Alia Shawkat Biography: Movies, Age, Child, Net Worth, Parents, Height, Boyfriend, TV Shows

Alia Shawkat Biography: Movies, Age, Child, Net Worth, Parents, Height, Boyfriend, TV Shows

0 Posted By Haruna Ayuba

Alia Martine Shawkat is an American actress and artist renowned for her quirky, versatile performances in television and film, most notably as Maeby Fünke in the cult-classic sitcom Arrested Development (2003–2019) and Dory Sief in the dark comedy series Search Party (2016–2022).

Her career spans over two decades, with roles in indie films like The Final Girls (2015) and Duck Butter (2018), alongside guest appearances as historical figures on Drunk History.

Profile

  • Full Name: Alia Martine Shawkat
  • Stage Name: Alia Shawkat
  • Born: April 18, 1989
  • Age: 36 years old
  • Birthplace: Riverside, California, USA
  • Nationality: American
  • Occupation: Actress, Artist, Producer, Director
  • Height: 1.66 m
  • Parents: Dina Burke, Tony Shawkat
  • Siblings: Paul Shawkat, Sharif Shawkat
  • Spouse: None
  • Children: 1
  • Relationship: Single
  • Net Worth: $4 million

Early Life and Education

Alia Martine Shawkat was born on April 18, 1989, in Riverside, California, to Dina Burke, a film producer, and Tony Shawkat, an actor and strip club owner from Baghdad, Iraq.

Raised in Palm Springs with her two brothers, Paul (a teacher) and Sharif (an actor), she grew up in a creative environment influenced by her maternal grandfather, actor Paul Burke, known for Valley of the Dolls (1967).

She attended a private school in Rancho Mirage, where she studied English, Physics, Math, Geography, and Drama, with aspirations to attend Yale University for International Relations. Shawkat is of mixed Iraqi-American heritage, though her religion is unknown.

Career

Alia Shawkat’s acting career began at nine with a role alongside her father in Three Kings (1999), followed by a supporting part in The Trial of Old Drum (2000). Her breakout came at 11 as Hannah Rayburn in State of Grace (2001–2002), a comedy-drama that showcased her sensitivity and humor.

Her defining role was Maeby Fünke in Arrested Development (2003–2019), where she played a rebellious teen in a dysfunctional family, earning praise from critics like Brian M. Palmer, who called her “one of the brightest lights” on the show, and Scott Weinberg, who described her as “one funny young lady.” The series, revived by Netflix in 2013, featured her in the episode “Señoritis,” cementing her comedic legacy.

From 2016 to 2022, Shawkat starred as Dory Sief in Search Party, a dark comedy evolving from a millennial satire to a psychosexual thriller, with Time magazine praising her portrayal of an aimless grad navigating dead-end career paths.

She co-wrote and starred in Duck Butter (2018), exploring a 24-hour romantic experiment, and played Tyler in Animals (2019), a damaged American partier, a role she found both fun and challenging.

Her filmography includes indie hits like Whip It (2009), The Runaways (2010), Green Room (2015), and Blink Twice (2024), as well as guest roles on Broad City (2015) as Ilana Glazer’s look-alike love interest and Drunk History (2013–2019) as Frances Cleveland, Virginia Hall, and Alexander Hamilton.

In 2024, Shawkat starred in The Old Man on FX and Severance on Apple TV+, and she joined the cast of The Wrong Girls alongside Kristen Stewart and Seth Rogen, announced in February 2025. She is developing Desert People, a series co-created with Natasha Lyonne about an Iraqi-American family running a Palm Springs club, drawing from her own background.

As an artist, Shawkat’s paintings have been exhibited in galleries worldwide, and she sings jazz standards in bars, a skill taught by her grandfather. Her 24-hour performance in The Second Woman (2019) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music marked her bold theater debut.

Social Media

  • Instagram Handle: @shawkat
  • Twitter Handle: @ShawkatAlia

Personal Life

Alia Shawkat is openly bisexual, having discussed her identity in a 2017 Out magazine interview, recalling her mother’s early inquiry about her attractions at age 10.

She gave birth to her first child on November 15, 2023, but has not disclosed the child’s father or name. Single and private about her romantic life, she denied rumors of dating Brad Pitt in 2020, clarifying they were just friends.

Filmography

  • Three Kings (1999) – Amir’s Daughter
  • The Trial of Old Drum (2000) – Dee Dee
  • State of Grace (2001–2002) – Hannah Rayburn
  • Arrested Development (2003–2019) – Maeby Fünke
  • Rebound (2005) – Amy
  • Deck the Halls (2006) – Madison Finch
  • Whip It (2009) – Pash
  • Green Room (2015) – Sam
  • Drunk History (2013–2019) – Various Historical Figures
  • Search Party (2016–2022) – Dory Sief
  • Duck Butter (2018) – Naima (also Writer)
  • Animals (2019) – Tyler
  • Being the Ricardos (2021) – Madelyn Pugh
  • The Old Man (2022–2024) – Angela Adams
  • Severance (2022–) – Gabby
  • Scavengers Reign (2023) – Ursula (Voice)
  • Blink Twice (2024) – Jess
  • The Wrong Girls (2025, Upcoming) – Actress

Net Worth

Alia Shawkat’s estimated net worth is $4 million USD. Her wealth stems from her extensive acting career, including starring roles in Arrested Development and Search Party, as well as indie films and guest appearances.


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