"I feel happy to be with you": Aubrey Plaza expecting first child with Christopher Abbott
Hollywood is buzzing after news broke that Aubrey Plaza, at 41, is pregnant with her first child—just a year after the tragic death of her husband. Fans and friends alike are watching closely as she embarks on this new chapter with actor Christopher Abbott by her side.
Sometimes, life delivers genuine surprises—and it looks like Aubrey Plaza has just received one of the brightest. Her representative confirmed to PEOPLE magazine that she and Christopher Abbott are expecting a baby together, with a due date set for autumn 2026. It’s only been a year since Plaza said her final goodbyes to Jeff Baena, her husband of several years, whose sudden passing in January 2025 left many in shock.
From heartbreak to hope: Aubrey Plaza's journey through grief
The year 2025 pulled the rug out from under Plaza’s feet. Jeff Baena, age 47, died by suicide according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, just months after she and Baena separated in September 2024. To process such a loss in the public eye is no small feat, and Plaza has spoken frankly about her emotional state, sharing her thoughts on Amy Poehler’s podcast. Opening up about her everyday experience of grief, Plaza admitted:
“Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you. Overall, I'm here, and I'm functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I'm ok, but it's like a daily struggle, obviously.”
Second chances: A new future with Christopher Abbott
Plaza’s connection with Christopher Abbott isn’t new, but their relationship has taken on new significance since her loss. The pair first crossed paths in 2019 while filming the psychological drama Black Bear. By 2023, their chemistry led them to share the stage in an acclaimed Off-Broadway production of John Patrick Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, right up until January 2024.
The romance gradually went public, marked by a Valentine’s Day appearance at the Khaite Fall/Winter 2026 presentation during New York Fashion Week. Onlookers spotted Plaza and Abbott sitting together next to Gemma Chan and Elizabeth Debicki, hinting at the seriousness of their bond. Earlier, in June 2025, the couple enjoyed a quiet getaway at the Chatham Berry Farm, far from the city hustle. All these outings fuelled speculation—now confirmed—that they were building something lasting.
Living with grief: "There's like a giant ocean of awfulness"
Plaza’s voice remains raw and real every time she talks about loss. On the same Amy Poehler podcast, her analogy cut straight to the bone:
“This is a really dumb analogy, and it was kind of a joke at a certain point, but I actually mean it. Did you see that movie The Gorge? ... In the movie, there's a cliff on one side and there's a cliff on the other side, then there's a gorge in between and it's filled with all these monster people that are trying to get them. I swear, when I watched it, I was like that feels like what my grief is like ... or what grief could be like. At all times, there's like a giant ocean of awfulness that's right there, and I can see it. Sometimes I just want to dive into it, and just like be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it's always there.”
Plaza’s vulnerability has resonated with others navigating grief—no small comfort when the world watches your every move. Now, as she prepares for the arrival of her child with Abbott, her story takes on a new dimension of hope and resilience.
Community and anticipation: Reactions to Aubrey Plaza's big news
The announcement has set social media alight, with many hailing Plaza’s courage and persistence. From glitzy red carpet snapshots to personal admissions of vulnerability, her journey is striking a chord. There’s a sense that fans are rallying behind her, eager to see light breaking through after such darkness. With the baby due this autumn, attention on Plaza and Abbott will only increase. Will this growing family offer Plaza new peace and joy? The coming months look packed with emotion—and support from admirers both near and far.
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Aubrey Plaza, 41, pregnant with first child with partner one year after husband's death
