Alia Shawkat was born in Riverside, California, to 'Dina Burke' . At 16 years old, when she was not filming, Alia attended a private school near her home in Rancho Mirage where she was able to continue her studies in English, Physics, Math, Geography and Drama. Her ambition is eventually to attend Yale University studying International Relations. In her free time, Alia enjoys horseback riding, ice-skating and dancing. She is an accomplished pianist and speaks several languages. She splits her time between her home and Rancho Mirage and Los Angeles where she resides with her parents and her two brothers.
She spends her time in both Los Angeles and her hometown of Palm Springs with her parents, two brothers, and her pet cat Max.
Her great-great-grandfather, Martin P. Burke, was a New Orleans policeman in 1898.
Her great-grandfather, Martin Burke , was a boxer who fought Gene Tunney and sparred with Jack Dempsey. Later, he and his wife owned a string of nightclubs in the New Orleans French Quarter.
Her maternal grandparents were actor Paul Burke of Valley of the Dolls fame, and former dancer Peggy Pryor (born Alice Louise Wikan).
Her father is Iraqi; he was born in Baghdad, and moved to the United States in the 1970s. Her maternal grandfather was of half Irish and half Italian descent, and her maternal grandmother was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants. Her Italian ancestry likely includes Arbresh, ethnic Albanians who live in Italy.
Step-granddaughter of Lyn Peters.
Daughter of Dina Burke and Tony Shawkat.
Member of The Interstate 5 Tennis Association.
Good friends with Ellen Page , her Whip It co-star.
Kids can be harsh, especially when they get jealous.
I go into work and get my hair and makeup done, go into wardrobe. I have,to do three hours of school a day.
I feel very lucky.
I would do a movie musical.
I was a late bloomer.
The words are ludicrous at times, but you add the reality to it and that,gives it the balance it has.
The main thing I got from growing up in a suburb is the boredom you have,as a child.
Right when I turned 18, I moved to New York, originally for school, and,then dropped out and just lived in New York.
