Plaza and Abbott previously co-starred in the 2020 psychological drama “Black Bear.”

Aubrey Plaza expecting first child with *Girls *star Christopher Abbott

Plaza and Abbott previously co-starred in the 2020 psychological drama "Black Bear."

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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April 7, 2026 9:28 p.m. ET

Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott in New York in 2023. Credit:

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Aubrey Plaza is going to become a mom!

The *Parks and Recreation** *star is expecting her first child with the actor Christopher Abbott, with whom she starred in the 2020 psychological drama *Black Bear.*

"It was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year," a source told PEOPLE on Tuesday. "They feel very blessed."

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* *has reached out to representatives for Plaza and Abbott for comment.

The pair played creative collaborators who develop a dangerous mutual attraction in the twisty *Black Bear*, which Plaza co-produced to acclaim when it premiered at Sundance. They also co-starred in the off-Broadway revival of John Patrick Shanley's raucous romantic drama** ***Danny and the Deep Blue Sea*, which ran from from Oct. 2023 to Jan. 2024.

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Christopher Abbott and Aubrey Plaza at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

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Plaza is coming off a heavy year following the death of her husband, the independent filmmaker Jeff Baena, in Jan 2025. Baena and Plaza met in 2011, began dating, and were married a full decade later. She starred in most of the films he wrote and directed, including *Life After Beth*, *The Little Hours*, *Joshy*, and *Spin Me Round*.

Though the two separated before his death, Plaza told her *Parks and Rec *costar Amy Poehler in August that life had become "a daily struggle," though she was "grateful to be moving through the world."

Abbott was previously romantically linked to Olivia Cooke, his costar in the 2016 drama *Katie Says Goodbye*. Cooke confirmed their breakup in an interview with *The Guardian** *from the same year.

Plaza most recently starred in Ethan Coen's black comedy *Honey Don't!* and will appear alongside Dan Levy in the upcoming *Animal Friends*. Abbott, meanwhile, most recently appeared in *The Testament of Ann Lee*, and will soon star in Zoe Kazan's series adaptation of *East of Eden*.

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