Aubrey Plaza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aubrey Plaza
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Plaza at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024
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Aubrey Christina Plaza
June 26, 1984 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
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| Alma mater | New York University (BFA) |
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| Years active | 2004–present |
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Full list |
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Jeff Baena
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Aubrey Christina Plaza (born June 26, 1984) is an American actress, comedian, and producer. She is known for her unique and often sarcastic style of comedy. Plaza first became famous for playing April Ludgate on the popular TV show Parks and Recreation.
She started her career doing improv and sketch comedy. After graduating from New York University, she appeared in her first movie, Mystery Team (2009). Her role in Parks and Recreation from 2009 to 2015 made her a well-known star.
Plaza has also starred in many movies. Some of her famous roles were in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) and Safety Not Guaranteed (2012). She played a supervillain in the TV series Legion and starred in the dark comedy films The Little Hours and Ingrid Goes West in 2017. More recently, she starred in the crime movie Emily the Criminal (2022).
In 2022, she earned award nominations for her role in the HBO series The White Lotus. The next year, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2024, she appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Agatha All Along as the character Rio Vidal.
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Early Life and School
Aubrey Christina Plaza was born on June 26, 1984, in Wilmington, Delaware. She is the oldest of three sisters. Her father's family is from Puerto Rico, and her mother's family is from Ireland. Plaza grew up in what she called a "very Catholic" home and went to an all-girls Catholic school called Ursuline Academy.
As a child, Plaza loved movies and had a big imagination. In high school, she was the student council president and acted in local plays. She also made short films for fun. When she was a teenager, she worked at a video store, which sparked her love for independent films.
After graduating from high school in 2002, she moved to New York City. She studied film at New York University Tisch School of the Arts and graduated in 2006.
Career Journey
2004–2009: Getting Started
Plaza began her comedy career in 2004 at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, a famous place for improv and sketch comedy. She also worked as an intern at Saturday Night Live and was an NBC page, a special job at the NBC television studios.
In 2009, she appeared in her first movie, Mystery Team. That same year, she was in the comedy Funny People with Seth Rogen. To prepare for her role as a stand-up comic, she performed at open mic nights in New York City.
Her big break came when she was cast in Parks and Recreation. The creators of the show were so impressed with her that they created the character of April Ludgate just for her. April was a smart but uninterested intern, which was a funny contrast to Amy Poehler's energetic character. Plaza played April from 2009 to 2015, and the character became a fan favorite.
2010–2016: Film and TV Success
While working on Parks and Recreation, Plaza also took on other roles. She played the character Julie Powers in the action-comedy movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010). She also appeared in TV shows like Portlandia.
In 2012, she had her first leading role in the movie Safety Not Guaranteed. She played a magazine intern investigating a strange ad. Her performance was praised by critics.
Plaza also did voice acting. She was the voice of Eska in the animated series The Legend of Korra and voiced Grumpy Cat in a TV movie. In 2016, she starred in the comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates with Zac Efron and Anna Kendrick. She also had a recurring role as a killer named Cat Adams on the TV show Criminal Minds.
2017–Present: Expanding Her Roles
In 2017, Plaza starred in and produced two films, The Little Hours and Ingrid Goes West. In Ingrid Goes West, she played a woman obsessed with a social media star. Her performance was highly praised.
From 2017 to 2019, she played the villain Amahl Farouk, also known as the Shadow King, in the FX series Legion. The role was originally written for a man, but Plaza made it her own. In 2019, she starred in the horror movie Child's Play, a remake of the classic film.
In 2022, Plaza produced and starred in Emily the Criminal. She played a woman with student debt who gets involved in crime. Critics loved her performance, calling it one of her best. That same year, she joined the cast of the popular HBO show The White Lotus for its second season. Her role as Harper, a lawyer on a tense vacation, earned her Emmy and Golden Globe award nominations.
In 2023, she hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time. In 2024, she starred in the science fiction movie Megalopolis and the comedy My Old .... She also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Rio Vidal, a powerful Green Witch, in the Disney+ series Agatha All Along.
Personal Life
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Plaza has said she is open to relationships with both men and women. She was in a relationship with actor Michael Cera after they met while filming Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
In 2011, she began dating writer and director Jeff Baena. They often worked together on movies. The couple got married in a small ceremony in their backyard in 2021. Baena passed away in January 2025. Plaza later paid tribute to him during an appearance on Saturday Night Live.
When Plaza was 20, she had a stroke, which caused temporary paralysis and difficulty speaking. She has since recovered. She has also talked about experiencing social anxiety.
See also
In Spanish: Aubrey Plaza para niños
