Aubrey Plaza, the beloved actress best known for her deadpan wit on Parks and Recreation, has officially confirmed she is expecting her first child. The announcement sent shockwaves through Hollywood and left fans buzzing with one pressing question — Aubrey Plaza pregnant, who is the father? Here is everything you need to know, from the official confirmation to the story behind her relationship with the baby’s father, actor Christopher Abbott.
Aubrey Plaza Pregnancy Announcement: What We Know
When Was the Pregnancy Confirmed?
According to reports, Plaza’s representative officially confirmed the pregnancy to People magazine on April 7, 2026. The news arrived roughly 15 months after the tragic death of her late husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, and marked a major turning point in the actress’s personal life. A source close to the couple described the news as “a beautiful surprise after an emotional year,” adding that both Plaza and the baby’s father “feel very blessed.”
Plaza, who is 41 years old, is expecting her first child, with the baby due in the fall of 2026.
Aubrey Plaza Debuts Her Baby Bump
Just one day after the official announcement, on April 8, 2026, Plaza was photographed walking her dog in New York City, publicly debuting her baby bump for the first time. Reports later revealed that she had previously concealed her growing bump at high-profile events — including New York Fashion Week in February 2026 and Paris Fashion Week in March 2026, where she was spotted wearing a loose-fitting oversized black leather coat.
Who Is the Father of Aubrey Plaza’s Baby?
Christopher Abbott Is the Father
The father of Aubrey Plaza’s baby is Christopher Abbott, a critically acclaimed American actor best known for his role as Charlie Dattolo on HBO’s Girls. Plaza’s representative confirmed Abbott’s paternity alongside the pregnancy announcement on April 7, 2026.
Born on February 10, 1986, in Greenwich, Connecticut, Abbott is 40 years old as of 2026. He is widely recognized in both independent cinema and prestige television for his deeply character-driven performances. Abbott and Plaza are confirmed to have been in a relationship since 2025.
Who Is Christopher Abbott? A Closer Look at Aubrey Plaza’s Partner
Early Life and Career
Christopher Jacob Abbott grew up in the working-class Chickahominy neighborhood of Greenwich, Connecticut. He developed an early interest in acting, taking classes at Norwalk Community College before moving to New York City to train at the renowned HB Studio (Herbert Berghof Studio). His feature film debut came in the 2011 psychological drama Martha Marcy May Marlene, and he simultaneously made his Broadway debut in the revival of The House of Blue Leaves.
Breakthrough and Notable Roles
Abbott rose to widespread recognition through his portrayal of Charlie Dattolo on HBO’s Girls. His career has since been defined by a selective, integrity-driven approach to roles — consistently choosing projects that emphasize psychological depth over mainstream commercial appeal. Key credits include:
- Catch-22 (Hulu, 2019) — his portrayal of Captain John Yossarian earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Miniseries
- Black Bear (2020) — a psychological thriller in which he co-starred opposite Aubrey Plaza
- Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos) — an Oscar-nominated feature
- Wolf Man (2025) — alongside Julia Garner
- Death of a Salesman (Broadway, 2026) — Abbott portrays Biff Loman in the revival, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play
- East of Eden (Netflix, upcoming) — an eagerly anticipated limited series in which he stars alongside Florence Pugh
As per his Broadway World profile, Abbott also recently appeared in The Testament of Ann Lee, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, sold to Searchlight, and co-stars Amanda Seyfried.
How Did Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott Meet?
A Bond Born on Screen
Plaza and Abbott’s connection began professionally. The two first worked together in 2019/2020 when they co-starred in the indie psychological thriller Black Bear (2020), in which they played a married couple. Their on-screen chemistry was immediately evident to audiences and critics alike.
Their professional relationship deepened further in 2023–2024, when both starred in the off-Broadway revival of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea at the Lucille Lortel Theatre — marking Plaza’s stage debut. The show opened in November 2023, and the pair received glowing notices for their performances together.
In a 2023 interview with The New York Times, Plaza opened up about what made Abbott such a special creative partner: “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.”
Abbott, for his part, told Vogue in 2023: “We’re both unafraid to be ugly and weird and strange.”
Their friendship reportedly evolved into a romantic relationship in mid-2025, and the couple began to be spotted together at public events by early 2026, including the Khaite Fall/Winter 2026 fashion show at New York Fashion Week in February 2026.
Aubrey Plaza’s Life Before the Pregnancy: Jeff Baena’s Death
The Tragic Loss of Her Husband
To fully understand the context of Aubrey Plaza’s pregnancy news, it is important to acknowledge the heartbreaking year she endured prior to it. Plaza’s late husband, filmmaker and screenwriter Jeff Baena, died by suicide in January 2025 at the age of 47. His death was confirmed by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office.
Plaza and Baena had a deeply intertwined relationship — they began dating in 2011 after meeting at a game night, and secretly married in 2021. However, it was later revealed that the couple had quietly separated in September 2024, approximately four months before Baena’s passing.
In August 2025, Plaza broke her silence on Baena’s death during an appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang, saying: “Right in this very present moment, I feel happy to be with you. Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning.” She noted that grief was “always there,” but expressed gratitude for being able to move through the world.
Aubrey Plaza Speaks Out About Her Pregnancy
Her Words on the SmartLess Podcast
On April 13, 2026 — just days after the official confirmation — Plaza appeared on the SmartLess podcast with hosts Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes, where she spoke candidly about the pregnancy for the first time. The episode was released on April 20, 2026.
“Well, there’s a baby inside of me,” she told the hosts with characteristic humor. “Today was a big day. I went to the doctor’s today.” She also revealed that her dog had gotten a simultaneous ultrasound: “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.”
On the topic of motherhood, she added with characteristic candor: “I’ve always wanted to see what that’s all about. It just seems so interesting, that whole thing.”
Christopher Abbott’s Reaction
Abbott, who was nominated for a Tony Award the same year for his role in Death of a Salesman, addressed the pregnancy news in public for the first time shortly after the announcement, calling it “very exciting.” The couple made their first official joint public appearance on April 9, 2026, at an after-party for the Broadway opening of Death of a Salesman.
A Timeline: Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott’s Relationship
| Year | Key Event |
|---|---|
| 2019/2020 | Co-star in the film Black Bear |
| 2023–2024 | Reunite for off-Broadway revival of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea |
| Mid-2025 | Relationship rumored to have turned romantic |
| February 2026 | Spotted together at New York Fashion Week (Khaite show) |
| March 2026 | Plaza conceals baby bump at Paris Fashion Week |
| April 7, 2026 | Pregnancy officially confirmed to People magazine |
| April 8, 2026 | Plaza publicly debuts baby bump in NYC |
| April 9, 2026 | Couple makes first official public appearance together |
| April 13/20, 2026 | Plaza speaks about pregnancy on SmartLess podcast |
| Fall 2026 | Baby due |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Aubrey Plaza really pregnant? Yes. As per her representative’s confirmation to People magazine on April 7, 2026, Aubrey Plaza is pregnant and expecting her first child in fall 2026.
Who is the father of Aubrey Plaza’s baby? The father of Aubrey Plaza’s baby is actor Christopher Abbott, her partner and longtime collaborator. He is best known for his role as Charlie Dattolo on HBO’s Girls and for acclaimed films such as Black Bear, Poor Things, and Catch-22.
How old is Aubrey Plaza? Aubrey Plaza is 41 years old as of 2026.
How old is Christopher Abbott? Christopher Abbott is 40 years old, born on February 10, 1986.
When is Aubrey Plaza’s baby due? According to sources close to the couple, Plaza’s baby is due in the fall of 2026.
Did Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott date before the pregnancy announcement? The couple kept their romance private, but according to reports, their relationship is believed to have become romantic in mid-2025. They had not publicly confirmed their romance before the pregnancy news broke in April 2026.
Who was Aubrey Plaza previously married to? Plaza was previously married to filmmaker and screenwriter Jeff Baena. The two began dating in 2011, married in 2021, and quietly separated in September 2024. Baena passed away in January 2025.
Is this Aubrey Plaza’s first child? Yes, this will be Aubrey Plaza’s first child.
Drop a comment below — are you excited for Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott’s new chapter? Stay tuned for all the latest updates as their baby’s arrival approaches this fall!