Award-winning actor and producer Alia Shawkat broke out in Hollywood as a teenager, which proved to be both blessing and curse. Like any struggling artist, she’s had to challenge the industry’s preconceptions as well as her own, folding each new endeavor into her evolving artistic philosophy. She has several rules pertaining to acting: One is to watch everything you appear in, but only twice. Another is to reassess what you want out of your craft and career every few years. “You have to keep falling in love with it,” Alia says. “There’s a timing and a luck to this. And then just perseverance.”

The California–born Alia became a breakout child actor, on first “State of Grace” and then as Maeby Fünke on the long-running, SAG Award–nominated “Arrested Development.” She has appeared on “Drunk History,” “Transparent,” and “Broad City,” and starred in “Whip It,” “The To Do List,” “The Final Girl,” “Blaze,” “Duck Butter,” and “Animals.” Alia produces the TBS-to-HBO Max mystery series “Search Party,” starring as Dory Sief for five hilarious seasons, the last of which premieres Jan. 7. She also stars in Aaron Sorkin’s Amazon Studios film “Being the Ricardos” as “I Love Lucy” writer Madelyn Pugh.

This episode is brought to you by HBO. For January 2022 TV recommendations, head over to backstage.com: https://bit.ly/3mVrhoF

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Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ

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Special thanks to...

- Host: Jack Smart

- Producer: Jamie Muffett

- Social media: Katie Minard, Karen Jenkins

- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins

- Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis