Plaza attended the New York premiere of Abbott’s Netflix adaptation in a sheer black dress and blazer, marking her first red carpet since July.
Aubrey Plaza attended the New York premiere of East of Eden on September 30, two months after giving birth to her first child with Christopher Abbott. The 42-year-old wore a sheer black dress paired with a blazer but did not pose with Abbott, 40, who celebrated alongside costars Florence Pugh, Mike Faist, and Joseph Zada.
The appearance marks Plaza’s first red carpet since July, when her representative confirmed she had given birth. She announced her pregnancy in April during an appearance on the SmartLess podcast.
Public pregnancy reveal
“Well, there’s a baby inside of me,” Plaza said on SmartLess when asked about news in her personal life. She described herself as “excited” about motherhood. “I’ve always wanted to see what that’s all about, you know? It just seems so interesting, that whole thing.”
Abbott confirmed the news during a May appearance on Today. “That’s very nice. Thank you very much,” he told Jenna Bush Hager. “It’s very exciting.”
How the relationship began
The couple met while working on the 2020 film Black Bear and reunited for the 2023 Off-Broadway revival of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. They reconnected romantically in 2025, less than one year after Plaza’s estranged husband, Jeff Baena, died by suicide at age 47.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy,” Plaza’s representative said in a January 2025 statement. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”
Grief in public
Plaza spoke about the loss in August 2025 on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast. “Overall, I’m here, and I’m functioning, and I feel grateful to be moving through the world,” she said. “I think, like, I’m OK, but it’s a daily struggle, obviously.”
She described the emotional weight as constant. “At all times, there’s, like, a giant ocean of awfulness that’s, like, right there, and I can see it, and sometimes I just wanna dive into it and be in it. And then, sometimes, I just look at it, and sometimes I just try to get away from it.”
The September premiere signals a return to public life for Plaza, whose last red carpet was before the birth. Abbott’s East of Eden adaptation has drawn attention for its ensemble cast and the weight of adapting John Steinbeck’s novel for television. Plaza’s attendance underscores the couple’s support for each other’s work, even as they navigate new parenthood out of the spotlight.
