Aubrey Plaza to star as Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss in new biopic
Titled 'The Heidi Fleiss Story,' the dark comedy biopic will follow the chaotic final days leading up to Fleiss's 1993 arrest, when authorities exposed her high-end prostitution ring operating in Los Angeles, according to Deadline and other industry publications.
Plaza, who splits her time between Los Angeles and Marin County, will star and produce the film through her company, Evil Hag. The project marks her first major role since the death of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, in January.
Fleiss rose to prominence in the early 1990s for allegedly running a clandestine operation that catered to celebrities, executives and other powerful figures.
She was said to have taken over the business from her mentor, convicted madam Elizabeth 'Madam Alex' Adams, and quickly expanded it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.
That empire collapsed in June 1993, when Fleiss was arrested and later charged with pandering, tax evasion and money laundering. Prosecutors alleged she laundered more than $1.5 million through shell companies and false records.
The case drew national headlines, fueled by speculation over a still-sealed list of high-profile clients.
Plaza has been gradually returning to public life following Baena's death by suicide. In February, she appeared on 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special,' wearing a pink tie-dyed T-shirt — a quiet tribute to Baena's pandemic-era hobby and the couple's wedding-day attire.
The pair had been together for more than a decade, though they had separated in the months before his death.
Plaza's upcoming slate also includes a leading role in 'Honey Don't!,' the latest film from Ethan Coen, arriving in theaters on Aug. 22. She also appears in Francis Ford Coppola 's 'Megalopolis' and previously earned praise for her performances in 'The White Lotus' Season 2 and in the Sundance Film Festival favorite ' My Old Ass. '
Next, she'll star alongside Susan Sarandon in 'The Accompanist,' an indie drama that marks the feature directorial debut of 'The Office' alum Zach Woods.
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