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A new role is on the way for Aubrey Plaza. She’s expecting her first child with partner Chris Abbott.
A representative for Plaza confirmed the news to People magazine.
A statement said “it was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year,” and that the two actors “feel very blessed.”
CBC News reached out to Plaza’s reps for comment but have not heard back.
The White Lotus star and Girls alumnus hadn’t previously confirmed their partnership publicly, but have a long history as co-stars.
Plaza and Abbott appeared alongside each other in the 2020 film Black Bear. They also shared the stage in 2023 in the off-Broadway revival of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.
In addition to her successful Hollywood career, Plaza is the author of several children’s books. In 2021, she published The Legend of the Christmas Witch, and followed up with a sequel, The Return of the Christmas Witch, in 2022.
During her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in October, she shared the inspiration for the stories.
“Basically, I have my friends sign up for slots on Christmas morning if they have kids … and I show up when they’re opening their presents around 7:30 in the morning.” she said.
“Then I try to steal their presents … so it adds this element of fright on Christmas morning, which kids love.”
News comes a year after husband’s death
The news of Plaza’s pregnancy comes just over a year after the death of her husband Jeff Baena. The two were together for three years but separated in September 2024.
Baena, a director and writer behind indie successes ranging from absurdist drama I Heart Huckabees to black comedy The Little Hours, died in January 2025 at age 47. His death was ruled a suicide.
Plaza first spoke about mourning Baena’s death during an appearance in August on Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang.
Early on in the interview, Poehler asked Plaza how she was doing.
“Overall I’m here and I’m functioning, and I feel really grateful to be moving through the world,” Plaza told her former Parks and Recreation co-star. “I’m OK. But, you know, it’s a daily struggle, obviously.”
She went on to describe her grief, likening it to the 2025 film The Gorge, starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor Joy. Plaza explained that the film featured a pit full of violence, monsters and darkness surrounded by two tall cliffs.
“That feels what my grief is like,” she said. “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 just try to get away from it. But it’s always there.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to get help:
This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you’re worried about.
