AUBREY Plaza’s world was tragically turned upside down last year following the very sudden and sad loss of her husband Jeff Baena.
But 15 months on, the Parks and Recreation actress, 41, has quietly found happiness and laid the foundations of a fruitful new future, as it emerged this week that she’s expecting her first child with Girls star Christopher Abbott.
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Aubrey and Chris are expecting their first child togetherCredit: GettyThe couple are said to feel “so blessed” following their baby newsCredit: Getty
“It was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year,” a source close to the couple told People following the baby news, adding that “they feel very blessed”.
The new chapter comes just over a year after her filmmaker husband Jeff Baena was found dead, aged 47, in January 2025.
Aubrey has kept herself mostly out of the spotlight in the aftermath of Jeff’s passing, with it since revealed that she’s been quietly enjoying the company of her supportive new beau Chris.
MOVIE MEETING
Like all good love stories, Aubrey and Chris’s relationship started off as friends.
They first met starring in the 2020 psychological flick Black Bear, and even then were singing each other’s praises.
Speaking at the time, Aubrey said that their dynamic felt “volatile and electric in a way that made every take unpredictable.”
While Chris praised Aubrey at the time as “fearless, you never quite know what she’s going to do.”
SPARKS OFF BROADWAY
The two became co-stars while starring together in the Off-Broadway show Danny and the Deep Blue Sea in 2023.
While the two-person play received mixed reviews, with The Guardian saying it was “challenging theatre, just not in the good way”, the pair grew close behind the scenes.
Halfway through the run, Chris injured his knee, and Aubrey is reported to have “coordinated a dance scene where she gave him a lap dance when he was on crutches.”
Aubrey and Chris met on the set of psychological thriller Black BearCredit: Alamy
Even before the injury, the actress is alleged to have “[rode] him simulating sex while he’s on the floor as one of the sets changed between acts.”
On the evening that Chris hurt himself, Aubrey reportedly “went into a different mode to take care of him and was very affectionate.”
She even skipped seeing fans to attend to her colleague post-performance, with it noted that she “avoided any stage door due to Chris being her main concern.”
Aubrey was still with Jeff during the Broadway run, with her split from her late husband happening around Septemebr 2024, months prior to his death.
Meanwhile, Chris appeared to stay single and was spotted on celebrity dating app Raya, however, never on any actual dates.
Before finding love with Aubrey, Chris dated The Girlfriend star Olivia Cooke, but the pair split just before the pandemic.
PRESS TOUR PAIRING
While not together, their chemistry was visible during the press tour for the play.
Speaking about their project at the time, Aubrey told The New York Times: “He cares but he also doesn’t care; it’s the best recipe for me for a scene partner.
“It’s fun and it’s also good and it’s also safe. I like to just throw things out the window also and laugh and mess around and not take it so seriously. It’s a hard combo to come by.”
Chris agreed, adding: “We’re both unafraid to be ugly and weird and strange.
“We’re doing this play every night for an audience, but I think you also have to do it for each other,” he said.
“We want to entertain the audience, but I personally want to entertain Aubrey.”
“I guess I like to entertain him as well,” Aubrey added.
SECRET DATES
Last July, the couple were spotted at The Chatham Berry Farm, which is located a couple of hours outside of New York City, in what appeared to be a less-than-platonic encounter.
A source at the farm reported to Duexmoi that Aubrey was “was rubbing his back, and they were sitting very close to each other at a picnic table.”
From the insider’s POV, the outing appeared “more than friends.”
The insider added that Aubrey appeared to know Chris’ sister who was also invited on the outing.
Chris’ sister is singer Christina Abbott who posted about the day in June 2025.
The group were said to have had “several rounds of drinks from the cidery and ate dinner.”
Just one month later, Aubrey opened up about her grief during an interview with former Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler.
She said: “Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning.
“I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I’m okay, but it’s like a daily struggle, obviously.”
Last year, Aubrey received the tragic news that her estranged husband Jeff Baena had been found dead at the home they once shared.
The U.S. Sun previously reported that emergency services were dispatched to the address in Los Feliz.
His body was found at 10.25am by an assistant at the property, which the couple bought together in 2022.
The filmmaker was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigator noted in documents that Aubrey, whose name was blacked out in the final report, said she had spoken to Jeff the night before he died.
In March 2025, it emerged Aubrey had quietly split from Jeff four months before his death, with the pair separating in September 2024.
An LA County Medical Examiner’s autopsy report obtained by DailyMail.com stated they had parted that month and that she was living in New York when his body was found.
Jeff’s family were left “devastated” and asked for privacy at the time.
The couple tied the knot over four years earlier after dating for a decade.
They kept both the engagement and marriage secret until Aubrey described him as her “darling husband” in a touching Instagram post following the tragedy.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123, or visit www.samaritans.org.
Aubrey’s estranged husband Jeff Baena died age 47Credit: Getty
“The Cowleys were different as after years of bargain basement managers we actually went out and did the research and found them,” said Whiley.
“The excitement was there and I remember the event where they first met the fans they were cheered into the room.
“We can look at this season and see promotion to the Championship as the best thing the club has done, but those three seasons, two promotions, FA Cup quarter-final, winning a trophy at Wembley. That changed it all.
“They brought a buzz back that we hadn’t seen since Keith, and they were like Keith in that they would find players on the way up, scour non-league and find the future stars.
“The fact is, that even after the Cowleys left to join Huddersfield, the energy stayed.
“It sticks with me that Danny said to me he didn’t want to see kids in Lincoln wearing the shirts of Premier League clubs, he wanted to see them kicking a ball in the park wearing a Lincoln City shirt.
“The success, the work that was done means that is a reality. I see it all the time when I go round the city, people wear their colours with pride.”
While Mark, Leigh and myself have covered parts of Lincoln’s recent history, one man who has been the stalwart has been BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Michael Hortin.
His first game was in 1999, and he was there in the commentary box as Lincoln gained promotion to the Championship.
“This promotion is the culmination of a long-term plan,” said Hortin. “This is about a chairman and board who have been thoughtful with their investment.
“Lincoln’s FA Cup run earned them a lot of money and they did not spend it on players, they spent it on a whole new training set-up.
“The Cowleys were the start of a transition from the old way of doing things, to a set-up that is very much part of the modern game.
“Under them a sporting director was brought in to support recruitment and player development and now we really do have a true ‘head coach’ in Michael Skubala.
“It is about finding those raw players, developing them, selling them, and it is paying off as it has allowed them to secure players on better deals.”
Lincoln have, as Hortin describes, recruited ‘experience’ to the squad. Their head coach, though, is a man who had limited time in the professional game, but Hortin said Skubala’s ability to learn and adapt has been impressive.
“I remember the first game Skubala took was against Stevenage, and it was a bit of a shock, but he was quite cool and his reaction was more ‘huh, this is what it is about’, and he learned,” said Hortin.
“The way the team has adapted and what Skubala has done is create a team that is hard to beat.”
A team that is hard to beat. A club that has been learning, developing, recruiting, all building up to where Lincoln are now. But what next?
Hortin is confident that the club will remain realistic. “The first goal will be survival, but the thing is they had a plan to become an established League One club, and now they will be working on another plan for what comes next.
“The one thing is that new owner Ron Fowler will likely go about it the same as Clive Nates. It will be done in a quiet, steady, thoughtful way. That has become the Lincoln way.”
Planning your summer holiday but want to avoid crowded tourist hotspots? These three stunning European destinations offer beautiful beaches and coastal charm without the crowds.
La Gomera has some gorgeous beaches(Image: Getty)
Spring has finally sprung, meaning summer is just round the corner. Britain is fortunate to have countless stunning countries within easy reach, and if you’re pondering where to head this year, you’re in for a treat.
One of the most frustrating aspects of arranging a holiday is deciding on a destination – and with hordes of tourists flocking to all the popular spots, finding somewhere peaceful and relaxing can prove even more challenging.
If you’re after coastal beauty without thousands of holidaymakers crowding the beaches with towels and parasols, these are the three European locations you need to consider, reports the Express.
In contrast to Tenerife or Lanzarote, this stunning island remains relatively undiscovered and experiences fewer crowds during peak season than the British favourites.
Laura Evans-Fisk from eurochange commented: “It’s the perfect tranquil, peaceful alternative to the more popular islands. You could stay here for a restful few days or make a day trip from Tenerife by hopping on the ferry.
“La Gomera is also a great spot for hikers and nature lovers, home to the lush UNESCO-listed Garajonay National Park.
“Its beaches are much more secluded than the ones you’ll find on the other islands, and you’ll encounter no large-scale resorts or nightlife.”
“Like other islands in the region, La Gomera benefits from pleasant temperatures throughout the year too. And, its low light pollution means it’s an excellent spot for stargazing.”
Renowned for its breathtaking turquoise waters and pristine sand beaches, this stretch of Albania is known as the “Albanian Riviera”. It’s becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers, yet sections of it remain largely undiscovered.
Laura explained: “Ksamil, an area often coined the ‘Maldives of Europe’, is one of the most beautiful and popular beaches, with white sands and strikingly clear waters.
“For a more relaxed vibe, visit Porto Palermo – this stunning bay has a small peninsula connecting it to the mainland, and an impressive 19th-century castle, Ali Pasha.”
The Algarve is frequently packed with tourists, but further north in Alentejo there’s a far more laid-back atmosphere. With its picturesque coastal landscapes and gorgeous beaches it provides the ideal summer getaway.
Laura commented: “Further North than the Algarve, this coastline surrounds the city of Lisbon, making charming towns like Cascais, Estoril and Azenhas do Mar perfect day excursions from the capital.”
