Plaza produced and starred in Ingrid Goes West, which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. The film went on to screen at the 2017 London Film Festival. Ingrid Goes West also won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and was nominated for Best First Screenplay.
In February 2019, Plaza hosted the 34th Film Independent Spirit Awards.
For her memorable role as “Lenny” in Noah Hawley’s Legion, Plaza was nominated for a 2018 MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Villain and an Imagen Award for Best Actress. Next, she will star opposite Brian Tyree Henry in MGM’s remake of Child’s Play.
For seven seasons, Plaza played underachieving assistant “April Ludgate” on the Emmy®-nominated comedy series Parks and Recreation, alongside co-stars Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman and Chris Pratt. Plaza’s performance garnered her a 2014 American Comedy Award nomination for Best Comedy Supporting Actress and Imagen Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress/Television in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
She starred in Colin Trevorrow’s celebrated debut feature Safety Not Guaranteed opposite Mark Duplass and Jake Johnson. The film, produced by Jay and Mark Duplass, premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and received the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay and a nomination for Best First Feature. For her performance in the film, Plaza won the 2012 ALMA Award for Favorite Movie Actress - Comedy/Musical.
Other film credits include Jeff Baena’s The Little Hours (producer) and Life After Beth, An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Ned Rifle, The To Do List, Damsels in Distress, Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Judd Apatow's Funny People.
