
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates Tatiana Darcy
2017 Take My Nose... Please! Herself Documentary
The Little Hours Fernanda Also producer
Ingrid Goes West Ingrid Thorburn Also producer
2018 An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn Lulu Danger
2019 Child's Play Karen Barclay
2020 Black Bear Allison Also producer
Happiest Season Riley Johnson
2021 Best Sellers Lucy Stanbridge
King Knight Pine Cone Voice
2022 Emily the Criminal Emily Benetto Also producer
Spin Me Round Kat
2023 Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre Sarah Fidel
2024 My Old ... Not yet released TBA Post-production
TBA Megalopolis Not yet released TBA Post-production
The Ark and the Aardvark Not yet released Brain Voice; Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 30 Rock NBC page Episode: "Tracy Does Conan"
2009–2015
2020
Parks and Recreation April Ludgate 125 episodes
2011 Portlandia Beth / Bookstore Customer 3 episodes
Troopers The Princess Web series
2012 NTSF:SD:SUV:: The Rememberer Episode: "Wasila Hills Cop"
2013–2014 The Legend of Korra Eska (voice) 12 episodes
2013 ... History Sacagawea Episode: "Nashville"
Maron Herself Episode: "Jen Moves to L.A."
2014–2015 Welcome to Sweden Herself 6 episodes
2015 Golan the Insatiable Dylan Beekler (voice) 6 episodes
Castle Lucy Voice; Uncredited
4 episodes
2016 SpongeBob SquarePants Nocturna Voice
Episode: "Mall Girl Pearl"
Comedy Bang! Bang! Lady Aubrey / Herself Episode: "Aubrey Plaza Wears a Velvet Off-the-Shoulder
Gown With Flowers in Her Hair"
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself / Guest Judge Episode: "Family That Drags Together"
... History Aaron Burr Episode: "Hamilton"
HarmonQuest Hawaiian Coffee Episode: "Manoa Prison Hole"
2016–2020 Criminal Minds Cat Adams 4 episodes
2017 Easy Lindsay Episode: "Package Thief"
2017–2019 Legion Amahl Farouk / Shadow King
Lenny Busker
27 episodes
2019 34th Independent Spirit Awards Herself (host) Television special
... History Cleopatra Episode: "Bad Blood"
2019–2020 Crank Yankers Bernadette Voice; 2 episodes
2020 35th Independent Spirit Awards Herself (host) Television special
Muppets Now Herself Episode: "Sleep Mode"
Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine Ashley Television special
2021 Cinema Toast Karen Voice; Episode: "Quiet Illness";
also co-executive producer, writer, and director
Calls Dr. Rachel Wheating Voice; 2 episodes
Duncanville Nina Voice; Episode: "Das Banana Boot"
2022 The White Lotus Harper Spiller 7 episodes
Little Demon Laura Feinberg Voice; also executive producer
The Simpsons Amber Duffman Voice; Episode: "From Beer to Paternity"
2023 Saturday Night Live Herself; host Episode: "Aubrey Plaza/Sam Smith"
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Julie Powers Voice; 5 episodes
2024 Agatha: Darkhold Diaries Rio Vidal
Monsters at Work Claire Wheeler Voice

Theatre

Year Title Role Director Location Ref.
2005 Rebel Without A Cause Judy Brown Stewart Stern American Theatre of Actors, Off-Broadway
2023–24 Danny and the Deep Blue Sea Roberta John Patrick Shanley Lucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway

Music videos

Year Title Artist(s) Role Notes Ref.
2012 "Hollywood Cemetery Forever Sings" Father John Misty Girl
2013 "Rouse Yourself" JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound Girl
2014 "Bona Fide" Cassorla Woman in Boat

Awards and nominations

Award Year Nominated work Category Result Ref.
ALMA Awards 2011 Parks and Recreation Favorite TV Actress – Supporting Role Nominated
2012 Safety Not Guaranteed Favorite Movie Actress – Comedy/Musical Won
Parks and Recreation Favorite TV Actress – Leading Role in Comedy Nominated
American Comedy Awards 2014 Parks and Recreation Best Comedy Supporting Actress – TV Nominated
Chlotrudis Awards 2013 Safety Not Guaranteed Best Actress Nominated
2018 Ingrid Goes West Best Actress Nominated
2021 Black Bear Best Actress Nominated
Dorian Awards 2023 The White Lotus Best Supporting TV Performance – Drama Nominated
Golden Globe Awards 2023 The White Lotus Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards 2017 Dirty Grandpa Worst Supporting Actress Nominated
Gotham Awards 2012 Safety Not Guaranteed Best Ensemble Cast Nominated
2022 Emily the Criminal Outstanding Lead Performance Nominated
Hollywood Critics Association Film Awards 2021 Acting Achievement Won
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards 2023 The White Lotus Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series Pending
Saturday Night Live Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Pending
Imagen Awards 2010 Parks and Recreation Best Supporting Actress – Television Nominated
2012 Parks and Recreation Best Supporting Actress – Television Nominated
2013 Parks and Recreation Best Supporting Actress – Television Nominated
2014 Parks and Recreation Best Supporting Actress – Television Nominated
2018 Legion Best Actress – Television Nominated
2021 Black Bear Best Actress – Feature Film Won
Independent Spirit Awards 2018 Ingrid Goes West Best First Feature Won
2023 Emily the Criminal Best Lead Performance Nominated
Best First Feature Nominated
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2018 Legion Best Villain Nominated
2023 The White Lotus Best Performance in a Show Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards 2024 The White Lotus Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Pending
Riviera International Film Festival Awards 2021 Icon Award Won
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2021 Black Bear Best Actress Nominated
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards 2023 Emily the Criminal Best Actress Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2023 The White Lotus Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards 2012 Safety Not Guaranteed Best Actress Nominated
Young Hollywood Awards 2012 Safety Not Guaranteed Breakthrough Performance – Female Won
2014 Cuz You're Funny Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Aubrey Plaza para niños

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