Spot the rising star: Aubrey Plaza wears pretty polka dot dress on the set of new film directed by boyfriend Jeff Baena



Working with a new director is daunting for any actress.

But it's possibly even more nerve-wracking if that director also happens to be your boyfriend.



That's the situation 29-year-old Aubrey Plaza was in when she stepped onto the set of her latest film, Life After Beth, in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Simply dotty! Aubrey Plaza appeared on the set of her new movie Life After Beth wearing a polka dot dress in Los Angeles on Thursday

The actress, who is best known for playing April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, looked pretty in a knee-length polka dot dress and simple black flats.

With a look of intense concentration showing on her face, the To Do List star focused on getting her part exactly right as she rehearsed and shot scenes with co-star Dane DeHaan.

An industry veteran even at her young age, Audrey will have wanted her performance to be particularly sharp for her boyfriend Jeff Baena, who is directing the film.

Taking direction: The Parks and Rec star appeared to be concentrating hard on her next scene

Practice makes perfect: Aubrey appears to rehears a scene with her co-star, 27-year-old True Blood actor Dane DeHaan

Her dark hair falling in waves around her shoulders, the Delaware native stood with DeHaan, who was dressed entirely in black and clutched an iced coffee on the hot day.

The pair then filmed a scene in a silver car, before Aubrey took a break to have her make-up touched up by one of the technicians on standby.

Appearing on the cover of Cosmopolitan For Latinas magazine recently, Plaza took the opportunity to celebrate her Puerto Rican heritage and also spoke about her relationship with long term partner Jeff.

And we're rolling! Plaza, DaHaan and a third actor film a scene inside a car in the sweltering Los Angeles heat

The pair, who live together in the hip Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, credit the success of their relationship to having a lot in common.



'He’s a creative person and we understand each other on that level,' Plaza said. 'When we’re together, we like hanging out at home. We’re happy having people over and playing Settlers Of Catan or Battlestar Galactica. We’re kind of dorks.'



Life After Beth is the directorial debut for 36-year-old Baena, who wrote the hit 2004 film I Heart Huckabees, which starred Naomi Watts and Dustin Hoffman.



Touch up: The young actress took a break from filming to get her make-up adjusted by a technician

Life After Beth, a zombie comedy, centers around Beth, played by Plaza, and also stars Anna Kendrick and John C. Reilly.

Aubrey currently has two further projects in various stages of production.

She has recently wrapped filming on A Many Splintered Thing, in which she appears alongside Chris Evans and Ashley Tisdale.

And the busy comedienne is also currently filming another flick, About Alex.