Aubrey Plaza speaks out for first time following pregnancy announcement one year after husband’s death
Aubrey Plaza has broken her silence on her pregnancy and is 'excited' to see what motherhood is all about.
The news broke last week that the American actress and comedian, 41, is expecting her first child with her partner, fellow actor Chris Abbott, 40.
An insider told PEOPLE: "It was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year. They feel very blessed."
The announcement comes a year after Plaza's estranged husband, Jeff Baena, tragically took his own life.
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The couple had quietly separated in September 2024 after three years of marriage when she moved to New York, before Baena's death in January 2025.
Plaza and Abbot initially met on the set of their movie, Black Bear, in 2020, and DeuxMoi reported that the couple has been seeing each other since last summer.
Now, the Parks and Recreation actress has confirmed her new pregnancy herself, after her rep initially broke the news.
She spoke about it on the Smartless podcast with actors Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes on 13 April.
"Well, there's a baby inside of me. No, I said there is a baby inside of me right now," the actress declared.
Plaza explained: "Today was a big day. I went to the doctor's today, and my dog also went to the doctor's. And both of us - my dog's getting a scan right now. I got a scan earlier. I'm not kidding."
"She had to get an ultrasound on her stomach. And then I got an ultrasound on my stomach, and there is a baby in there. It already has a cloak and a little hat. I think it's gonna come out."
She went on to detail how she's 'excited' to become a parent and welcome a baby with Christopher.
Adding: "I've always wanted to see what that's all about, you know? It just seems so interesting, that whole thing.
She admitted that while the duo has 'not totally thought through' where they would raise their little one, the plan is to settle somewhere on the 'East Coast for sure'.
Plaza's estranged husband, Baena, who was a screenwriter and filmmaker, died in January 2025, aged 47, four months after they split.
Talking about her grief in the months that came after, Plaza told her Parks and Recreation co-star, Amy Poehler: "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."
"At all times there's like a giant ocean of, just, awfulness, that's like right there and I can see it, and sometimes I just want to like dive into it, and just like be in it, and then sometimes I just like look at it, and then sometimes I just like try to get away from it, but it's always there."
Topics: Pregnancy, Entertainment, Celebrity, Parenting, Podcasts
Madison Burgess