Aubrey Plaza on ‘daily struggle’ with grief after husband’s death
Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena (David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena (David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Aubrey Plaza has opened up about dealing with the grief of losing her husband, describing it as a “daily struggle.”
An assistant found Jeff Baena’s body at his home near the Hollywood Hills in January. The 47-year-old’s death was ruled as a suicide days later. A statement on behalf of Plaza, 41, and Baena’s family at the time called it “an unimaginable tragedy.”
Baena and Plaza began dating in 2011 and married in 2021. They worked together on several films, including Life After Beth, Joshy and Spin Me Round.
Appearing on the latest episode of the Good Hang podcast, hosted by her Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler, the Agatha All Along star discussed how she was doing.
Plaza said she was happy to be with her longtime friend, before reflecting on her state of mind. “I feel overall I’m here and I’m functioning and I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I’m OK. It’s a daily struggle, obviously,” Plaza said.
The White Lotus star star then provided an analogy she had found to explain what her grief felt like using the 2025 film, The Gorge starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. The film centres on two characters guarding either side of a large chasm filled with monsters.
Plaza explained: “At all times there’s a giant ocean of awfulness that’s right there and I can see it. And sometimes I just want to dive into it and be in it, and sometimes I just look at it. And sometimes I try and get away from it, but it’s always there.”
From there Plaza navigates back into her trademark sense of humour and dry wit, with Poehler also picking the conversation up and leading onto other topics.
Plaza was there to promote her latest film, Honey Don’t!. The White Lotus actress stars as a very ominous “mystery woman” alongside The Substance’s Margaret Qualley as the protagonist Honey, a lesbian detective investigating a suspicious church and potential cult.
Suicide is preventable. Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
