Aubrey Plaza Addresses First Role Playing A 'Real-Life Person' After Husband's Death

Aubrey Plaza is rising from the ashes of her grief.

The actress is back on her grind and is very much looking forward to taking on a very challenging role in her career, months after her estranged husband's death.

Aubrey Plaza and the late Jeff Baena were married for three years before quietly separating in 2024 after a total of 13 years together, with a decade-long courtship.

The Hollywood icon is beyond ready to play the character of a controversial Hollywood figure in an upcoming film. The biopic is set around the life of a former madam in Hollywood, Heidi Fleiss, who reportedly operated a Los Angeles-based prostitution ring.

Plaza revealed that she has yearned for the role for years now and had always wanted to portray her story because she found it interesting, and also has "never played a real-life person before." The actress is convinced there is a powerful movie waiting to be made behind Fleiss' story, stating:

"The story is insane. She's done something that probably nobody else has ever done, and she's still going. I think she's the ultimate badas-icon and she deserves the royal treatment."

She is also looking forward to having a conversation with Fleiss at her home, and added that Fleiss was reportedly excited about the idea of a movie being created about her life. "Spiritually, I feel her. I've heard she's very excited about it. We're in early stages," Plaza said in her Indie Wire interview.

Plaza's success was not an overnight thing; it took a lot of rejections from failed auditions to get to that point, as explained by the star when she compared it to "playing the lottery," according to The Daily Mail.

She noted that the rejection only created a lasting hunger in her to demand more and have things she could not reach or would not have. Plaza especially loves proving those who think she is not good enough wrong.

The actress also noted that while she has starred in several films, political satires, and sitcoms, the idea of big-budget blockbusters also seems very attractive to her.

Plaza admitted that she loves the nostalgia that comes with making big movies, which are sometimes very technical to work with. The actress added that the true magic comes at the end of the production when one finally realizes how much potential their movies have to change the world.

Plaza's impressive catalog includes movies such as "Happiest Season," "Black Bear," "White Lotus," and several others.

"The Heidi Fleiss Story" will have Plaza channeling the chaotic life of Fleiss, shortly before things went left for her questionable career in Hollywood. The production will take fans through the rise and fall of the upscale sex ring empire wrapped in a dark comic tone.

In a report by The Blast, Fleiss' booming business enlisted patronage from A-list clients in Hollywood, including celebrities, actors, showrunners, and powerful businessmen.

Details about the prostitution firm were discovered in 1993, after she was arrested and indicted on multiple charges of money laundering, tax evasion, and pandering.

The unique entrepreneur who was called "Hollywood Madam" among social circles in the industry reportedly inherited the business from her former mentor and rumored lover, Elizabeth Adams.

Before her arrest, the Hollywood Madam reportedly tried using her powerful connections to escape prosecution with the help of a young writer named Jaclyn.

Plaza kept a brave face on the Cannes Film Festival in May, a few months after her estranged husband passed away in his home in January. 

Baena and the actress had reportedly separated four months before his passing amid several marital difficulties. The duo even lived in separate states, with Plaza residing in New York while Baena lived in Los Angeles.

The actress' estranged husband had also gone in for therapy months leading to his passing, although the reasons remained unspecified as shared by The Blast. She had also arranged a welfare check with the screenwriter in October 2024 after receiving troubling news from him. 

As seen in the final documents from the autopsy report, Baena and Plaza also spoke the night before he died, and she received a final text from him a few hours on the day he passed away.

The alarm about Baena's death was reportedly raised by a dog walker who entered his home to address the unusual loud music emanating from the property.

Baena made his directorial debut in Hollywood when he worked on the horror-comedy "Life After Beth," which also featured Plaza and other actors. Plaza and the director reportedly built a great professional relationship from that movie, and she continued to appear in his films.

He also directed several projects, such as "Joshy," "Horse Girl," and "The Little Hours," establishing him as a household name in the movie industry. Baena was popular for his ability to blend several genres through engaging narratives.

Baena also co-wrote four screenplays, including the 2004 "I Heart Huckabees," and worked with other profile directors such as Robert Zemeckis and David Russell.

Reflecting on their relationship in 2021, Plaza commented that their shared professional experiences helped them build a better connection and support system as a couple.

Will Aubrey Plaza's new "real-life person" role be a hit?