When you were ten, she played Maeby Bluth, and you wished you had her wild freckles and bouncy, curly hair. When you got older, you binge-watched all episodes of Search Party and drooled over her a Alexander Hamilton.
Last year, you watched her be Ilana Glazer‘s queer doppelganger and wished you were Ilana so that your queer fantasies could come true.
Well, today is a happy day. Because Alia Shawkat – of Arrested Development, Search Party, Drunk History and Broad City – has finally come out as queer.
She did it in a recent interview with Out (naturally) when discussing her latest film endeavor, a film called Paint It Black. Whereas Shawkat is known for her dry comedic wit, Paint It Black is a noticeably darker psychodrama. The film meditates on the queer and somewhat twisted relationship between a girl (Josie) and the mother of her dead boyfriend.
Shawkat always knew she was just a bit different. She was a tomboy growing up. When she was ten, her mother asked her, “Are you attracted to boys or are you attracted to girls?” Shawkat said that she didn’t know; who does when they’re ten?
However, she now identifies as bisexual, and credits her balance of “male and female energies” for her growth as an actress.
After Paint It Black, she’ll throw her energies into a film that she wrote and is starring in, Duck Butter. Duck Butter is a queer romance between two women. Fun fact: One of the parts was originally written for a man, but they couldn’t find the right guy, so they swapped the role.
Coming out as queer and creating queer content might be seen as a bold step, but Shawkat says, “I used to be less outspoken. But as a woman, an Arab-American, and a member of the LGBTQ community, I have to use whatever voice I have. There’s no more delicacy in being quiet.”
