Alia Shawkat
Alia Shawkat | |
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Born | Alia Martine Shawkat April 18, 1989 Riverside, California, U.S. |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1999–present |
Relatives | Paul Burke (maternal grandfather) |
Alia Martine Shawkat (/ˈæliə ˈʃɔːkæt/ AL-ee-ə SHAW-kat;[1][2] Template:Lang-ar; born April 18, 1989)[3] is an American actress and artist. She is known for her roles as Hannah Rayburn in State of Grace, Maeby Fünke in the Fox/Netflix television sitcom Arrested Development (2003-2006, 2013-2019), Gertie Michaels in the 2015 horror-comedy film The Final Girls, and Dory Sief in the TBS and HBO Max comedy series Search Party (2016–2022). She has also guest starred as Frances Cleveland, Virginia Hall, and Alexander Hamilton on Comedy Central's Drunk History.
Early life
Shawkat was born in Riverside, California, to Dina Shawkat (née Burke) and film producer Tony Shawkat.[4] She grew up in Palm Springs.[5] She has two brothers.[4] Her father is from Baghdad, Iraq,[6] and her mother is of Norwegian, Irish, and Italian descent.[7] Her maternal grandfather was actor Paul Burke.
Career
From 2001 to 2004, Shawkat played Hannah in State of Grace. As Maeby Fünke, Shawkat was a regular cast member of Arrested Development for the entire run of the show from 2003 to 2019. The series received nearly universally positive reviews, with Shawkat's performance occasionally singled out for praise. Pop-culture commentator Brian M. Palmer remarked that she was "one of the brightest lights on a show populated solely by bright lights,"[8] and Scott Weinberg of eFilmCritic described her as "one funny young lady."[9] In an interview with The A.V. Club in 2010, Shawkat remarked that many of her "formative moments" as an actress took place on the Arrested Development set: " [Show creator] Mitch Hurwitz was like a father figure to me. In a way, it was great to be around [the cast], because I feel that my understanding of comedy was able to grow really well during that time."[10]
In 2009, Shawkat appeared in Whip It co-star Har Mar Superstar's music video for "Tall Boy", which also featured Eva Mendes and Eric Wareheim. In October 2009, it was announced that Shawkat, Har Mar, and Whip It co-star Elliot Page would produce and write a show for HBO called Stitch N' Bitch.[10] According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show "follows two painfully cool hipster girls as they relocate from Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood to Los Angeles' Silver Lake enclave in hopes of becoming artists—of any kind."[11]
Shawkat, along with Arrested Development co-star and close friend Mae Whitman, sang guest vocals on a number of tracks from indie-punk band Fake Problems' 2010 album Real Ghosts Caught on Tape.[12]
Six years after the series was canceled by Fox, filming for a revived fourth season of Arrested Development began on August 7, 2012 and Shawkat reprised her role as Maeby Fünke. The season consists of 15 new episodes which debuted at the same time on Netflix on May 26, 2013. Each episode focuses on one particular character, with Shawkat's Maeby, now a high school senior, featured in episode 12, "Señoritis" and appearing in several other episodes of the season.
Shawkat appears briefly in Ryan Trecartin's 2013 art film, Center Jenny.[13]
In 2015, Shawkat guest-starred on Broad City, portraying the romantic interest and look-alike of Ilana Glazer's character for one episode; the two were only attracted to one another due to their similar appearances. Leading up to the episode, many had remarked on the physical similarities Shawkat and Glazer bear to one another.[14]
Shawkat starred in the lead role of Dory Sief on the TBS comedy Search Party, which premiered on November 21, 2016[15] and moved to HBO Max in 2019 before concluding with its fifth and final season in January 2022.[16]
Shawkat plays the role of Tyler, a high-living American partier in Dublin, in the 2019 film Animals, directed by Australian director Sophie Hyde. It is a film about a friendship which changes after Laura (played by Holliday Grainger) gets engaged to her teetotalling boyfriend.[17][18] Shawkat said that she had never played a character like Tyler before, with her previous characters more relatable, and she was "excited to play someone who was so fun, but so damaged".[19]
Personal life
When not acting, Shawkat likes to paint; she has participated in gallery shows in Los Angeles, Mexico City and Paris. She also likes to make music and sing in jazz bars.[20] She is bisexual.[21]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Three Kings | Amir's Daughter | |
2005 | Rebound | Amy | |
Queen of Cactus Cove | Billie | Short film | |
2006 | Deck the Halls | Madison Finch | |
2008 | Bart Got a Room | Camille | |
Prom Wars | Diana Riggs | ||
2009 | Amreeka | Salma Halaby | |
Whip It | Pash Amini | ||
2010 | The Runaways | Robin Robbins | |
2011 | The Lie | Seven | |
Cedar Rapids | Bree | ||
The Oranges | Vanessa Walling | ||
Our Deal | Night Creeper | Short film | |
2012 | Damsels in Distress | Mad Madge | |
That's What She Said | Clementine | ||
Ruby Sparks | Mabel | ||
The Brass Teapot | Louise | ||
The Golden Age | Janice | Short film | |
2013 | May in the Summer | Dalia | |
The End of Love | Alia Shawkat | Cameo | |
Setup, Punch | Dottie Kaufman | Short film | |
The To Do List | Fiona Forster | ||
Bunion | Rachel | Short film | |
Night Moves | Surprise | ||
The Moment | Jessie Jamil | ||
2014 | Life After Beth | Roz | |
Wild Canaries | Jean | ||
2015 | The Final Girls | Gertie Michaels | |
The Driftless Area | Carrie | ||
Nasty Baby | Wendy | Also co-producer | |
Adam Green's Aladdin | Emily | ||
Green Room | Sam | ||
Me Him Her | Laura | ||
2016 | The Intervention | Lola | |
Pee-wee's Big Holiday | Bella | ||
Paint It Black | Josie | ||
20th Century Women | Trish | ||
2017 | Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town | Agatha Benson | |
2018 | Blaze | Sybil Rosen | |
Duck Butter | Naima | Also writer and executive producer | |
2019 | Animals | Tyler | |
First Cow | Woman with Dog | ||
I Lost My Body | Gabrielle (voice) | English dub | |
Alina | Alina | Short film | |
2020 | The Letter Room | Rosita | Short film |
2021 | Love Spreads | Kelly | |
Being the Ricardos | Madelyn Pugh | ||
2022 | Jackass Forever | Herself | Cameo |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | JAG | Young Sarah MacKenzie | Episode: "Second Sight" |
2000 | The Trial of Old Drum | Dee | TV film |
2002 | State of Grace | Young Hannah Rayburn | Main cast; 40 episodes |
Presidio Med | Tara Wegman | Episode: "Good Question" | |
2003 | Without a Trace | Siobhan Arintero | Episode: "Maple Street" |
Boomtown | Denise Stein | Episode: "Home Invasion" | |
2003–06; 2013; 2018–19 |
Arrested Development | Mae "Maeby" Fünke | Main cast; 79 episodes |
2006 | Veronica Mars | Stacy Wells | Episode: "The Rapes of Graff" |
Not Like Everyone Else | Brandi Blackbear | TV film | |
2007 | The Business | Screenwriting Manicurist | 2 episodes |
2008 | The Bad Mother's Handbook | Charlotte | TV film |
The Starter Wife | Robin | 3 episodes | |
2010 | The League | April | Episode: "The Expert Witness" |
2013 | NTSF:SD:SUV:: | Gail | Episode: "Burn After Killing" |
2014 | Drunk History | Frances Cleveland | Episode: "First Ladies" |
Robot Chicken | Minerva McGonagall (voice) | Episode: "G.I. Jogurt" | |
Getting On | Colleen Hoover | 4 episodes | |
2015 | Adventure Time | Betsy Poundcake (voice) | Episode: "The Diary" |
Broad City | Adele | Episode: "Coat Check" | |
Drunk History | Virginia Hall | Episode: "Spies" | |
2016 | Portlandia | Mayor's Kid | Episode: "Shville" |
Animals. | Sharon (voice) | Episode: "Rats." | |
2016–17 | Adventure Time | Charlie (voice) | 2 episodes |
2016–22 | Search Party | Dory Sief | Main cast; 50 episodes Also producer |
2016 | Drunk History | Alexander Hamilton | Episode: "Hamilton" |
2017–19 | Transparent | Lila | 8 episodes |
2017–20 | Big Mouth | Roland (voice) | 3 episodes |
2018–21 | Summer Camp Island | Blanche/Cinnamon Raisin Toast/Butter Goth (voice) | 12 episodes |
2019 | Living with Yourself | Maia | 2 episodes |
2020 | The Shivering Truth | (voice) | Episode: "Nesslessness" |
Moonbase 8 | Alix | Episode: "Visitors" | |
2021 | Pride | Madeleine Tress | Episode: "1950s: People Had Parties" |
Ultra City Smiths | Little Grace / Woman's Voice (voice) | 5 episodes | |
2022 | The Old Man | Angela Adams | Upcoming series, main cast |
Podcasts
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Sandra | Helen Perera (voice) | Main role, 7 episodes |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2017 | "Don't Take the Money" | Bleachers |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Leading Young Actress | State of Grace | Nominated |
2004 | TV Land Award | Future Classic | Arrested Development | Won |
2005 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Supporting Young Actress | Won | |
Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
2006 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
2014 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
2017 | Gracie Award | Actress in a Breakthrough Role[22] | Search Party | Won |
References
- ^ "Alia's Alphabet". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ Alia Shawkat on Getting Shaved by a Stranger - PARTY LEGENDS. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Alia Martine Shawkat was born on April 18, 1989 in Riverside County, California". California Birth Index.
- ^ a b "Biography". IMDb. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
- ^ "Alia Shawkat – DVD – Interview". Avclub.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ Alia Shawkat (May 28, 2013). The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. CBS. Event occurs at 34:52.
(Shawkat) "I'm half Iraqi, my dad's from Baghdad"
- ^ "Alia Shawkat lands new Comedy Central project". June 12, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
- ^ "Interview with Brian M. Palmer". Brianmpalmer.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ "eFilmCritic – DVD Review: Arrested Development Season 1". Efilmcritic.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ a b "Interview". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ "Ellen Page, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat, and Har Mar Superstar (!) working on HBO show". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ "Fake Problems - 'Real Ghosts Caught On Tape' + tour with The Gaslight Anthem". Archived from the original on August 21, 2013.
- ^ "Center Jenny, 2013 Ryan Trecartin". Youtube. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Silman, Anna (March 12, 2015). "Alia Shawkat on her hot "Broad City" doppelgänger romance: "It was one of the best makeout scenes that I've had"". Salon.com. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 31, 2016). "TBS to Strip New Comedy 'Search Party' Thanksgiving Week, Sets 'People of Earth' Premiere – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
- ^ Webb Mitovich, Matt (October 7, 2019). "Search Party Moves to HBO Max From TBS — And Gets Season 4 Renewal". tvline.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ Frangos, Daniela (April 1, 2019). "Alia Shawkat, Animals and Reaching Adulthood". Broadsheet. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
- ^ Animals: Alia Shawkat, Holliday Grainger, Sophie Hyde, Emma Jane Unsworth on YouTube
- ^ Marsh, Walter (April 3, 2019). "Animals star Alia Shawkat is not your ingenue". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- ^ "Alia Shawkat Quotes". Brainyquote. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ Osenlund, R. Kurt (May 11, 2017). "Actress Alia Shawkat on Bold Projects, Broad City & Being Queer in America". Out. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
I was a tomboy growing up, and I remember my mom asking me when I was 10, 'are you attracted to boys or girls?' I said I don't know. Now I consider myself bisexual[.]
- ^ "Alliance For Women In Media Foundation Announce The 2017 Gracie Awards Winners". fox34.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
External links
- Media related to Alia Shawkat at Wikimedia Commons
- Alia Shawkat at IMDb
- 1989 births
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from Palm Springs, California
- Actresses from Riverside, California
- American child actresses
- American film actresses
- American people of Arab descent
- American people of Iraqi descent
- American people of Irish descent
- American writers of Italian descent
- American people of Norwegian descent
- American television actresses
- Bisexual actresses
- LGBT actors from the United States
- LGBT people from California
- LGBT American people of Asian descent
- Living people
- 21st-century American women writers
- Screenwriters from California
- 21st-century American screenwriters
- 21st-century LGBT people
- American bisexual actors