Alia Shawkat

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Alia Shawkat
Alia Shawkat SXSW 2016.jpg
Shawkat in March 2016
Born
Alia Martine Shawkat

(1989-04-18) April 18, 1989 (age 32)
Riverside, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • producer
Years active1999–present
RelativesPaul Burke (maternal grandfather)

Alia Martine Shawkat (/ˈæliə ˈʃɔːkæt/ AL-ee-ə SHAW-kat;[1][2] Arabic: عليا مارتين شوكت‎; 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 (2003-2019), 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–present). 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 stars on the TBS comedy Search Party, which premiered on November 21, 2016[15] and was renewed for season four in October 2019 upon moving to HBO Max.[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]

Controversy[]

In June 2020, a video of Shawkat resurfaced from a 2016 South by Southwest interview in which she quoted lyrics from Canadian rapper Drake's "We Made It”, in which she used a racial slur. Shawkat apologized on social media.[22]

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
2021 Being the Ricardos Madelyn Pugh

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–present Search Party Dory Sief Main cast; 40 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"
Little Grace / Woman's Voice (voice) 5 episodes
2022 The Old Man Hey Angela 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[23] Search Party Won

References[]

  1. ^ "Alia's Alphabet". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Alia Shawkat on Getting Shaved by a Stranger - PARTY LEGENDS. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "Alia Martine Shawkat was born on April 18, 1989 in Riverside County, California". California Birth Index.
  4. ^ a b "Biography". IMDb. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "Alia Shawkat – DVD – Interview". Avclub.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  6. ^ 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"
  7. ^ "Alia Shawkat lands new Comedy Central project". June 12, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  8. ^ "Interview with Brian M. Palmer". Brianmpalmer.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  9. ^ "eFilmCritic – DVD Review: Arrested Development Season 1". Efilmcritic.com. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Interview". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  11. ^ "Ellen Page, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat, and Har Mar Superstar (!) working on HBO show". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  12. ^ "Fake Problems - 'Real Ghosts Caught On Tape' + tour with The Gaslight Anthem". Archived from the original on August 21, 2013.
  13. ^ "Center Jenny, 2013 Ryan Trecartin". Youtube. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Frangos, Daniela (April 1, 2019). "Alia Shawkat, Animals and Reaching Adulthood". Broadsheet. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  18. ^ Animals: Alia Shawkat, Holliday Grainger, Sophie Hyde, Emma Jane Unsworth on YouTube
  19. ^ Marsh, Walter (April 3, 2019). "Animals star Alia Shawkat is not your ingenue". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  20. ^ "Alia Shawkat Quotes". Brainyquote. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  21. ^ 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[.]
  22. ^ Sanchez, Omar (June 9, 2020). "'Search Party' star Alia Shawkat apologizes for using the N-word during 2016 interview". EW.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  23. ^ "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[]

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