Aubrey Christina Plaza, born on June 26, 1984, is a talented American actress, comedian, and producer. She started her acting career in local theater shows during her teenage years and later delved into improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. After completing her studies at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Plaza landed her first major film role in Mystery Team (2009) and became well-known for her portrayal of April Ludgate on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009-2015).
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Aubrey Christina Plaza |
| Date of Birth | June 26, 1984 |
| Place of Birth | Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Jeff Baena (late) |
| Children | None |
| Occupations | Actress, Comedian, Producer |
| Net Worth | $8 million |
Early Life and Education
Aubrey Christina Plaza was born on June 26, 1984, in Wilmington, Delaware. She grew up in a hardworking family, as both her parents pursued careers while attending night school. Plaza, who is of Puerto Rican and Irish descent, was raised in a Catholic household.
Despite her shyness as a child, Plaza found her passion for acting in middle school and continued to pursue it through high school. She graduated from Ursuline Academy before studying film and television production at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where she graduated in 2006.
Career
Plaza started her improv and sketch comedy training at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 2004 and also performed at venues like the Laugh Factory and The Improv. Amy Poehler inspired Plaza to pursue improv, with Plaza describing her UCB experience as “intoxicating”.
She had various gigs, including an internship at Saturday Night Live and appearances in short films. In 2009, Plaza made her film debut in Mystery Team and later landed a role on Parks and Recreation by pitching the character of April Ludgate, which became one of the show’s standout roles. She portrayed April from 2009 to 2015 and received acclaim for her performance.
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While in Los Angeles shooting Funny People and Parks and Recreation, Allison Jones suggested Plaza audition for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), where she played Julie Powers. Plaza also performed at A Night of 140 Tweets: A Celebrity Tweetathon for Haiti alongside other comedians.
Between Parks and Recreation seasons, Plaza appeared in various projects, including a CollegeHumor short with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, a recurring role in Portlandia, and a guest spot in Troopers. She had starring roles in Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), for which she won a Breakthrough Performance award, and The To Do List (2013).
Plaza also lent her voice to shows like The Legend of Korra and Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever, as well as starring in films like Life After Beth (2014) and Ned Rifle (2014). In 2016, Plaza starred in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and appeared in Drunk History, HarmonQuest, and Criminal Minds. Plaza also portrayed Lenore in Dirty Grandpa (2016).
In 2017, Plaza starred in and produced two films: The Little Hours, a black comedy set in medieval times about nuns, and Ingrid Goes West, where she played a social media-obsessed fan opposite Elizabeth Olsen.
Plaza’s performance in Ingrid Goes West earned praise from critics, with Variety highlighting her ability to showcase vulnerability. Plaza also appeared in the indie comedy An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn the following year. From 2017 to 2019, Plaza portrayed dual roles in the FX series Legion to critical acclaim.
Plaza also hosted the Independent Spirit Awards in 2019 and 2020 and starred in the reboot film Child’s Play in 2019. In 2020, Plaza appeared in Happiest Season and produced and starred in the thriller Black Bear, receiving critical acclaim for her performance.
Plaza made her directorial debut in 2021 with the Showtime series Cinema Toast, crafting an episode inspired by actress Loretta Young’s experiences. Plaza also co-authored a children’s book, The Legend of the Christmas Witch, in 2021.
Plaza produced and starred in the independent film Emily the Criminal (2022), earning critical acclaim for her nuanced performance. She also appeared in Spin Me Round and the second season of The White Lotus, receiving Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Plaza executive produced and voiced a character in the animated sitcom Little Demon. She was nominated for multiple awards at the Independent Spirit Awards and hosted Saturday Night Live in 2023. Plaza faced criticism for a parody ad mocking plant-based milk and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.
In 2024, Plaza reunited with Nick Offerman for a Mountain Dew commercial, joined John Waters’s film Liarmouth, and starred in other films like My Old Ass and Megalopolis. Additionally, she portrayed witch Rio Vidal in the Disney+ miniseries Agatha All Along.
Personal Life
Plaza and writer/director Jeff Baena were in a relationship starting in 2011 and got married in a small ceremony in 2021, on their tenth anniversary. Baena passed away on January 3, 2025 by suicide.
Plaza had a stroke at age 20, experiencing temporary paralysis and temporary expressive aphasia. A few years later, she had a transient ischemic attack while on the set of Parks and Recreation. Plaza has shared that she deals with social anxiety.
Aubrey Plaza Net Worth
As of 2024, Aubrey Plaza’s estimated net worth is approximately $8 million. This wealth is primarily derived from her successful acting career, particularly her iconic role as April Ludgate in Parks and Recreation.
Plaza reportedly earns around $350,000 per episode for her television roles, contributing significantly to her financial success. Her diverse film projects, including Ingrid Goes West and Emily the Criminal, have further enhanced her earnings.
Aubrey Plaza Filmography
Film
- Mystery Team (2009)
- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
- Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
- The To Do List (2013)
- Life After Beth (2014)
- Ned Rifle (2014)
- Dirty Grandpa (2016)
- The Little Hours (2017)
- Ingrid Goes West (2017)
- Child’s Play (2019)
- Happiest Season (2020)
- Black Bear (2020)
- Emily the Criminal (2022)
- Spin Me Round (2022)
- My Old Ass (2024)
- Megalopolis (2024)
Television
- Parks and Recreation (2009–2015)
- Legion (2017–2019)
- The White Lotus (2022)
- Little Demon (2022)
- Agatha All Along (2024)
Awards and Nominations
Major Awards
- Primetime Emmy Awards
- Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (The White Lotus, 2023)
- Golden Globe Awards
- Nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (The White Lotus, 2023)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards
- Winner for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (The White Lotus, 2023)
Other Notable Awards
- ALMA Awards
- Winner for Favorite Movie Actress – Comedy/Musical (2012)
- Independent Spirit Awards
- Nominated for Best Lead Performance (Emily the Criminal, 2023)
Total Recognitions
Aubrey Plaza has received a total of 12 wins and 51 nominations across various awards, including accolades from the Saturn Awards and MTV Movie + TV Awards.
