SmartLess "Aubrey Plaza"
67 snips
Apr 20, 2026 
Aubrey Plaza, actor and producer known for deadpan comedy and dramatic turns. She shares stories from her UCB sketch roots and big break week, the stroke she had at 20 and how it shifted her outlook, producing Emily the Criminal and lessons learned, and her new animated series Kevin based on her cat. Playful banter, nostalgia, and surprising personal moments drive the conversation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Breakout Week That Launched Her Career
- Aubrey Plaza first connected with Parks and Rec after Allison Jones sent her to meetings during a LA trip where she booked multiple projects in one week.
- She screen-tested for Judd Apatow, then booked Funny People, Parks and Rec, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World in that single week.
Having A Stroke At Twenty
- At age 20 Aubrey had a stroke mid-conversation that numbed her right arm and temporarily blocked speech because the clot hit her language center.
- She remained conscious, could understand others, but could not get words out until paramedics arrived.
Stroke Shifted Her Sense Of What's Important
- The stroke shifted Aubrey's view on spirituality and worry, making her less preoccupied with small stresses.
- She describes feeling a separate observing consciousness watching her brain malfunction, which deepened her spiritual curiosity.