Alia Shawkat Net Worth

What Is Alia Shawkat's Net Worth?

Alia Shawkat is an American actress, producer, writer, and director who has a net worth of $2 million.

Ali Shawkat became widely known as a teenager for playing the mischievous Maeby Fünke on the critically acclaimed sitcom "Arrested Development." She appeared throughout the show's original Fox run and returned for its later Netflix revival seasons.

Shawkat subsequently established herself as a leading figure in independent film and unconventional television comedy. She starred as Dory Sief on the dark comedy mystery series "Search Party," which ran for five seasons from 2016 to 2022. In addition to playing the show's increasingly unpredictable central character, Shawkat served as a producer and directed an episode.

Her film credits include "Whip It," "The Runaways," "The To Do List," "The Final Girls," "20th Century Women," "First Cow," "Being the Ricardos," "Blink Twice," and "Atropia." She co-wrote, executive produced, and starred in the 2018 film "Duck Butter" and later executive produced "Atropia," which won the U.S. Grand Jury Prize in the dramatic competition at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Shawkat has also appeared on "The Old Man," "Severance," and "Poker Face," voiced characters in "Scavengers Reign" and "#1 Happy Family USA," and made her professional stage debut in the 2026 Off-Broadway revival of "You Got Older."

Early Life

Alia Martine Shawkat was born on April 18, 1989, in Riverside, California. She grew up in Palm Springs with her two brothers. Her father, Tony Shawkat, is from Baghdad, Iraq, while her mother, Dina, is of Irish, Norwegian, and Italian ancestry.

Acting also ran in Shawkat's maternal family. Her grandfather was Paul Burke, an actor best known for starring on "Naked City" and "12 O'Clock High." Burke received two Primetime Emmy nominations for his work on "Naked City" and later played Neal McVane on "Dynasty."

Shawkat began acting professionally during childhood. Because she frequently worked on film and television productions, she attended a private school in Rancho Mirage when she was not on set.

Career Beginnings

Shawkat made her screen debut in the 1999 Gulf War film "Three Kings," appearing alongside her father. That same year, she guest-starred on the television drama "JAG." After appearing in the television movie "The Trial of Old Drum," she landed her first regular television role as Hannah Rayburn on "State of Grace."

The comedy-drama aired from 2001 to 2002 and followed two girls from different cultural and religious backgrounds growing up during the 1960s. Shawkat starred opposite Mae Whitman, who later appeared on "Arrested Development" as Ann Veal.

Shawkat continued working in television with guest appearances on "Presidio Med," "Without a Trace," and "Boomtown." Her early film credits included "Rebound," "Deck the Halls," and "Bart Got a Room," which her parents helped produce.

Arrested Development

In 2003, Shawkat began playing Mae "Maeby" Fünke on "Arrested Development." Maeby was the rebellious daughter of Lindsay and Tobias Fünke, played by Portia de Rossi and David Cross.

The ensemble also included Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth, Will Arnett as Gob Bluth, Michael Cera as George Michael Bluth, Tony Hale as Buster Bluth, Jeffrey Tambor as George Bluth Sr., and Jessica Walter as Lucille Bluth.

Although "Arrested Development" struggled in the ratings, it received widespread critical acclaim and won the 2004 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. Fox canceled the show after three seasons in 2006, but its audience continued growing through streaming and home-video releases. Netflix revived the series in 2013 and later produced a fifth season released in two parts in 2018 and 2019.

Shawkat was only 14 when production began. She has credited the series and its experienced ensemble with shaping her understanding of comedy and acting. Although she later became frustrated with being recognized primarily as Maeby, she eventually came to appreciate the role's enduring popularity and its importance to her career.

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Film Career

While appearing on "Arrested Development," Shawkat began building a career in independent film. Her early credits included "Amreeka," "Whip It," "The Runaways," "Cedar Rapids," "The Oranges," "Damsels in Distress," "Ruby Sparks," and "The Brass Teapot."

She co-starred with Aubrey Plaza in "The To Do List" and "Life After Beth." Other notable projects included "Night Moves," "Green Room," "The Intervention," "Paint It Black," and the horror comedy "The Final Girls."

In 2016, Shawkat appeared alongside Annette Bening, Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning, and Billy Crudup in "20th Century Women." She later starred in "Blaze," "Animals," and the acclaimed Western drama "First Cow."

Shawkat expanded into writing and producing with "Duck Butter," a largely improvised romantic drama that she co-wrote with director Miguel Arteta. She executive produced the film and starred opposite Laia Costa. Shawkat received a best actress award at the Tribeca Film Festival for her performance.

Her later film work included playing television writer Madelyn Pugh in "Being the Ricardos" and appearing as Jess in the thriller "Blink Twice." She starred as an ambitious Iraqi actress working inside a military training simulation in "Atropia." The satire, which also featured Shawkat's father, became the winner of Sundance's 2025 U.S. Grand Jury Prize for dramatic films.

Search Party

Shawkat landed one of her most important adult roles when she was cast as Dory Sief on "Search Party." The series began as a mystery about a group of self-involved young New Yorkers searching for a missing acquaintance, but it repeatedly reinvented itself as its characters became entangled in kidnapping, murder, court proceedings, celebrity, and a destructive spiritual movement.

"Search Party" premiered on TBS in 2016 before moving to HBO Max. Shawkat appeared in all 50 episodes and also worked behind the scenes as a producer. She made her directorial debut with the fourth-season episode "The Imposter."

The role allowed Shawkat to move beyond her identity as a former child sitcom actor. Her performance earned her a Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Breakthrough Role.

Later Television and Stage Work

From 2022 to 2024, Shawkat starred opposite Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow on the FX thriller "The Old Man." She played federal agent Angela Adams, whose complicated personal history became central to the series. Shawkat filmed part of the second season while pregnant and later returned to production after giving birth.

Her voice-acting work has included "Adventure Time," "Big Mouth," "Summer Camp Island," "Ultra City Smiths," "Scavengers Reign," and the animated comedy "#1 Happy Family USA." She also appeared on "Poker Face" and played Gwendolyn Y. during the second season of "Severance."

In 2026, Shawkat made her professional theatrical debut in the Off-Broadway revival of Clare Barron's "You Got Older." She played a woman who returns home to care for her seriously ill father, portrayed by Peter Friedman.

Personal Life

Shawkat is bisexual and has spoken about the importance of representing her identities as a woman, an Arab American, and a member of the LGBTQ community. She welcomed her first child, a son, in November 2023.

Outside of acting, Shawkat is a painter and has displayed her artwork at galleries in Los Angeles, Paris, and Mexico City. She also enjoys music and has performed jazz standards in clubs. Shawkat contributed vocals to the Fake Problems album "Real Ghosts Caught on Tape."

Awards and Nominations

Shawkat won a Young Artist Award for "Arrested Development" in 2005. The cast received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series and won the Gold Derby Award for Ensemble of the Year.

She received a Gracie Award for "Search Party" and a Tribeca Film Festival acting prize for "Duck Butter." Shawkat also earned recognition from several independent film festivals for her performance in the short film "Alina." As an executive producer and star of "Atropia," she was part of a film that won the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

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