If you’ve watched Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, you know the vibe. Neon colors, frantic editing, and a guy fighting seven evil exes for a girl with hair that changes color every week. But amidst the bass battles and "KO" graphics, there is a constant, jagged energy radiating from the background.
That’s Julie Powers.
Played by a then-rising Aubrey Plaza, Julie is the designated "hater" of the group. She is abrasive. She is loud. She is frequently censored by a floating black bar that follows her mouth like a persistent ghost. Honestly, she might be the most relatable person in the entire franchise. While everyone else is busy playing in bands or having magical subspace adventures, Julie is just trying to work her retail shift without Scott ruining her day.
Aubrey Plaza as Julie Powers: The Casting That Changed Everything
It’s hard to imagine anyone else in this role. Seriously. Back in 2009, when Edgar Wright was casting the film, Plaza wasn't a superstar yet. She was just starting Parks and Recreation. But Wright saw something in her dry, almost aggressive deadpan.
He was right.
Plaza brought a specific kind of "college-aged burnout" energy that perfectly captured the character from Bryan Lee O'Malley’s graphic novels. In the books, Julie is Stephen Stills’ on-again, off-again girlfriend. She’s the social connector—the person who knows everyone and hosts the parties where all the drama happens.
In the movie, Plaza takes that "party hostess" energy and cranks it up to an eleven. She isn't just a side character; she’s a force of nature. When she yells at Scott for asking out Ramona, it feels personal. That’s because, according to Plaza herself, she played the character with a secret motivation: she might have actually liked Scott once, and his total oblivious nature turned that crush into pure, concentrated spite.
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That Famous Censor Bar
One of the most iconic bits in the 2010 film is the censorship. Every time Julie swears—which is often—a black bar covers her mouth and a loud "beep" drowns out the word.
It’s a perfect meta-joke.
It highlights the "PG-13" reality of the movie while emphasizing that Julie’s vocabulary is far too spicy for a general audience. Plaza actually filmed those scenes saying the real words, and her commitment to the bit is what makes it work. You can see the genuine fury in her eyes. It’s not just "movie acting." It’s "I have worked in customer service and I am about to snap" acting.
Bringing the Bite to Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Fast forward to 2023. When Netflix announced the anime Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, fans were desperate to know if the original cast would return. When the names were confirmed, seeing Aubrey Plaza as Julie Powers again felt like a victory lap.
The anime gave Plaza room to breathe.
In the show, Julie’s role is expanded in weird, delightful ways. She’s still the abrasive manager, but we see her interacting more with the "villains." Her relationship with Gideon Graves (the big bad) is a highlight. Only Aubrey Plaza could make a romance with a megalomaniac music producer feel like a mundane, slightly annoying Tuesday afternoon.
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Why the Voice Acting Matters
Voice acting is a different beast than live-action. You can't rely on a "death stare" or a shrug. But Plaza’s voice is so distinct—that low, gravelly monotone—that the character’s personality translated perfectly to animation.
- She sounds bored even when she's shouting.
- She makes "I hate you" sound like a casual greeting.
- She brings a level of cynicism that balances out the show’s high-energy action.
Honestly, the way she delivers the line "Did I [BEEP]ing stutter?" is a masterclass in comedic timing. It’s a callback to the original film, but it feels fresh because Plaza’s delivery has only gotten sharper with age.
The "Secret" 10 Secrets
Here’s a fun piece of trivia: when the movie was being made, Edgar Wright and Bryan Lee O'Malley gave each actor a list of "10 Secrets" about their character that weren't in the script. These were little character beats to help them understand who they were playing.
For Julie, those secrets involved her complex history with the group. She wasn't just mean for the sake of being mean. She was the one who had to hold the social circle together while the guys in Sex Bob-Omb were being flakes. She was the one who worked multiple jobs (at the coffee shop, at the Second Cup, etc.) while Scott lived for free off Wallace.
When you look at it that way, you kind of get why she’s so mad. Scott is a lot.
The Cultural Legacy of "Mean" Julie
In 2026, we’ve seen a lot of "mean girl" archetypes, but Julie Powers remains unique. She isn't a "Queen Bee" like Regina George. She’s a "Gatekeeper."
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She is the protector of the friend group’s sanity.
Aubrey Plaza as Julie Powers became a blueprint for a certain type of modern female character: the one who refuses to be "likable" and is actually more interesting because of it. It’s a role that paved the way for Plaza’s later, darker work in things like Ingrid Goes West or The White Lotus.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re a fan of the performance or a creator looking to build a memorable supporting character, there are a few things to take away from what Plaza did here:
- Commit to the bit. If your character is angry, make them viscerally angry. Don't play it safe.
- Subtext is king. Plaza played Julie like someone who was once hurt by the very people she now hangs out with. That adds layers to every insult.
- Voice is a tool. Even in live action, the rhythm of how you speak (the deadpan, the pauses) defines the character as much as the costume does.
Julie Powers might not be the hero of the story, but she’s the one who tells the hero to grow up. And in a world of magical exes and video game logic, that’s the most important job there is.
If you want to appreciate the full range of the character, go back and watch the 2010 film and the 2023 anime back-to-back. You’ll see how Plaza evolved the role from a hilarious "background hater" into a fully realized, albeit still very grumpy, human being.
Next time you’re watching, pay attention to the scenes where she isn't talking. Her facial expressions in the background of the parties are a whole secondary story in themselves. It’s a masterclass in being present, even when you’d clearly rather be anywhere else.