Aubrey Christina Plaza (born June 26, 1984) is an American actress, comedian, and producer. As a teenager, she began acting in local theatre productions and performed improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. After graduating from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Plaza made her feature film debut in Mystery Team (2009). She gained wide recognition for her role as April Ludgate on the NBC political satire sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–2015).