Aubrey Plaza returns to the spotlight with a bold new project: The Heidi Fleiss Story, a biopic centered on the infamous “Hollywood ladies” of the 1990s.
The White Lotus star not only directs the film as Fleiss, but also produces it – marking her first major role since the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Jeff Baen, who died by suicide on January 3.
The film delves into the chaotic final days before Fleiss’s 1993 downfall, when her high-powered prostitution ring, said to have serviced some of LA’s biggest names, was exposed.
As the authorities closed in, Heidi made one last attempt to spin her web of influence, drawing on secrets and connections to avoid jail time, using a hungry young writer named Jaclyn.
The twisted tale is designed with a darkly comedic edge and will mark the debut of Leah Rachel, best known for creating the Netflix series The Camera.
The screenplay was co-written by Rachel, Travis Jackson and rising star Rachel Sennott, the actress of The Botts and Shiva Baby.
Aubrey Plaza returns to the spotlight with a bold new project: The Heidi Fleiss Story, a biopic centered on the rise and fall of the infamous 1990s “Hollywood Lady”
The film delves into the chaotic final days before Fleiss’s 1993 downfall, when her high-powered prostitution ring—which is believed to have served some of LA’s biggest names—was exposed; (Fleiss in 1993)
As news of the reading spread online, fans quickly took to social media to point out the striking physical resemblance between Aubrey and Heidi.
“Wow, she looks an awful lot like Heidi,” one fan wrote on X.
Fleiss rose to notoriety in the early 1990s when it was discovered that she was running a high-end prostitution ring in Los Angeles that catered to wealthy clients including celebrities, Hollywood executives, and powerful businessmen.
Known as “Mrs. Hollywood,” she supposedly inherited the operation from her former lover and mentor, convicted Madam Elizabeth Adams, also known as “Mrs. Alex,” and quickly expanded it into a multi-million dollar enterprise.
Fleiss’ empire came crashing down in June 1993 when she was arrested and later indicted on multiple charges including racketeering, tax evasion and money laundering, with prosecutors accusing her of laundering more than $1.5 million through shell companies and false accounting.
During her sensational trial, salacious details emerged about her client list, which was believed to include A-list names, although many of the identities were never publicly confirmed, fueling widespread fan frenzy.
Now Plaza steps into the complex role of the convict lady, bringing her signature intensity to the character of Fleiss.
The casting follows a string of high-profile and critically acclaimed performances, including roles in Ethan Coen’s Honey Don’t and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis.
As news of the casting spread online, fans quickly took to social media to point out the striking physical resemblance between Aubrey and Heidi.
Fleiss’ empire came crashing down in June 1993 when she was arrested and later indicted on multiple charges including racketeering, tax evasion, and money laundering, with prosecutors accusing her of laundering more than $1.5 million through shell companies and false accounting; (Retrieved 2003)
Plaza and Baena had been separated since September 2024, an autopsy report from the LA County Medical Examiner obtained by DailyMail.com revealed; (Accessed 2014)
She also earned acclaim for her work in Sundance favorite My Old Ass and HBO’s The White Lotus Season 2.
Next, she stars alongside Susan Sarandon in Accompaniment, a buzzy indie drama that marks the directorial debut of The Office alum Zack Woods.
In 2024, an autopsy report from the LA County Medical Examiner obtained by DailyMail.com reveals the circumstances surrounding Baena’s tragic death.
At the time, he was living in New York, where his body was discovered on January 3.
According to the report, the Life After Beth filmmaker had been experiencing “marital difficulties” in the months before his death and was receiving therapy.
Although Plaza’s name was redacted, the documents noted that she had spoken to Baen the night before his death and had previously expressed concerns about his mental state.
The medical examiner confirmed that Baena did not have drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his passing and noted that Plaza believed he was still alive on the morning of Jan. 3 because he had sent her a text message that day.
The report states that a dog walker discovered Baen’s body.
Shortly after his death, Plaza’s representative said in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com: “This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy at this time.”
Baena, who earned a film degree from New York University, gained hands-on experience with major filmmakers when he worked as a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis and an assistant editor for David O. Russell.
