# Aya Cash

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**Aya Cash** (born July 13, 1982) is an American actress. She is best known for starring as Gretchen Cutler in the [FX](/source/FX_(TV_channel))/[FXX](/source/FXX) [dark comedy](/source/Dark_comedy) series *[You're the Worst](/source/You're_the_Worst)* (2014–2019), as [Clara Vought (née Klara Risinger) / Liberty / Stormfront](/source/Stormfront_(character)) in the [Amazon Prime Video](/source/Amazon_Prime_Video) superhero series *[The Boys](/source/The_Boys_(TV_series))* (2020-2022; 2026), a role she will reprise in its prequel *[Vought Rising](/source/Vought_Rising)* (2027), as Cheryl Peterson in the [Fox](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company) [sitcom](/source/Sitcom) *[Welcome to Flatch](/source/Welcome_to_Flatch)*, and most recently as Anita in the [HBO](/source/HBO) series *[The Franchise](/source/The_Franchise_(2024_TV_series))*. She was nominated for the [Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series](/source/Critics'_Choice_Television_Award_for_Best_Actress_in_a_Comedy_Series) and the [TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy](/source/TCA_Award_for_Individual_Achievement_in_Comedy) for *You're the Worst*. Cash also appeared in numerous films, including *[The Oranges](/source/The_Oranges_(film))* (2011), *[Sleepwalk with Me](/source/Sleepwalk_with_Me)* (2012), *[Begin Again](/source/Begin_Again_(film))* (2013), *[The Wolf of Wall Street](/source/The_Wolf_of_Wall_Street_(2013_film))* (2013), *[Mary Goes Round](/source/Mary_Goes_Round)* (2017), *[Game Over, Man!](/source/Game_Over,_Man!)* (2018), and *[Scare Me](/source/Scare_Me)* (2020).

## Early life

Cash was born in [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco), California, on July 13, 1982,[1] to poet and novelist [Kim Addonizio](/source/Kim_Addonizio) and Buddhist teacher Eugene Cash. On her mother's side, she is the granddaughter of tennis champion [Pauline Betz](/source/Pauline_Betz) and sports writer [Bob Addie](/source/Bob_Addie). Her father's family is [Jewish](/source/Jews), while her mother is [Catholic](/source/Catholic).[2][3] Cash has described herself as Jewish,[2] and explained that their surname "was originally something like 'CH-irsch'."[2]

Cash is an alumna of the [San Francisco School of the Arts](/source/San_Francisco_School_of_the_Arts).[4] She graduated from the [University of Minnesota](/source/University_of_Minnesota) in 2004 with a [Bachelor of Fine Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Fine_Arts) in Acting, in partnership with the [Guthrie Theater](/source/Guthrie_Theater) Actor Training Program.[5][6] She then moved to New York City, where she began her acting career. For years, she struggled financially and worked as a full-time waitress to make ends meet.[7]

## Career

### Television

Cash’s television appearances include *[Brotherhood](/source/Brotherhood_(2006_TV_series))*, *[Law & Order](/source/Law_%26_Order)*, *[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit](/source/Law_%26_Order:_Special_Victims_Unit)*, *[Law & Order: Criminal Intent](/source/Law_%26_Order:_Criminal_Intent)*, *[Mercy](/source/Mercy_(TV_series))*, and *[The Newsroom](/source/The_Newsroom_(American_TV_series))*. Cash was also a series regular in the 2011 Fox comedy *[Traffic Light](/source/Traffic_Light_(TV_series))*, which ran for one season. From 2014 to 2019, she starred in the [FX Network](/source/FX_(TV_channel)) series *[You're the Worst](/source/You're_the_Worst)* as Gretchen Cutler.[8] She received critical acclaim for her performance, with the website [The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club) calling her acting in the second season "the best TV performance of 2015".[9]

In 2019, she was cast as [neo-Nazi](/source/Neo-Nazism) [Clara Vought (née Klara Risinger) / Liberty / Stormfront](/source/Stormfront_(character)) in the [second season](/source/The_Boys_season_2) of the [Prime Video](/source/Amazon_Prime_Video) superhero dark comedy-drama series *[The Boys](/source/The_Boys_(TV_series))*. The second season premiered in September 2020.[10]

In 2020, Cash was cast as local newspaper reporter Cheryl Peterson in a pilot for a Fox sitcom titled *This Country*. The title was later changed to *[Welcome to Flatch](/source/Welcome_to_Flatch)*, which premiered in 2022.[11]

In 2027, she will again reprise her role as Clara Vought (née Klara Risinger) / Liberty / Stormfront in the prequel series *[Vought Rising](/source/Vought_Rising)*.[12][13]

### Film

Cash's film credits include *[The Oranges](/source/The_Oranges_(film))*, *[Winter of Frozen Dreams](/source/Winter_of_Frozen_Dreams)*, *Off Jackson Avenue*, *[Begin Again](/source/Begin_Again_(film))*, *The Bits In Between*, *Game Over, Man!*, *The Happy House*,[14] and *[The Wolf of Wall Street](/source/The_Wolf_of_Wall_Street_(2013_film))*, in which she had a small role as Janet, [Jordan Belfort](/source/Jordan_Belfort)'s assistant.[15]

### Theatre

Additionally, Cash has appeared on [Off-Broadway](/source/Off-Broadway).[16] In 2014, she starred in the world premiere of [Zoe Kazan](/source/Zoe_Kazan)'s play *Trudy And Max In Love*.[8] In 2025, she appeared in London's West End as Jessie Stone, in [Mark Rosenblatt](/source/Mark_Rosenblatt)'s play [Giant](/source/Giant_(play)).

## Personal life

Cash met writer and producer Josh Alexander[2] when she was his waitress. They dated for seven years before marrying in 2012.[17] They reside together in [New York City](/source/New_York_City).[18][2]

Cash was raised Jewish, but [no longer practices the religion](/source/Jewish_secularism), stating, "my mother is [Catholic](/source/Catholic), my father is Jewish, but I was raised [Jewish](/source/Judaism) in a very not strict temple [...] then I chose, after my [Bat Mitzvah](/source/Bat_Mitzvah), not to continue." Although she also mentioned that she has participated in [Jewish holidays](/source/Jewish_holidays) over the years, but not in many of them in recent years.[19]

Cash said that she has a hawk tattooed on her back because she was told that Aya means "hawk" in [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language). However, when she visited [Israel](/source/Israel) she was told that "Aya" (איה) is an archaic word for "hawk" (though it is, in fact, the [Modern Hebrew](/source/Modern_Hebrew) word for "[honey buzzard](/source/European_honey_buzzard)", a different bird of prey). Meanwhile, the word "aya" is widely used as the Israeli version of the interjection "ouch."[2]

Cash is a celebrity ambassador for [INARA](/source/International_Network_for_Aid,_Relief_and_Assistance), an NGO that helps war-wounded refugee children from [Syria](/source/Syria) get medical help.[20]

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 2008 Off Jackson Avenue Olga Deception Secretary #2 2009 Winter of Frozen Dreams Prostitute The Bits in Between Suzy 2011 The Oranges Maya 2012 Sleepwalk with Me Hannah 2013 The Happy House Wendy Begin Again Jenny The Wolf of Wall Street Janet 2014 Loitering with Intent Jesse 2016 10 Crosby Aya Short film All Exchanges Final Dom Short film 2017 Village People Barbara Mary Goes Round Mary 2018 Brand New Old Love Hannah Becker Game Over, Man! Cassie Social Animals Jane 2020 Scare Me Fanny 2021 We Broke Up Lori 2023 The Young Wife Rose 2024 The Sacrifice Carly Short film 2026 Kill Me Alice Post-production 2026 The Brink of War Cleo Post-production Slay Post-production[21]

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 2006 Law & Order Janine Lesko Episode: "Kingmaker" 2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Lori Episode: "Weeping Willow" 2007 Brotherhood Martha Danners Episode: "Shelter from the Storm 1:1-2" 2007 Spellbound Chrissy Unaired CW pilot 2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Katrina Lychkoff Episode: "Hothouse" 2010 Mercy Bliss Edlestein Episode: "Too Much Attitude and Not Enough Underwear" 2010 Strange Brew Lizzy Unaired FOX pilot 2011 Traffic Light Callie Main role; 13 episodes 2012 Friday Night Dinner Lizzy Unaired NBC pilot 2012 A Gifted Man Trish Sulloway Episode: "In Case of Heart Failure" 2013 The Newsroom Shelly Wexler 3 episodes 2013 We Are Men Claire 5 episodes 2014–2019 You're the Worst Gretchen Cutler Lead role; 62 episodes 2015 Modern Family Vanessa Episode: "Rash Decisions" 2015 The Good Wife Amber Audrey Episode: "Don't Fail" 2015 Sirens Cindy Episode: "Let Pythons be Pythons" 2015 The Walker Unknown 2 episodes 2016 American Dad! Jody the Waitress (voice) Episode: "The Unincludeds" 2016–2019 Easy Sherri 4 episodes 2019 Fosse/Verdon Joan Simon Miniseries 2019 Will & Grace Olivia Walker Episode: "The Scales of Justice" 2020–2022; 2026 The Boys Clara Vought (née Klara Risinger) / Liberty / Stormfront[22] Main role (season 2), guest (seasons 3, 5); 11 episodes 2021 Family Guy (voice) Episode: "Peterschmidt Manor" 2022–2023 Welcome to Flatch Cheryl Peterson Main cast; 27 episodes 2022 Robot Chicken Queen Iduna / Dire Rita (voice) Episode: "May Cause Internal Diarrhea" 2022 The Girl from Plainville Katie Rayburn Miniseries 2022 The First Lady Shirley Liebowitz 2 episodes 2024 The Franchise Anita Main role 2027[12] Vought Rising Clara Vought (née Klara Risinger) / Liberty / Stormfront Main role; also executive producer[13]

### Theatre

Year Title Role Venue 2006 The Pain and the Itch Kalina Playwrights Horizons 2008 From Up Here Lauren Manhattan Theatre Club 2008 Three Changes Steffi Playwrights Horizons 2009 Offices Laura / Emma / Secretary Linda Gross Theater 2011 The Other Place The Woman Music Box Theatre 2011 Happy Hour Performer Peter Norton Space 2014 Trudy and Max in Love Trudy South Coast Repertory 2017 The Light Years Ruth / Adeline Playwrights Horizons 2018 Kings Lauren The Public Theater 2023 The Best We Could (A Family Tragedy) Ella Manhattan Theatre Club 2025 Giant Jessie Stone Harold Pinter Theatre 2026 Music Box Theatre

## Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref. 2016 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Series You're the Worst [23] TCA Awards Individual Achievement in Comedy [24] 2021 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Superhero Series The Boys [25] MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Villain [26] Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama [27] 2026 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Giant [28]

## References

1. Rose, Mike (13 July 2022). ["Today's famous birthdays list for July 13, 2022 includes celebrities Patrick Stewart, Ken Jeong"](https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/07/todays-famous-birthdays-list-for-july-13-2022-includes-celebrities-patrick-stewart-ken-jeong.html). *[The Plain Dealer](/source/The_Plain_Dealer)*. [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). Retrieved 12 July 2023.

1. ["Jews in the News: Floyd Harold Kushner, Aya Cash and Josh Alexander - Tampa Jewish Federation"](https://www.jewishtampa.com/jews-in-the-news/jews-in-the-news-floyd-harold-kushner-aya-cash-and-josh-alexander). *www.jewishtampa.com*

1. Wirsing, Kathryn (April 30, 2019). ["Aya Cash Talks Michelle Williams, Mental Health, and Being More Famous Than Her Husband"](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a27270092/aya-cash-fosse-verdon-interview/). *Marie Claire*

1. ["Bio: Aya Cash"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140725153109/http://www.fox50.com/shows/traffic-light/interviews/BIO-Aya-Cash-115131024.html). *Fox 50 Raleigh Durham Fayetteville*. February 2, 2011. Archived from [the original](http://www.fox50.com/shows/traffic-light/interviews/BIO-Aya-Cash-115131024.html) on July 25, 2014.

1. ["A Guthrie 'guinea pig' makes good in Hollywood"](http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/tv/115219249.html). *[Minneapolis Star Tribune](/source/Minneapolis_Star_Tribune)*. February 5, 2011.

1. Behl, Denise (2016-12-16). ["TAD Alumna Aya Cash is Published in the New York Times"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201006065309/https://cla.umn.edu/theatre/news-events/news/tad-alumna-aya-cash-published-new-york-times). *[University of Minnesota](/source/University_of_Minnesota)*. Archived from [the original](https://cla.umn.edu/theatre/news-events/news/tad-alumna-aya-cash-published-new-york-times) on 2020-10-06. Retrieved 2020-09-26.

1. Fetters, Ashley (9 September 2015). ["Aya Cash of "You're the Worst" Is Actually Pretty Much the Best"](https://www.gq.com/story/wcw-aya-cash-youre-the-worst). *[GQ](/source/GQ)*. Retrieved 2020-09-26.

1. Oliver Lyttleton (April 28, 2014). ["10 Comic Actresses Who Deserve A Big-Screen Leading Role"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160320015433/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/10-comic-actresses-who-deserve-a-big-screen-leading-role-20140428?page=3#blogPostHeaderPanel). *Indiewire.com*. Archived from [the original](http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/10-comic-actresses-who-deserve-a-big-screen-leading-role-20140428?page=3#blogPostHeaderPanel) on March 20, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2014.

1. ["The best TV performances of 2015"](https://www.avclub.com/the-best-tv-performances-of-2015-1798287511). *[The A.V. Club](/source/The_A.V._Club)*. December 21, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2016.

1. Petski, Denise (July 19, 2019). ["**The Boys** Renewed For Season 2 By Amazon; Aya Cash Closes Deal As Stormfront"](https://deadline.com/2019/07/the-boys-renewed-season-2-amazon-aya-cash-closes-deal-stormfront-1202649409). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved July 19, 2019.

1. Petski, Denise (July 10, 2020). ["*This Country*: Aya Cash & Justin Linville Join Fox Comedy Pilot"](https://deadline.com/2020/07/this-country-aya-cash-justin-linville-fox-comedy-pilot-1202982232/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved June 3, 2022.

1. Moreau, Jordan (2024-07-26). ["**The Boys** Prequel **Vought Rising** Starring Jensen Ackles, Aya Cash Ordered at Amazon"](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-boys-vought-rising-prequel-series-jensen-ackles-aya-cash-1236080300). *Variety*. Retrieved 2025-02-10.

1. ["Jensen Ackles, Aya Cash lead **The Boys** prequel **Vought Rising**"](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jensen-ackles-aya-cash-lead-190316301.html). *Yahoo Entertainment*. 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2025-02-10.

1. Michael Atkinson (May 2, 2013). ["Modestly Made and Executed, The Happy House Is Pretty Likeable The Village Voice May 2, 2013"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140502013602/http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-05-01/film/modestly-made-and-executed-the-happy-house-is-pretty-likeable/). *[The Village Voice](/source/The_Village_Voice)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-05-01/film/modestly-made-and-executed-the-happy-house-is-pretty-likeable) on May 2, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.

1. ["Aya Cash From **You're The Worst** Wasn't An Edgy Girl Next Door in 'Wolf of Wall Street'"](http://www.bustle.com/articles/32069-aya-cash-from-youre-the-worst-wasnt-an-edgy-girl-next-door-in-wolf-of-wall). *[Bustle](/source/Bustle_(magazine))*. July 17, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.

1. ["Internet Off-Broadway Database Profile"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070922001530/http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=Aya&middle=&last=Cash). *Lortel.org*. Archived from [the original](http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=Aya&last=Cash&middle=) on September 22, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2014.

1. ["I Don't Practice Santeria"](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PuyupsyhMSnM0EDFdLXrQ), 2017-11-21, retrieved 2021-11-16

1. ["'The Andy Greenwald Podcast': Aya Cash of 'You're the Worst'"](http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/the-andy-greenwald-podcast-aya-cash-of-youre-the-worst/). *[Grantland](/source/Grantland)*. October 29, 2015.

1. ["*The Boys* | Stormfront & Kimiko | Aya Cash Q&A Part 2"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raLTn7ZrWP4), 22 November 2020, retrieved 2021-11-08

1. ["You're the Worst star Aya Cash becomes the best by joining as celebrity ambassador"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201017024639/https://www.inara.org/news/2020/1/7/youre-the-worst-star-aya-cash-becomes-the-best-by-joining-as-celebrity-ambassador). *INARA*. Archived from [the original](https://www.inara.org/news/2020/1/7/youre-the-worst-star-aya-cash-becomes-the-best-by-joining-as-celebrity-ambassador) on 2020-10-17. Retrieved 2020-01-10.

1. Grobar, Matt (2025-05-19). ["Zoey Luna & Aya Cash To Star In Genre-Bender *Slay* Penned By Jimmi Simpson"](https://deadline.com/2025/05/zoey-luna-aya-cash-to-star-slay-jimmi-simpson-1236404660/). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved 2025-05-20.

1. Romano, Nick (October 9, 2020). ["How The Boys season 2 crafted its gutsiest season yet"](https://ew.com/tv/the-boys-season-2-finale-digital-cover/). *EW.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201010133655/https://ew.com/tv/the-boys-season-2-finale-digital-cover/) October 10, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 10, 2020.

1. Gray, Tim (December 14, 2015). ["'Mad Max,' 'Fargo' Top Critics' Choice Nominations"](https://variety.com/2015/film/awards/critics-choice-award-nominations-2016-1201660217/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. Retrieved September 9, 2020.

1. Prudom, Laura (June 22, 2016). ["'Mr. Robot,' 'The People v. O.J. Simpson' Lead TCA Awards Nominations"](https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/tca-award-nominations-nominees-2016-mr-robot-people-v-oj-simpson-1201801152/). *[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))*. Retrieved September 9, 2020.

1. Hammond, Pete (19 November 2020). ["**Palm Springs**, **Lovecraft Country** Top Movie And Series Nominations For Inaugural Critics Choice Super Awards; Netflix Lands 35 Nods"](https://deadline.com/2020/11/palm-springs-lovecraft-country-lead-critcs-choice-super-awards-nominations-1234618498). *[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood)*. Retrieved 17 December 2020.

1. Del Rosario, Alexandra (2021-04-19). ["MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominations: 'Emily In Paris', 'WandaVision' & 'RuPaul's Drag Race'"](https://deadline.com/2021/04/mtv-movie-tv-awards-nominations-emily-in-paris-wandavision-rupauls-drag-race-1234737437/). *Deadline*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210419190517/https://deadline.com/2021/04/mtv-movie-tv-awards-nominations-emily-in-paris-wandavision-rupauls-drag-race-1234737437/) 2021-04-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-04-20.

1. ["Ted Lasso, The Handmaid's Tale, and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist lead Inaugural HCA TV Awards Nominations – Hollywood Critics Association"](https://hollywoodcriticsassociation.com/ted-lasso-the-handmaids-tale-and-zoeys-extraordinary-playlist-lead-inaugural-hca-tv-awards-nominations/). Retrieved July 11, 2021.

1. ["Tony Awards Nominations 2026: The Complete List"](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/theater/tony-awards-nominations.html). Retrieved May 5, 2026.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aya Cash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aya_Cash) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aya_Cash?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.