Aubrey Plaza reveals a poignant childhood lesson that helps her overcome her struggle – months after husband Jeff Baena’s death

Comedian Aubrey Plaza has revealed the powerful lesson from her childhood that is helping her overcome hardship – as she continues to deal with the ‘giant ocean’ of grief over her husband’s death, Jeff Baena.

Plaza, 41, has kept a relatively low profile since her husband died by suicide at age 47 at their Los Angeles-area home on Jan. 3. However, she continued to fulfill her work commitments and promoted her film ‘Honey Don’t!’ and now appears on the show “Today”. to discuss her children’s book ‘Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party’.

Speaking about her season book, Plaza revealed how her main character, a “crazy witch,” was inspired by her own grandmother, who passed on some words of wisdom that the actress says still guide her to this day, especially during difficult times.

“She taught me from a very young age that life is a party, and [that] No matter what happens, we have to have fun and move forward,” she told the Today host Savannah Guthrie.

Although Plaza wasn’t asked about her husband’s death, that childhood lesson has undoubtedly been invaluable to her over the past few months, which she previously admitted has been a rollercoaster of emotions.

While they appear on a good friend Amy Poehler‘s Good Hang podcast, Plaza broke her silence on Baena’s death, admitting that her grief felt like a “giant ocean of awfulness.”

The actress explained that although she did her best to deal with each day as it came, coping with the loss of her husband was a “daily struggle.”

“Overall, I’m here and I’m functioning. I’m very grateful to be able to travel the world. I think I’m doing well, but of course it’s a daily struggle,” she admitted.

The former “Parks and Recreation” star first started dating Baena in 2011 and revealed in May 2021 that they had secretly married after calling him her “sweet husband” in an Instagram post.

Plaza and Baena – a writer and director – bought a house together in October 2022, paying $4.7 million for the Los Feliz estate.

Records show the property was purchased through a trust managed by an accounting firm located in the same office as Plaza’s production company, Evil Hag Productions.

That same property was put on the market last month for $6.5 million.

The Mediterranean-style home, with four bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, was built in 1928 and appears to have been purchased off-market, according to Realtor.com® facts.

Before being purchased by the couple in 2022, the home last changed hands in 2017 for $3.6 million.

In the new listing, the Spanish-style home is described as “tucked away on a private street” in the “coveted” Los Feliz Oaks neighborhood.

“Meticulously restored and tastefully updated, the home honors its architectural heritage while offering modern amenities including a screening room, wine cellar, swimming pool, oversized steam room and state-of-the-art sound system,” the description continues.

“This is more than a house. … It is a private retreat, brought back to life with care, style and enduring character. A rare opportunity for those seeking space, seclusion and authentic Spanish charm.”

Listing images reveal a tasteful interior, with a neutral, elegant palette used throughout the home and filled with natural light.

The light and airy kitchen features large glass doors to the rear garden, creating a seamless flow between the two spaces.

However, there are several pops of color throughout, including a large pink sofa in one of the living areas, and funky yellow-green tiles in a bathroom.

Pink seems to have been a favorite shade for Plaza, with the master bathroom painted a very pale pink color and featuring fun light fixtures in a similar color.

The home also offers many amenities beyond the main residence, including multiple outdoor areas “designed for dining, lounging and entertaining,” as well as a beautiful pool set on a lawn, with a canopy that provides natural shade for the hottest days.

In one of the living areas, an artistically curved window helps emphasize the beauty of the home’s surroundings, creating a picturesque view of the property’s gardens, serving almost as a natural work of art in the space, which also features a cozy fireplace.

Arches run throughout the home, from the arched front door to the doorways that lead from one room to another in many of the main living areas.

Plaza’s decision to put the property on the market comes just days after she embarked on a short publicity tour for her new film “Honey Don’t!” had completed. Co-stars include Margaret Qualley And Chris Evans.

As part of her media commitment to the project, the comedian attended several red carpet events, while also sitting down with Poehler to discuss the film, but not before speaking out about her husband’s death.

In an attempt to explain her grieving process, Plaza referenced the 2025 film “The Gorge,” starring Odometer And Anya Taylor Joywith a remote crevasse filled with monsters, with guard posts on either side to protect their respective territories from the horrors within.

Plaza admitted that while it may seem like an odd analogy, the format of the sci-fi thriller was a lot like her grief.

“This is a really stupid analogy, and at one point it was kind of a joke, but I really mean it. Have you seen that movie ‘The Gorge’?” Plaza asked. “It’s like [an] alien movie or something with Miles Teller.

“In the movie, there’s a cliff on one side and a cliff on the other, and then there’s a chasm in between and it’s filled with all these monstrous people trying to get them. I swear, when I looked at it, I thought, ‘That feels like what my grief is like… or what grief could be like.'”

The actress explained that no matter how she feels at any given moment, her sadness will always persist, regardless of whether she wants to fully lean into it or escape it completely.

“There’s always this giant ocean of awfulness that’s right there and I can see it,” she said.

“Sometimes I just want to dive in and just be there. Sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it for a while. But it’s always there.”