Aubrey Plaza Scores First Gig Months After Husband's Tragic Death

Aubrey Plaza is making a bold return to the big screen by portraying one of Hollywood's most infamous figures, Heidi Fleiss.

The daring role marks the actress's first gig since her estranged husband, Jeff Baena, tragically ended his life in January. The former couple quietly separated in September 2024 but had stayed in touch until the director's passing.

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena were together for a total of thirteen years. They dated for ten years, while their marriage lasted three years from 2021 to 2024. They did not welcome any children during their union.

According to new reports, Plaza has been chosen to star as the infamous "Hollywood Madam" in a new movie. She is set to portray Fleiss, who gained notoriety for running a massive high-end prostitution ring in Los Angeles.

The role, Plaza's first project since her estranged husband's death, marks Leah Rachel's directorial debut. The director, alongside Rachel Sennott and Travis Jackson, co-wrote the script, while Jessamine Burgum and Kara Durrett's production company, Pinky Promise, will produce it.

Plaza, per Variety, is also credited as the movie's producer through her company Evil Hag. Djinous Rowling is reportedly casting key roles as production is slated to start in Los Angeles within the coming months. The actress last appeared in "Megalopolis," "My Old Ass," and Marvel's "Agatha All Along."

According to The Daily Mail, Plaza's new project, "The Heidi Fleiss Story," is a biopic that follows the tumultuous final days before Fleiss fell from grace in 1993. The notorious Madam reportedly attempted to use her powerful connections to avoid prosecution with the help of a poor, young writer named Jaclyn.

The movie will feature a dark comic tone to capture Fleiss's rise and downfall as the leader of an upscale prostitution ring. The disgraced madam's illegal business reportedly had numerous A-list clients, from celebrities to Hollywood showrunners and influential businessmen.

Fleiss, nicknamed the "Hollywood Madam," was believed to have inherited the operation from Elizabeth Adams. The latter was her former lover and mentor, also known as "Madam Alex."

The prostitution ring became known in June 1993 when Fleiss was arrested and eventually indicted on several charges, including pandering, tax evasion, and money laundering.

Days after Plaza's estranged husband took his life on January 3, 2025, she was scheduled to present at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards. However, she skipped the event due to her grief, with The Blast reporting that she broke her silence about Baena's death in a statement.

"This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time," Plaza's rep shared. Director Brady Corbet also drew attention to her pain at the Golden Globes while accepting the award for Best Director.

Corbet concluded his speech with a shout-out to the actress, saying: "My heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff's family." Plaza and Baena had a great relationship as lovers and collaborators, with the actress starring in multiple of his projects like "The Little Hours," "Life After Beth," and "Spin Me Round."

Baena's cause of death, per the LA County Medical Examiner's Office, was suicide by hanging. His body was discovered at the Los Feliz property he purchased with Plaza in 2022. A month after the tragic incident, his estranged wife returned to the spotlight.

The Blast covered the story, sharing that Plaza made a surprise appearance on the "Saturday Night Live" 50th anniversary special. She introduced Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard for their performance at the event, with a clip of the moment going viral on X.

Many celebrated Plaza's comeback after the devastating loss of her former partner, labeling her "brave" for returning to the spotlight. The TV personality re-emerged weeks after notable figures in the industry, like director Chad Hartigan, mourned her estranged husband's passing.

Two months after Baena's passing, his final text message to Plaza was revealed in the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report. The documents obtained by E! News noted the director had messaged his estranged wife three hours before he was found dead.

Police also shared that the former couple had spoken over the phone the night before Baena's death. Plaza, per the report, told officers that her estranged husband first sparked concerns about his well-being a month after they quietly separated in September 2024.

She noted his comments pushed her to ask a friend to perform a welfare check on him, which led to Baena attending therapy.

Unfortunately, it appeared that he could not overcome his troubles and ended his life months later. Plaza and Baena started dating in 2011 and tied the knot on their tenth anniversary in 2021.

Here's to hoping Aubrey Plaza has better days ahead!