From Prostitution Ring to Parrot Paradise: How Heidi Fleiss' Controversial Life Inspires Aubrey Plaza

Heidi Fleiss became a household name in the 1990s for running an infamous Los Angeles-based prostitution ring, earning the nickname The Hollywood Madam. Convicted of tax evasion, she served 20 months of a seven-year sentence, yet her life has remained a subject of fascination for decades. Today, Fleiss, 63, has shifted her focus to her passion for exotic birds, often sharing her life on Instagram as a self-proclaimed Macaw Messiah. She maintains a low-profile personal life, though she occasionally shares glimpses of her relationships and daily adventures in her desert home. Her resilience and reinvention continue to captivate the public and inspire portrayals in film and media.

Aubrey Plaza, 41, is set to produce and star as Heidi Fleiss in the upcoming biopic The Heidi Fleiss Story. The Golden Globe nominee is thrilled about the challenge, calling Fleiss the 'ultimate badass icon' and expressing her excitement about visiting the former madam in her desert home, saying she deserves 'the royal treatment'. Plaza feels a spiritual connection to Fleiss, marking this as her first non-fiction onscreen role. Known for her dark comedic style, Plaza has starred in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Happiest Season and Black Bear, and she often credits rejection for fuelling her ambition. Her versatile career spans thrillers, political satires and sitcoms, and she continues to be a prominent figure in Hollywood.

The upcoming biopic will highlight Heidi Fleiss' complex life, from scandal to reinvention, showcasing her resilience and ability to thrive despite past controversies. With Plaza bringing authenticity and depth to the role, audiences are set to witness a nuanced portrayal of Fleiss' transformation, underscoring her lasting impact on Hollywood and her fascinating, unconventional lifestyle.