From Waitress to Superhero: The Rise of Aya Cash

May 2024 · 6 minute read
 

Who is Aya Cash?

American actress Aya Rachel Cash was born in San Francisco, California USA, on 13 July 1982, making Cancer her zodiac sign. She’s had roles in 50 movies and TV series, but is perhaps known best for starring as Gretchen Cutler in all the 62 episodes of the romantic comedy series “You’re the Worst”, which also starred Desmin Borges and Chris Geere, and was created by Stephen Falk. It follows two toxic self-destructive people who’ve fallen in love, aired from 2014 through 2019, and won one of its 24 award nominations.

Aya’s currently shooting for the upcoming TV series “We Are Men”.

Education and early life

Aya was raised in San Francisco by her Buddhist teacher father Eugene Cash, and American poet and novelist mother Kim Addonizio; she hasn’t spoken about having siblings, and Aya’s thus believed to be an only child. Her maternal grandmother was the late American professional tennis player Pauline Betz Addie, and her maternal grandfather the late American sportswriter Robert ‘Bob’ Addie.

She became interested in acting while attending San Francisco School of the Arts, but was also interested in a couple of other activities as she danced, played tennis, and ran track. Upon matriculating in 2000, Aya enrolled at the University of Minnesota, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting in 2004.

She then moved to New York City and began working her way up in the film industry, while simultaneously working as a waitress to financially support herself.

Roles in TV series

Aya’s debut TV series role was playing Janine Lesko in the 2006 episode “Kingmaker” of the crime action “Law & Order”, and the same year saw her play Lori in the episode “Weeping Willow” of the crime mystery “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”.

Aya had only three other TV series roles in the remainder of the decade, appearing in an episode of the crime drama “Brotherhood”, the crime mystery “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, and the drama “Mercy”.

In 2011, she played Maya in all the 13 episodes of the comedy “Traffic Light”, which starred Nelson Franklin and David Denman, and was created by Bob Fisher. It follows the lives of three longtime friends, and was nominated for only a single award. Aya was then cast to play supporting characters in the fantasy “A Gifted Man”, the drama “The Newsroom”, and the comedy “We Are Men”.

From 2016 through 2019, she played Sherri in four episodes of the popular comedy “Easy”, which starred Jane Adams and Michael Chernus, and was created by Joe Swanberg. It follows the lives of several friends in Chicago, Illinois; the series won one of its five award nominations.

Some of Aya’s most recent TV series roles have been in two episodes of the biographical historical drama “The First Lady” and 10 episodes of the action crime comedy “The Boys” both in 3033, and all the 27 episodes of the comedy “Welcome to Flatch” (2022 – present).

Roles in movies

Aya’s debut film role was playing Chrissy in the 2007 drama “Spellbound”, and she could then have been seen appearing in the 2008 crime thriller “Off Jackson Avenue”, the 2008 crime mystery “Deception”, and the 2009 crime drama “Winter of Frozen Dreams”.

In 2011, she played Maya in the romantic comedy “The Oranges”, which starred Hugh Laurie and Leighton Meester, and was directed by Julian Farino. It follows the Ostroff and Walling families who are friends, but this might change now that Nina Ostroff’s having an affair with David Walling; the movie was nominated for two awards.

Some of Aya’s following roles were in the 2012 romantic comedy “Sleepwalk with Me”, the 2013 horror comedy “The Happy House”, and the critically acclaimed 2013 musical comedy “Begin Again”, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song.

Also in 2013, Aya played Janet in the hit biographical crime drama “The Wolf of Wall Street”, which starred Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio, and was directed by Martin Scorsese. It covers the true story of convicted felon Jordan Belfort, to whom the title refers, and the movie won 37 of its 216 award nominations, including five Oscar nominations, some of which were for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Leonardo), Best Achievement in Directing and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay.

Some of Aya’s most recent film roles have been in the 2020 horror comedy “Scare Me”, the 2021 comedy “We Broke Up”, and the 2023 comedy “The Young Wife”.

Other credits

Aya received special thanks for the 2005 comedy movie “Backseat”.

She produced the 2016 short comedy movie “All Exchanges Final”.

Some of Aya’s recent talk-show appearances have been in “Live with Kelly and Mark”, “Paltrocast with Darren Paltrowitz”, and “Let’s Shoot! with Pete Chatmon”

Awards and nominations

Aya’s won two of her 10 award nominations: a 2016 International Online Cinema Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, for her performance in “You’re the Worst”, and a 2021 Critics Choice Super Award for Best Actress in a Superhero Series, for “The Boys”.

Some of her other nominations include a 2016 Gold Derby Award for Comedy Lead Actress, a 2016 Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy and a 2016 Critics Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, all for “You’re the Worst”.

Love life and marriage

Aya shies away from speaking in public about her love life, but it’s known that she’s married. She met American actor, screenwriter and producer Josh Alexander while she was working as a waitress, and the two were in a relationship for seven years prior to marrying in a private ceremony in September 2012; Josh has 17 acting credits, and is perhaps still known best for playing Burt in the 2008 romantic comedy movie “My Best Friend’s Girl”.

The two don’t have children together, and most of Aya’s fans believe this to be because both she and Josh want to focus on their careers.

She hasn’t spoken about other men whom she’s dated, Aya’s married to Josh Alexander as of June 2023, and they don’t have children.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Aya’s today living in New York City with her husband.

She was raised Jewish and identifies as a Jew, but has revealed that she’s today not practicing the religion.

Aya’s a fan of tattoos, and has a tattoo of a hawk because she was once told that her name stands for ‘hawk’ in Hebrew; after having visited Israel, she learned that it instead means ‘honey buzzard’.

She’s a philanthropist, and is today a celebrity ambassador for the non-governmental organization International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance (INARA).

Nearly 250,000 people are following Aya on Instagram today, although she’s posted only seven pictures and videos onto the network.

One of her favorite actresses is Jenna Ortega, and some of her favorite movies and TV series include “Wednesday”, “The Fallout” and “You”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Aya’s age is 40. She has brown eyes and hair, is 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall and weighs around 110lbs (51kgs).

Aya’s net worth’s been estimated at over $1 million, as of June 2023.

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