Aubrey Plaza Breaks Silence On Husband Tragedy
Hollywood star Aubrey Plaza has finally opened up about the heartbreaking death of her husband, director Jeff Baena, who sadly died in January aged 47. Baena, renowned for his black comedies and offbeat cinema, died by suicide in his Los Angeles home, leaving Plaza and the film industry in a deep state of sorrow.
Aubrey Plaza Speaks About Grief on Amy Poehler’s Podcast
In a tearful conversation with longtime pal Amy Poehler on the podcast Good Hang, Plaza disclosed that this year has been the most difficult of her life.
“In this moment, I’m thankful to be sitting here with you,” Plaza told Poehler. “As a whole, I’m working, I’m still moving around in the world, and I’m grateful for that. But it’s a struggle that occurs each day.”
Plaza used a metaphor from the science fiction film The Gorge, starring Miles Teller, to describe her grief.
“It’s sort of like a gorge with monsters inside,” she said. “Sometimes I want to jump into it, sometimes I just gaze at it, and sometimes I try to run away from it. But it’s always there, and it never leaves.”
A Love Story Cut Short
Plaza and Baena first collaborated in 2011 and soon formed a close professional and personal friendship. Baena hired Plaza in several productions, including Life After Beth (2014) and The Little Hours (2017).
Ten years of life together culminated in the couple’s marriage in 2021. The couple’s relationship, kept out of sight, made Baena’s death a surprise revelation. It was termed “an unimaginable tragedy,” a joint statement made at the time.
Jeff Baena’s Creative Legacy
Jeff Baena was famous for his quirky storytelling and darkly comedic attitude. In addition to directing, he was also an accomplished screenwriter.
He also co-wrote the indie cult hit I Heart Huckabees (2004) for director David O. Russell. His latest feature, Spin Me Round (2022), starred Aubrey Plaza and Alison Brie and solidified his place as a director with a voice of his own.
Film critic Ryan Gilbey, in The Guardian, praised Baena’s “pleasantly skewed” work, citing the originality he brought to independent films.
Plaza’s Career Moving Forward
While going through a period of heavy grief, Aubrey Plaza remains busy as an actress. She first came to fame with the deadpan April Ludgate on NBC’s popular sitcom Parks and Recreation, before stretching out into more subtle parts.
Plaza gained critical acclaim for some of her works, such as Ingrid Goes West (2017) and Emily the Criminal (2022). She also appeared in HBO’s award-winning series The White Lotus, which made her a household name.
The future also has more work for Plaza as she will be appearing in Ethan Coen’s new comedy Honey Don’t, which is included in her list of current work.
A Larger Conversation on Mental Health
The death of Jeff Baena works to drive home again the importance of mental health studies in Hollywood and beyond. Suicide has claimed so many talented artists, and the reminder that beneath glory and success is depression and mental illness as human vulnerabilities remains poignant.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation, help yourself and help them get help right away. In the US, call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For international hotlines, visit findahelpline.com, which provides resources by country.
Final Thoughts
Aubrey Plaza’s vulnerability in her loss reveals the ever-present struggle of surviving grief. Her story is not simply one of grieving for the loss of her husband, but one of strength, survival, and the courage to continue moving forward even after unbearable suffering.
Jeff Baena’s legacy will endure through his films, and Plaza’s courage continues to inspire others struggling with grief in their own lives.
