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United States Maya Erskine is an American actress, writer, and producer known for co-creating and starring in the acclaimed series PEN15, and for her recent leading role in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle teamed up with AHA Sparkling Water for a campaign, bringing humor to their marketing efforts.
Maya Erskine signed with WME for representation across her acting, writing, directing, and producing endeavors. She also publicized this on her Instagram account.
Maya Erskine was born on May 7, 1987, in Los Angeles, California. Her mother is Mutsuko Nigatawa and her father is jazz drummer Peter Erskine. She pursued her education at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, specializing in Theatre, and later graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. While at NYU, she initially studied musical theater before transitioning to the Experimental Theater Wing, where she met her future creative partner, Anna Konkle, during a study abroad program in Amsterdam. Erskine began her acting career in 2010, gaining early experience with Los Angeles-based theater groups such as the East West Players and the Geffen Playhouse. Her initial television work included roles in series like “Hart of Dixie” (CW, 2011-15) and “Betas” (2013-14).
A significant turning point in Erskine’s career came with the creation of “PEN15” in 2019, a Hulu original TV comedy series she co-created, co-wrote, and co-executive produced with Anna Konkle. In the series, they played fictionalized 13-year-old versions of themselves, which earned critical acclaim and four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for the series, including two nominations for Erskine for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Her filmography further expanded with appearances in “Wine Country” (2019), directed by Amy Poehler, where she acted alongside notable comedians. She also lent her voice to animated projects such as “Scoob!” (2020) as Judy Takamoto and “DC League of Super-Pets” (2022) as Mercy Graves. Erskine continued her voice acting work in TV series like “Blue Eye Samurai” (2023) as Mizu and is slated to voice Vanity Smurf in the upcoming “Smurfs” movie (2025).
In 2024, Erskine took on the titular role of Jane Smith in the Prime Video spy series “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” opposite Donald Glover. This role led to a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, further cementing her status in the industry. Her career highlights also include roles in “Man Seeking Woman” (FXX, 2015), “Heartbeat” (2016), “Insecure” (seasons 1–2), and “Casual” (seasons 3–4). She is currently involved in in-development projects like “The Perfect Nanny” and is recognized by Gold House as an A100 Honoree, acknowledging her contributions and influence in the entertainment industry.
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