Alia Shawkat is an American actress who is gifted with a distinct and unusual screen presence and a selection of roles. She is a famous actress playing the cult-favorite show Arrested Development as Maeby Fünke. Throughout the years, she has established a solid career in the TV and independent film worlds where she is applauded in both natural acting and the weird characters. She was also a versatile performer as she was the lead in Search Party. Alia has more than twenty years in the business and is an esteemed person in the entertainment of today.
In this article we will provide complete information about Alia Shawkat Biography, age, awards, family, net worth, and more.
Who is Alia Shawkat

Alia Shawkat is a versatile individual who has acted, produced films, and directed films, albeit in rare cases. Her career began small as a child artist and slowly transformed into a full-fledged performer who is emotionally endowed and wields the stinging sense of humour. Her cultural background and artistic thinking have been significant in influencing her career decision.
| Parameter | Details |
| Full Name | Alia Raquel Shawkat |
| Date of Birth | April 18, 1989 |
| Birthplace | Riverside, California, USA |
| Age (2026) | 37 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Iraqi–American |
| Profession | Actress, Producer, Director |
| Famous Role | Maeby Fünke in Arrested Development |
| Other Popular Role | Dory Sief in Search Party |
| Active Years | 1999 – Present |
Alia Shawkat Age (As of 2026)
Alia Shawkat was born on April 18, 1989. As of 2026 she is 37 years old. Her zodiac sign is Aries.
| Detail | Information |
| Date of Birth | April 18, 1989 |
| Current Age (2026) | 37 years |
| Career Start Age | Around 10–11 years |
| Zodiac | Aries |
Alia Shawkat Height, Weight, and Physical Status
Alia Shawkat height is 5 ft 5 1/4 inches (1.66m) with a slim and natural fit body type. She is also famous because of her plain yet communicative look which enables her to fit in various roles without any difficulty. Her character is more about the realness than glamour, and that is why she is unique in her industry.
| Attribute | Details |
| Height | 5 ft 5¼ inches (1.66 m) |
| Weight | 58 kg (approx.) |
| Body Type | Slim |
| Measurements | 34–27–34 inches |
| Hair Color | Light Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Shoe Size | US 7.5 |
Early Life and Family Background
Alia Shawkat was born and grew up in Palm Springs, Riverside, California. Her creative personality was developed due to her upbringing in a peaceful and artistic environment. She is of mixed cultural background, her father is of Iraqi origin and her mother is American. Her father’s name is Tony Shawkat, who is a native of Baghdad and her mother’s name is Dina Burke who belongs to United States. The entertainment industry is also related to Ali, as her maternal grandfather, Paul Burke, was a famous actor. She grew up in this kind of environment and this enabled her to have the natural interest in acting since a young age.
| Category | Details |
| Birthplace | Riverside, California |
| Hometown | Palm Springs, California |
| Father | Tony Shawkat (Iraqi origin) |
| Mother | Dina Burke (American) |
| Grandfather | Paul Burke (Actor) |
| Siblings | Two brothers |
| Cultural Background | Iraqi–American mix |
Educational Background Of alia Shawkat
Alia Shawkat had attended a private school close to her house in Rancho Mirage, California where she studied such subjects as drama and languages among others. According to IMDb, she then went to Palm Valley School. Even though she was accepted in Sarah Lawrence College in New York, she dropped out after three days to chase her career in acting. She would prefer a self-educated route of learning about art, painting, and acting since she was very young and she was already engaged in the entertainment industry.
| Aspect | Details |
| Early Schooling | Private school in Rancho Mirage, California |
| Notable School | Palm Valley School |
| College Admission | Accepted into Sarah Lawrence College, New York |
| College Status | Dropped out after 3 days to pursue acting |
| Learning Style | Self-educated in art, painting, and acting |
| Interests | Drama, languages, piano |
Alia Shawkat Career Journey
- Alia Shawkat has been able to start her career acting in early 2000s in the television. Her first major role was in State of Grace where she portrayed Hannah. This role gave her some first time recognition and introduced her to larger opportunities.
- Her greatest break was with Arrested Development, where she played the role of Maeby Fünke. The series turned out to be a cult film and her acting was received well. This was a critical role towards building her career.
- In addition to TV, Alia also established a good presence in independent films. She was featured in such films as Whip It, The Runaways, and Ruby Sparks. She was able to follow complicated and unusual characters through these films.
- Her most recent acting role is in Search Party, a series of dark comedy, in 2016. She was well praised as the role of Dory Sief and also as a producer and director. This was the period of her development as a creative practitioner other than acting.
| Year(s) | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
| 2016–2022 | Search Party | TV | Lead (Dory) |
| 2019 | Duck Butter | Film | Lead role |
| 2020 | The Lie | Film | Supporting role |
| 2023+ | Indie Projects | Mixed | Various roles |
Achievements and Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 2002 | Young Artist Award | TV Actress | Nominated |
| 2005 | Young Artist Award | Supporting Actress | Won |
| 2005 | SAG Award | Ensemble Cast | Nominated |
| 2017 | Gracie Award | Breakthrough Actress | Won |
| 2020 | Film Festival Award | Best Actress | Won |
Alia Shawkat Personal Life
Alia Shawkat has openly shared parts of her personal life over the years. She supports being open and identifying by coming out publicly in an interview with the out magazine in 2017 as she said she was bisexual. In mid-2023, she was reportedly expecting her first child. She however has kept her relationship confidential and has never validated who her partner is although she was found out with an unknown man at a birth clinic.
| Topic | Details |
| Sexual Orientation | Came out as bisexual in 2017 |
| Interview Source | Out Magazine |
| Pregnancy Status | Reported pregnant (mid-2023) |
| Partner Identity | Not publicly confirmed |
| Public Appearance | Seen with a “mystery man” at a birth clinic |
Alia Shawkat Net Worth (As Of 2026)
Alia Shawkat estimated net worth of approximately $4 million as of 2026. The source of her income is through acting in television programs, movies and content creation. Her financial stability is also as a result of her long-term appearances in the most popular programs.
She also makes revenue in independent movies, guest roles and creative work. Her contribution as a producer and director has also contributed towards her income.
| Source of Income | Details |
| Net Worth (2026) | $4 Million (approx.) |
| Main Income Source | Acting |
| Additional Income | Producing, directing |
| Major Earnings | TV shows and indie films |
Alia Shawkat Social Media Profile
Alia Shawkat has a moderate presence on social media platforms. As of now she has no post on instagram.
| Platform | Username | Followers (Approx.) |
| @alia_shawkatt | 1395 | |
| X (Twitter) | — | — |
| Not Active | — |
Conclusion
Alia Shawkat is an extraordinary and creative actress who has achieved a great career due to hard work and role choices. Since she started in television in her early days, she has continuously developed as an artist, to becoming a respected name in the indie cinema. Her unique talent in balancing humor, emotion and unorthodox storytelling makes her shine in the entertainment field. Her impact and legacy are likely to continue even to greater heights as she goes further into creative frontiers.
FAQ’s
Alia Shawkat is an American actress who has worked in Arrested Development and Search Party.
She is 37 years old.
No, she is not married as of 2026.
Her net worth is estimated to be approximately $4 million.
She has starred in her most successful series Arrested Development and Search Party.
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