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Aubrey Plaza has spoken publicly for the first time about the loss of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, describing the grief as a constant and painful presence in her life.
The Parks and Recreation star opened up during an emotional conversation on Amy Poehler's new podcast Good Hang, released Tuesday. Plaza, 41, told her longtime friend and former co-star that while she feels grateful to be "moving through the world," each day remains a challenge.
"In this moment, I'm happy to be here with you," Plaza said. "I'm here, I'm functioning, but it's a daily struggle."
Baena, 47, died by suicide in January, seven months before the interview was recorded. Plaza compared her mourning process to the upcoming thriller The Gorge, explaining that grief feels like "a vast ocean of awfulness" always within reach. "Sometimes I want to dive into it, sometimes I look at it, sometimes I run from it," she reflected.
When Poehler asked how she finds moments of joy, Plaza credited her close circle of friends. "We have a group text, we do trips, and those girls make me laugh really, really hard," she said. "They've known me forever. My funny friends keep me afloat."
Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011 and quietly married during the pandemic in 2020, celebrating their 10th anniversary in tie-dye pajamas. Despite their separation in late 2024, the pair remained connected through both their personal history and professional collaborations, including Life After Beth and Spin Me Round.
Following Baena's passing, Plaza and his family issued a joint statement calling the loss "an unimaginable tragedy" and requesting privacy. She later honored him by wearing a tie-dye shirt at the SNL 50 anniversary special.
On Poehler's podcast, the Emmy nominee admitted that grief may never fully fade but said she is learning to live alongside it. "It's always there," Plaza said, "but I'm grateful for the love and laughter that keeps me here."
