Aubrey Plaza is speaking candidly about her life after the tragic death of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, who died by suicide in January at the age of 47.
The White Lotus star appeared on her friend and former Parks and Recreation costar Amy Poehler’s podcast, “Good Hang,” where she shared how she’s coping with her loss.
When Poehler asked how she was feeling, Plaza responded:
“In this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you. I’m here and I’m functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I’m okay, but it’s like a daily struggle, obviously.”
Aubrey Plaza on Her Grief Journey
Plaza described grief as something ever-present, comparing it to a scene from the film The Gorge, starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy.
“In the movie, there’s a cliff on one side and a cliff on the other, and a gorge in between filled with monsters. When I watched it, I thought—that’s what grief feels like,” she explained.
She went on to describe her emotions as “a giant ocean of awfulness” that’s always there.
“Sometimes I want to dive into it and just be in it. Sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But it’s always there.”
Plaza and Baena’s Life Together
Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena began dating in 2011 and tied the knot in 2021, a fact she revealed on social media. Baena was a respected writer and director in Hollywood, best known for co-writing the 2004 film I Heart Huckabees.
The couple also collaborated on several projects, including the 2014 horror-comedy Life After Beth, the 2021 comedy series Cinema Toast, and the 2022 film Spin Me Round.
Moving Forward With Strength
While the loss remains raw, Plaza says she is finding ways to keep moving forward. Her honesty about grief and healing sheds light on the difficult journey many face after losing a loved one.
