Aubrey Plaza to Star as Infamous Hollywood Madam in "The Heidi Fleiss Story" Biopic

Aubrey Plaza, celebrated for her boundary-pushing performances and LGBTQ+ allyship, has been cast in the lead role of "The Heidi Fleiss Story," a biographical film chronicling one of the most explosive scandals in Hollywood history. The project, announced earlier this week, will see Plaza not only star but also produce the film through her company Evil Hag, marking her first major project since the passing of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, in January 2025 .

Heidi Fleiss became a household name in the early 1990s after authorities uncovered her clandestine operation—a lucrative network of sex workers that allegedly served Hollywood celebrities, business leaders, and political figures. Fleiss had reportedly taken over the business from her mentor, Elizabeth "Madam Alex" Adams, and rapidly expanded it into a multimillion-dollar empire .

The empire’s collapse came abruptly in June 1993, when a high-profile police raid led to Fleiss’s arrest. She was charged with pandering, money laundering, and tax evasion, with prosecutors alleging she laundered more than $1.5 million through shell companies and fraudulent records. The case transfixed the nation, driven in part by rumors of a still-sealed list of prominent clients—rumors that underscored the intersection of power, privilege, and sexuality in American society .

Fleiss ultimately served 20 months in prison following her federal conviction, and her story has since become emblematic of both the excesses of 1990s Hollywood and the persistent stigma surrounding sex work .

The new film, helmed by director Leah Rachel (creator of the Netflix supernatural series "Chambers"), is described as a "dark comedy" that will focus on the chaotic days leading up to Fleiss's arrest. Rachel Sennott, known for her sharp comedic voice and commitment to nuanced representation, is co-writing the screenplay. This creative team promises a fresh, irreverent perspective on a story often sensationalized by mainstream media .

Plaza's involvement as both star and producer is noteworthy, as she has frequently advocated for LGBTQ+ inclusion both on and off screen. Her production company, Evil Hag, has previously championed projects with diverse casts and storylines, further raising expectations that "The Heidi Fleiss Story" will approach its subject matter with sensitivity and intersectional awareness .

The story of Heidi Fleiss is not just Hollywood lore—it also resonates with ongoing conversations within LGBTQ+ communities about the decriminalization of sex work, the right to bodily autonomy, and the ways in which queer people, especially transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, have historically been marginalized within both sex work and media narratives. While Fleiss herself is not publicly identified as LGBTQ+, the film’s subject matter and creative team offer a platform to challenge persistent stereotypes and foster empathy for sex workers of all identities.

Advocacy organizations have long argued that criminalizing sex work disproportionately impacts LGBTQ+ people, many of whom turn to sex work in the face of employment discrimination and social stigma . By re-examining Fleiss's story through a comedic yet critical lens, the film has the potential to destigmatize sex workers and highlight the need for policy reform that centers the voices and experiences of those most affected.

The announcement of Plaza’s casting has generated significant excitement across entertainment and LGBTQ+ media spaces. Many are eager to see how the film will balance the tabloid drama of the 1990s with a contemporary understanding of power, gender, and sexuality. Social media channels lit up with reactions from fans and advocates, some expressing hope that the biopic will foreground the agency and complexity of sex workers rather than simply revisiting the scandal .

As production moves forward, "The Heidi Fleiss Story" is poised to join a growing roster of films that interrogate the intersections of fame, morality, and the legal system. For LGBTQ+ audiences, it offers a chance to spark dialogue about acceptance, justice, and the ongoing fight against stigma—on screen and off.