Aubrey Plaza has spoken publicly for the first time about her grief following the death of her husband, director Jeff Baena, describing it as a “daily struggle” that she compares to the plot of a science-fiction horror film.
The 41-year-old actress, best known for her role in The White Lotus, appeared on the Good Hang podcast hosted by her former Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler. She likened her experience of grief to the 2025 film The Gorge, in which characters guard a deep chasm filled with unknown horrors. “There’s like a giant ocean of awfulness that’s right there,” she said, adding that sometimes she wants to “dive into it” and other times “get away from it”.
Plaza and Baena had been in a relationship since 2011 and were married in 2021. He died in January 2025 at the age of 47; his death was later ruled a suicide. The couple collaborated on several films, including Life After Beth and The Little Hours.
In her podcast appearance, Plaza said she felt “happy” in the moment but acknowledged that the pain is always present. “I’m OK but, you know, it’s like a daily struggle, obviously,” she remarked. Following Baena’s death, Plaza issued a statement calling it an “unimaginable tragedy” and requesting privacy.
