Aubrey Plaza to play Heidi Fleiss in first role since husband’s suicide as fans say they look ‘similar’

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Actress Aubrey Plaza will once again take center stage with an audacious undertaking: “The Heidi Fleiss Story,” a biographical film revolving around the ascendancy and descent of the infamous ’90s Hollywood brothel proprietor.

In a significant move following the tragic passing of her husband Jeff Baena in January, the main actress from The White Lotus is not only taking on the leading role in an upcoming film as Fleiss, but also producing it – this being her first substantial part since the loss.

The movie delves into the turbulent last days leading up to Fleiss’ collapse in 1993, a period during which her influential sex trafficking operation, rumored to cater to some of Los Angeles’ most prominent figures, was unmasked.

In an attempt to buy herself some freedom as law enforcement drew near, Heidi made one final effort to weave her network of power, using confidential information and a budding author named Jaclyn, who was eager for success.

The intriguing storyline, infused with a wickedly humorous undertone, is poised to unfold under the direction of Leah Rachel, who gained prominence by producing the popular Netflix series, Chambers.

The script was jointly penned by Rachel, Travis Jackson, and up-and-coming actress Rachel Sennott, who is known for her roles in “The Bottoms” and “Shiva Baby.

Online buzz about the cast reveal prompted many fans to note on social media the strong physical similarity between Aubrey and Heidi.

‘Wow, she looks eerily similar to Heidi,’ one fan wrote on X. 

In the early 1990s, Fleiss gained notoriety as it was exposed that she managed a luxury brothel in Los Angeles, which served an exclusive clientele consisting of rich individuals, famous personalities from Hollywood, influential film executives, and prominent business leaders.

Under the nickname “The Hollywood Madam,” she is said to have taken over the business from her previous partner and guide, Elizabeth Adams (also known as ‘Madam Alex’), who had been convicted. Rapidly growing it into a multimillion-dollar endeavor, she expanded the operation significantly.

In June 1993, Fleiss’s business empire collapsed following her arrest and subsequent indictment on various charges such as pandering, tax evasion, and money laundering. The authorities claimed that she had laundered more than $1.5 million through shell companies and false accounting.

Throughout her high-profile court case, it became known that her clientele was allegedly filled with big-name celebrities, although not all of the individuals involved were ever officially revealed. This created a great deal of excitement among fans as they speculated about the true identities.

Currently, Plaza is taking on the intricate part of the imprisoned madam, pouring her distinctive passion into the portrayal of Fleiss.

The cast features a series of acclaimed and well-received performances, such as those seen in Ethan Coen’s “Honey Don’t” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis.

Additionally, she gained recognition for her roles in the critically-acclaimed films “My Old Ass” (a favorite at Sundance) and “The White Lotus” on HBO’s second season.

Next up, I’ll be honored to share the screen with Susan Sarandon in “The Accompanist,” an engaging independent drama, which marks the directorial debut of the talented Zack Woods from “The Office.

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2025-08-06 20:33