Aubrey Plaza's Husband: Jeff Baena Dated the Actress for a Decade before Secretly Marrying Her

Aubrey Plaza said she always had a mission to disrupt societal norms, and the actress did just that with her long-term relationship and now marriage to Jeff Baena. Although the couple has guarded their privacy, they've revealed some details about their dynamic.

Aubrey Plaza has appeared in several films and shows, but one of her chiefly known and beloved roles is that of April Ludgegate in the TV series "Parks and Recreation," where she co-starred alongside actors Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson, and Chris Pratt.

While Plaza's fictional romance with Andy Dwyer, played by Pratt, was screened worldwide, the actress kept her real romantic life under wraps. Still, she has broken the internet a few times, not just for her comedic and acting prowess – she came out as bisexual and casually announced her marriage to Jeff Baena.

Who Is Jeff Baena, Aubrey Plaza's Husband?

Jeff Baena drew his first breath in Miami, Florida, on June 29, 1977. The 45-year-old works as a screenwriter and director. Baena collaborated with director David O. Russell for one of his first screenplays, a dark comedy titled "I Heart Huckabees."

Some of his best-known works – all in which his wife, Aubrey Plaza, co-stars – include 2014's "Life After Beth," 2017's "The Little Hours," 2022's "Spin Me Around," and the 2021 series "Cinema Toast." Baena has an Instagram account; however, the screenwriter keeps his social page private.

Whenever he's asked about working with Plaza, Baena always gushes about how talented she is and how lucky he feels to have her in his life. During an episode of "Reel Talker" with Jim Alexander, Baena talked about his experience working with Plaza on "Spin Me Around," saying:

"She's awesome. I'd be working with her if she wasn't my wife, but luckily she's my wife. The opportunity to do something creative [together] where we're both fulfilled—how rare is that?"

When Did Aubrey Plaza Get Married to Jeff Baena?

Details of when Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena's romance began are unclear, but it's known that they started dating sometime in 2011. They've rarely been spotted together since that year, and the couple never revealed any details about their relationship over the following decade.

That was until Plaza shared a photo on Instagram with her lover while on the set of "Spin Me Around" in May 2021, affectionately referring to Baena as her "darling husband." The post sent shockwaves on social media, with many fans disappointed but excited that the actress had tied the knot.

During her appearance on an episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," dressed as "The Christmas Witch," Plaza hilariously divulged the details of her impromptu wedding. The ceremony took place during the Covid-19 lockdown when the couple became "a little bored" on the night of their 10th anniversary.

Plaza then joked that they should get married. She sought a blessing for their union from the witch that lived across the street from their home. She received it in the form of a rosemary wreath.

The actress then created a love altar with mementos of their relationship and hired an officiator from the site onehourmarriage.com. Two hours later, Plaza and Baena tied the knot.

Plaza added that she didn't remember most of that evening as the memories were "fuzzy." Still, she left out the exact date of their unconventional wedding, so it's unclear how long the couple has been married.

Plaza and Baena have spent a good part of their relationship working out a dynamic and a balance between their work and love life. While it took some effort, the actress reflected on the aspects that aided their collaborations and said:

"I think that when you're with someone that is in your field, they understand what you’re dealing with on a deeper level. So obviously you are able to support each other and really understand kind of the journey that we’re both on."

However, it can be challenging, as she explained, "Working with your partner can always be challenging. There’s a lot of things we do separately and I think that it’s all about balance."

What Did Aubrey Plaza Say about Her Sexuality?

In July 2016, Aubrey Plaza – who married Katherine Schwarzenegger's husband, Chris Pratt, in "Parks and Recreation" – told Advocate she fell in love with both guys and girls. The actress said she was aware that girls were attracted to her and couldn't help feeling the same way about them too.

According to her interview with the outlet, although she grew up in a conservative environment, her true friends were LGBTQ members she met when she did theater. Plaza revealed that a few of her family members were also gay, including her younger sister.

However, when she announced her marriage to Jeff Baena, the media put her under scrutiny for marrying a man as a bisexual woman. Fans came to her defense when people tried to invalidate her sexuality, saying that one can still be bisexual, even if one dates or marries the opposite sex or gender.