Aubrey Plaza’s Emotional Red Carpet Appearance with Co-Star at Cannes after Husband’s Passing

Aubrey Plaza made a poignant return to the public eye at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on Friday. This marked her first red carpet appearance following the passing of her husband, Jeff Baena.

The actress, 40, looked glamorous in a sheer nude beaded gown as she attended the French premiere of her new movie Honey Don’t!.

Accompanied by her co-stars Margaret Qualley, Charlie Day, Talia Ryder, and Lera Abova, Aubrey was also joined by director and co-writer Ethan Coen and co-writer Tricia Cooke.

Margaret, 30, was notably seen rushing to Aubrey’s side, ‘comforting’ the actress as photos were taken in a touching video shared from the event. 

This event held particular significance as it was Aubrey’s first public appearance since the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Jeff, at the age of 47. News reports later revealed that the couple had separated several months before his tragic passing.

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In the dark comedy Honey Don’t, Qualley stars as Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator who finds herself entangled in a web of strange deaths. 

Plaza stars as a police officer working with O’Donahue.

The film is set to hit theaters on August 22.

This is the first time fans will see Aubrey back to work on the big screen, months after her husband’s shock suicide. 

At Friday’s premiere Aubrey looked the epitome of glamour in a see-through floor-length gown that featured a white strapless bodysuit underneath.

The dress shimmered with a number of beaded embellishments.

She accessorized with statement earrings and gold peep-toe heels. 

The star’s brunette tresses were styled in loose curls. 

At one point Aubrey sparked curiosity with a surprise gesture while looking at something, though it’s unclear what caused the unexpected reaction. 

Meanwhile Margaret wowed in an off-the shoulder cream gown with a black bow in the middle.

In March it was revealed that Aubrey had secretly split from Baena just four months before his shock suicide at 47. 

An LA County Medical Examiner’s autopsy report obtained by DailyMail.com revealed that the filmmaker and actress had separated back in September of last year, and she had been living in New York at the time his body was discovered on January 3. 

The report detailed how the Life After Beth director had been ‘experiencing marital difficulties’ in his final months, and how he had been in therapy.

An investigator noted in the documents that Plaza, whose name was redacted in the final report, said she had spoken with Baena the night before his death.

The report also tragically revealed that Plaza had been concerned for her estranged husband’s wellbeing.

‘In October 2024, Baena made concerning remarks to [Plaza] which prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband.’

‘Baena had been attending therapy since that event,’ the documents stated.

The medical examiner’s report also determined that Baena did not have drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death.

It stated that Plaza ‘knew her husband to be alive’ as of January 3 because he had sent her a text message that morning.

The report indicated that a dog walker discovered Baena’s body after hearing loud music emanating from his house, which she said was ‘unusual.’

After she called the writer and director and didn’t get an answer, she entered the home and discovered his body.

In a statement obtained by DailyMail.com, a representative for the Plaza said: ‘This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.’

Baena, who graduated with a film degree from New York University, got a strong start and on-the-ground education with major filmmakers when he worked as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis and as an assistant editor for David O. Russell.

His big break came when he co-wrote Russell’s cult classic existential comedy I Heart Huckabees (2004).

A decade later, he graduated to directing with his debut, the 2014 romantic horror–comedy Life After Beth, which Plaza starred in.

They reunited for 2016’s Joshy and 2017’s The Little Hours, which Plaza also produced.

Baena also regularly collaborated with the actress Alison Brie, who appeared in The Little Hours and starred in and co-wrote his final two films, the psychological drama Horse Girl (2020) and the dark comedy thriller Spin Me Round (2022).

Plaza and Baena began dating in 2011, and in 20187 she told Page Six that the fact that they were mutually ‘obsessed’ with movies helped the two bond and led to their subsequent creative and romantic partnerships.

She confirmed in 2021 that they had quietly tied the knot a year earlier while promoting Spin Me Round, which she had a supporting role in, when she referred to Baena on Instagram as her ‘darling husband.’

Plaza has been making tentative steps to get back into the world after Baena’s devastating death.

The actress made her first public appearance since Baena’s death last month when she introduced musical guests Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard on Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special.

She made a subtle but moving tribute to her late husband by wearing a tie-dye shirt, a reference to one of his passions and their nuptials.