Success arrived early for Alia Shawkat, and she continues to establish herself as a highly sought after young actress in both film and television. Shawkat was named one of Variety’s “10 Actors to Watch” for 2009 and one of Hollywood Reporter’s “10 Rising Comedy Talents.”
Shawkat recently wrapped production on two highly anticipated projects: “The To-Do List,” opposite Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Donald Glover, and Andy Samberg; and “He Loves Me,” with Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan, directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Shawkat will next be seen starring “That’s What She Said”, a raunchy female comedy opposite Anne Heche and Marcia Debonis, directed by actress Carrie Preston.
Most recently, Shawkat starred in the Fox Searchlight Pictures comedy “Cedar Rapids” opposite Ed Helms and John C. Reilly, directed by Miguel Arteta. Shawkat’s other film credits include Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut “Whip It” with Ellen Page; “Amreeka,” which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and was released by National Geographic Entertainment; “Bart Got a Room,” opposite William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines, in which Shawkat also served as a producer on the film; “The Runaways” with Kristin Stewart and Dakota Fanning; the ensemble family comedy “Deck the Halls” with Matthew Broderick, Danny De Vito and Kristin Chenowith,; and “Three Kings” opposite George Clooney.
Shawkat’s career began at the age of eleven when she landed a leading role on the ABC Family series “State of Grace.” However, she is best known for her role as Maeby on Fox’s Emmy award-winning “Arrested Development,” a role she will reprise in the upcoming feature film. She recently had a recurring role on USA Network’s “Starter Wife” with Debra Messing. Other television credits also include a starring role in the Lifetime original movie “Not Like Everyone Else” and guest starring roles on “Veronica Mars,” “JAG,” “Without a Trace,” “Boomtown,” and “Presidio Med.”
