This year for Alia Shawkat’s birthday we’ve decided that as our gift to her (and you), we are going to give you a rundown of some of her finest TV moments, so here goes:  Although Alia had a couple of smaller TV roles when she was a tiny nipper, her first recurring role came at at the age of twelve, playing one of the leads in Fox’s State of Grace, playing Hannah Rayburn, a young jewish girl who was best friends with the eponymous Grace.  She lit up our hearts like a menorah.  So cute!

A couple more small roles came afterwards, followed by a guest star spot on YA Mag favorite Veronica Mars in 2006.  Alia had roles in The Business in 2007 and The Starter Wife opposite Will and Grace’s Debra Messing in 2008.  But I think we can all agree that the what that cemented her as a comedy star of the future was her landing the role of Maeby Fünke in longstanding Fox show Arrested Development.  Maeby was often caught up in the antics of her kooky and possibly closeted father Tobias and emotional train-wreck mom Lindsay, and Maeby played the straight man to a tee, frequently emerging looking like more of an adult than her parents.

Alia’s on off time with Arrested Development has spanned a decade between 2003 and 2013 but she’s still found time to score film roles in Prom Wars (2008), Drew Barrymore directed Whip It (2009), The Runaways (2010), Ruby Sparks (2012), and the To Do List (2013), amongst many others.

Alia is turning 25 this year; we’re stoked that she’s still on our screens and hope she will be for many more years.  Happy birthday Alia!