Aubrey Plaza Bio
Aubrey Christina Plaza, born on June 26, 1984, in Wilmington, Delaware, is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She first gained wide recognition for playing April Ludgate on the NBC political satire sitcom Parks and Recreation from 2009 to 2015, a role that became one of the show’s most celebrated characters.
Plaza went on to build a versatile career across film and television, balancing independent projects with major studio work. She earned Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her performance in the second season of HBO’s The White Lotus, and in 2023, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Early Life and Background
Aubrey Christina Plaza was born on June 26, 1984, in Wilmington, Delaware, the eldest of three sisters. Her parents, Bernadette and David Plaza, were 19 and 20 when she was born, and they worked various jobs while attending night school. Her mother later became an attorney and her father a financial advisor, and Plaza has often credited their work ethic as a major influence on her life.
Her paternal family is of Puerto Rican descent, with her grandfather having been born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Plaza also has Native American Taíno and Basque heritage. Her mother, who was adopted, is of Irish descent, and Plaza was partly raised by her Irish grandparents and her Puerto Rican relatives.
As a child, Plaza loved films and developed an early passion for imaginative storytelling. She described herself as shy until middle school, when she discovered community theater. She attended Ursuline Academy, an all-girls Catholic school in Wilmington, where she served as student council president, performed in local theatrical productions, and made short films as a hobby.
Path to Acting
Plaza first trained and performed improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, beginning in 2004. She also performed at the Laugh Factory and The Improv, and has cited Amy Poehler as a key inspiration for pursuing improv comedy. While studying film and television production at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, she completed an internship on Saturday Night Live for the 2004 to 2005 season.
After her internship, Plaza became an NBC page, which led to a small appearance on 30 Rock in 2006. She graduated from New York University in 2006 and continued performing improv while auditioning for film and television roles. Her early professional credits included web series appearances and short films, which helped her build a reputation in the comedy world.
Aubrey Plaza Career
Early Career (2004-2009)
Plaza’s earliest professional work was in improv and sketch comedy, performing regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and other venues around New York City. She appeared in short films, including Killswitch and In Love in 2006, and took on small roles in projects such as The Jeannie Tate Show and ESPN’s Mayne Street.
She made her feature film debut in 2009 with the comedy Mystery Team, produced by Derrick Comedy. That same year, she appeared in Judd Apatow’s Funny People alongside Seth Rogen. During the casting process for Funny People, casting director Allison Jones introduced Plaza to Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, who were developing Parks and Recreation. Plaza helped shape the character of April Ludgate, an apathetic intern who became one of the show’s breakout personalities.
Breakthrough (2009-2015)
Plaza’s role as April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, which ran from 2009 to 2015, established her as a distinctive voice in comedy. Her deadpan style and sharp timing earned her consistent critical praise throughout the series’ run. The role led to additional opportunities in film, including a supporting part in Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim vs. the World in 2010.
She followed that with her first leading film role in the 2012 comedy Safety Not Guaranteed, where she played a magazine intern investigating a curious want ad. The performance earned her the Breakthrough Performance award at the 2012 Young Hollywood Awards. Plaza also appeared in projects such as Damsels in Distress, 10 Years, Life After Beth, and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, steadily building her film resume.
Notable Works and Milestones
Plaza’s signature role remains April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, a character she helped develop from her very first audition. Her most celebrated film work includes Safety Not Guaranteed, Ingrid Goes West, Black Bear, and Emily the Criminal, the last of which was widely considered one of her strongest performances.
Aubrey Plaza Award Nominations
Aubrey Plaza has earned several major award nominations across her career, reflecting her range across comedy, drama, and limited series television. In 2023, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her role in The White Lotus. That same year, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film, also for The White Lotus.
Plaza was also nominated at the 2023 Independent Spirit Awards for Best Lead Performance for Emily the Criminal, and as a producer for Best First Feature. She received a Drama League Distinguished Performance Award nomination for her off-Broadway work in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. Additional nominations and industry recognition have highlighted her work across film, television, and producing.
Aubrey Plaza Awards Won
Plaza has accumulated several notable awards and honors throughout her career, including the 2012 Young Hollywood Award for Breakthrough Performance for Safety Not Guaranteed. As a producer, she shared in the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature for Ingrid Goes West in 2017.
In October 2022, she was given the Artist of Distinction Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival, recognizing her body of work in film. In 2023, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world, reflecting her cultural impact beyond acting.
Aubrey Plaza Family
Aubrey Plaza is the eldest of three sisters. Her mother, Bernadette Plaza, is an attorney, and her father, David Plaza, is a financial advisor. Her paternal family is of Puerto Rican heritage, with her grandfather originally from Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Her mother, who was adopted, is of Irish descent, and Plaza has often spoken about being raised in part by her Irish grandparents and her Puerto Rican relatives.
Personal Life
Plaza has been open about identifying as bisexual. From 2009 to 2010, she dated actor Michael Cera, whom she met on the set of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. In 2011, she began a relationship with writer and director Jeff Baena, and they married in 2021 in a small ceremony in their backyard. Plaza starred in four films written and directed by Baena, and the two were frequent creative collaborators.
They quietly separated in September 2024, and on January 3, 2025, Baena died by suicide. Plaza stepped back from public appearances in the days following, including withdrawing from presenting at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, and paid tribute to him at the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special in February 2025. As of April 2026, People reported that Plaza is expecting her first child with her partner, actor Christopher Abbott.
