Aubrey Plaza was born on June 26, 1984, and she has built a career around a rare kind of comedic timing, dry, fearless, and oddly charming even when the character is being a little chaotic. Many fans first met her as April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, where her deadpan delivery became a signature.
From there, Plaza moved easily between indie films and prestige television, including Safety Not Guaranteed, Ingrid Goes West, and the FX series Legion. In recent years she has expanded into producing, with projects like Emily the Criminal, and she reached a new level of awards-season attention for her work as Harper Spiller in The White Lotus (Season 2), which earned her major nominations and a SAG ensemble win. She married writer and director Jeff Baena in 2021, and he died in 2025.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Aubrey Christina Plaza |
| Profession: | Actress, comedian and producer |
| Born: | June 26, 1984 |
| Age: | 41 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Deadpan comedic style, sharp indie roles, and prestige TV performances |
| Notable Films: | Safety Not Guaranteed; Ingrid Goes West; Emily the Criminal |
| Awards: | Young Hollywood Award, SAG Award (ensemble), Imagen Awards |
| Zodiac Sign: | Cancer |
| Relationship: | Married Jeff Baena (married 2021, died 2025) |
| Years Active: | 2006 to present |
Early Life & Education
Aubrey Plaza was born in Wilmington, Delaware on June 26, 1984, and she is the eldest of three daughters. Her father is Puerto Rican and worked as a financial advisor, and her mother, of Irish descent, became an attorney. Her parents were only 19 and 20 when she was born and juggled jobs while attending night school, which is part of why Plaza has often described her upbringing as hardworking and close-knit.
Plaza was raised Catholic and attended the all-girls Ursuline Academy, where she served as student council president and performed with the Wilmington Drama League. After high school, she attended the New York Film Academy summer program and later studied film and television production at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 2006. She also trained in improv, including time with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre starting in 2004.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Plaza’s rise was not an overnight moment. She built experience through comedy training, internships, and small appearances before landing her breakthrough TV role. Her big turning point came with Parks and Recreation (2009 to 2015), where she played April Ludgate and quickly became a fan favorite. That performance opened the door to a steady run of film work and a reputation for offbeat, intelligent characters.
In the 2010s and beyond, Plaza leaned into projects that let her stretch. She earned indie credibility with Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), produced and starred in Sundance favorites like The Little Hours and Ingrid Goes West (both 2017), and showed dramatic range in FX’s Legion (2017 to 2019). More recently, she produced and starred in Emily the Criminal (2022), and her portrayal of Harper Spiller in The White Lotus (Season 2) brought major nominations and a SAG ensemble win. Since 2023, she has also done brand work as a spokesperson for Cointreau’s “MargaRight” campaign.
Selected film and TV highlights
- Parks and Recreation (2009 to 2015)
- Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
- Ingrid Goes West (2017)
- Legion (2017 to 2019)
- Child’s Play (2019)
- Emily the Criminal (2022)
- The White Lotus (Season 2, 2022)
- Megalopolis (2024)
- Agatha All Along (2024)
Major recognition
- Primetime Emmy nomination: Supporting Actress, The White Lotus
- Golden Globe nomination: Supporting Actress, The White Lotus
- Screen Actors Guild Award win (ensemble): The White Lotus (Season 2)
- Young Hollywood Award win: Breakthrough Performance (Female), Safety Not Guaranteed
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Young Hollywood Awards | Breakthrough Performance (Female) | Safety Not Guaranteed | Won |
| 2021 | Imagen Awards | Best Actress, Feature Film | Black Bear | Won (tied) |
| 2023 | Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | The White Lotus (Season 2) | Won |
| 2023 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Lead Performance | Emily the Criminal | Nominated |
| 2023 | Imagen Awards | Best Supporting Actress, Television | The White Lotus | Won |
| 2024 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | The White Lotus | Nominated |
| 2024 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress, Television | The White Lotus | Nominated |
| 2024 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Danny and the Deep Blue Sea | Nominated |
| 2024 | Newport Beach Film Festival | Artist of Distinction Award | Career honor | Won |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Mystery Team | Film | Early feature role; film debut noted in her filmography. |
| 2009 to 2015 | Parks and Recreation | TV | Breakout role as April Ludgate, fan favorite. |
| 2010 | Scott Pilgrim vs. the World | Film | Played Julie Powers, a sharp supporting role. |
| 2012 | Safety Not Guaranteed | Film | Indie breakthrough as Darius Britt, award-winning performance. |
| 2017 | The Little Hours | Film | Star and producer, Sundance-era momentum. |
| 2017 | Ingrid Goes West | Film | Star and producer, dark satire with cult following. |
| 2017 to 2019 | Legion | TV | Portrayed Lenny Busker and Shadow King, showcased range. |
| 2022 | Emily the Criminal | Film | Star and producer, acclaimed crime drama. |
| 2022 | The White Lotus (Season 2) | TV | Played Harper Spiller, major awards recognition. |
| 2024 | Megalopolis | Film | Appeared in Francis Ford Coppola’s epic film. |
| 2024 | Agatha All Along | TV | Marvel miniseries role (listed in recent projects). |
| 2025 | Honey Don’t! | Film | Dark comedy, premiered at Cannes, scheduled for U.S. release in 2025. |
| 2026 | Animal Friends | Film | Hybrid live-action/animated road-trip film, scheduled for 2026 release. |
Net Worth, Income & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2025) | Public estimates vary. Some entertainment outlets estimate her net worth at around $10 million, but these figures should be treated as unofficial. |
| Income Sources | Primarily from acting, with additional income from producing and brand partnerships (including Cointreau’s “MargaRight” campaign). |
| Properties & Assets | Plaza keeps personal assets relatively private, and most reporting focuses on her work rather than purchases. |
| Lifestyle | Known for a low-key public persona and a selective project list that blends indie credibility with major TV and studio releases. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| No current official account. Reports noted she deleted her Instagram in 2025. | |
| X (Twitter) | Has used the handle @evilhag, but there is no clear evidence of a verified or frequently updated official account. |
| TikTok | No official TikTok account found. Most clips appear to be fan-made compilations. |
| No verified personal page. Fan-run pages and groups exist. | |
| YouTube | No personal channel. Public content is available via studios and media outlets. |
| IMDb | Verified filmography at IMDb. |
| Official Website | None known. Represented professionally by Gersh and manages projects through her production banner Evil Hag Productions. |
| Fan Updates | Coming soon – Subscribe to follow Aubrey Plaza updates. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: The accounts listed above are fan-run and are not confirmed to be affiliated with Aubrey Plaza. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- She was student council president at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware.
- She trained with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre starting in 2004 and worked behind the scenes early on, including an internship at Saturday Night Live and work as an NBC page.
- Plaza discovered independent film while working at a local video store and has cited filmmakers like John Waters and Christopher Guest as early influences.
- She produced and starred in two Sundance-era standouts in 2017, The Little Hours and Ingrid Goes West, helping define her producer-plus-performer lane.
- In a 2021 profile, she joked that she appears as “Evil Hag” on Zoom, which matches the handle she has used online.
- Since 2023, she has been a spokesperson for Cointreau’s “MargaRight” campaign.
Quotes
“I’ve always been really fuelled by rejection.”
— Aubrey Plaza, NME profile (headline)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Aubrey Plaza’s age?
A: Aubrey Plaza is 41 years old (born June 26, 1984).
Q: What is Aubrey Plaza best known for?
A: Many fans know her as April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation, plus acclaimed work in Safety Not Guaranteed, Legion, Emily the Criminal, and The White Lotus.
Q: Does Aubrey Plaza have an official Instagram?
A: No current official Instagram account is active. Reports noted she deleted her account in 2025.
Q: Is Aubrey Plaza married?
A: She married writer and director Jeff Baena in 2021. He died in 2025.
Q: Has Aubrey Plaza won major awards?
A: Yes. She won a Young Hollywood Award for Safety Not Guaranteed, Imagen Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award (ensemble) for The White Lotus. She has also received Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Q: What kind of roles does she usually play?
A: Plaza is known for deadpan comedy and sharp character work, but she has also leaned into darker drama and thriller roles, especially in her recent producer-led projects.
Upcoming Projects
- Honey Don’t! (2025) – A dark comedy written and directed by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2025 and is scheduled for U.S. theatrical release on August 22, 2025.
- Animal Friends (2026) – A hybrid live-action/animated road-trip film with Ryan Reynolds and Jason Momoa, scheduled for release on May 1, 2026.
- The Accompanist (TBA) – A magical-realist drama directed by Zack Woods. Plaza plays Sarah, a child-welfare agent, opposite Susan Sarandon and Everly Carganilla.
- The Heidi Fleiss Story (TBA) – Plaza is attached to star in and produce this biopic, with production slated for Los Angeles in 2025.
Interviews & Features
- Plaza has been profiled for her indie and TV work, including a 2021 feature interview tied to Black Bear and her career approach.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- Cannes Film Festival (May 2025): Honey Don’t! premiered at Cannes on May 24, 2025.
- Newport Beach Film Festival (2024): Received the Artist of Distinction Award.
Awards & Nominations
- Primetime Emmy Nomination (2024): Nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for The White Lotus.
- Golden Globe Nomination (2024): Nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Television for The White Lotus.
- Drama League Nomination (2024): Nominated for Distinguished Performance for Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.
