Bernadette Plaza is more than just the mother of famous actress Aubrey Plaza. She’s a successful lawyer with her own fascinating life story. In this post, we’ll explore Bernadette’s background, career, family, and the important role she’s played in her daughter’s life and success.
Get ready to learn about an impressive woman who’s left her mark both personally and professionally.
Who Is Bernadette Plaza?
Bernadette M. Plaza was born on October 2, 1956, making her 67 years old as of 2025. She grew up in Wilmington, Delaware where she still resides and practices law today. After graduating from law school, Bernadette began her legal career that has now spanned an impressive 32 years and counting. As an attorney, she specializes in high-stakes areas like litigation, medical malpractice, and insurance law.
Over the past three decades, Bernadette has earned a reputation as a sharp, dedicated lawyer who fights tenaciously for her clients. Her many years of experience have made her a valued member of the Delaware legal community. But there’s much more to Bernadette than her successful law practice. She’s also a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who prioritizes family above all else. Let’s take a closer look at Bernadette’s personal life and the close-knit clan she holds so dear.
Family Background and Early Life
Bernadette Plaza (née Machado) comes from a tight-knit Puerto Rican family. Her parents moved from Puerto Rico to the continental United States before she was born. Growing up, Bernadette was instilled with a strong work ethic and sense of pride in her Puerto Rican heritage. Her parents emphasized the importance of education, hard work, and family.
These values shaped Bernadette from an early age and guided her as she navigated school and early adulthood. With her parents’ encouragement, she excelled academically and set her sights on a fulfilling professional career. After high school, Bernadette went on to attend college and then law school, earning the degrees that would put her on the path to becoming the successful attorney she is today. Through it all, she stayed connected to her Puerto Rican roots and the family-centric upbringing that made her who she is.
How Was Her Married Life?
Bernadette has been married to her husband David Plaza for many years. Together, they’ve built a beautiful life and family in Wilmington, Delaware. Like his wife, David Plaza has Puerto Rican heritage. This shared cultural background helped form the foundation for their strong bond.
By all accounts, Bernadette and David’s marriage has been a happy and fulfilling one. They’ve supported each other’s dreams and been a united front as they’ve raised their three children.
Bernadette has spoken about how her husband has always been her rock. David’s steady presence and partnership have allowed her to thrive both at home and in her demanding career as an attorney.
It’s clear that Bernadette and David Plaza’s loving, committed relationship has been a key part of their personal happiness and success over the years. They set a wonderful example of marriage for their children and grandchildren.
Mother of 3 Children
Bernadette and David Plaza have three children together: Renee, Natalie, and Aubrey. Aubrey Plaza is the youngest and the most famous, having made a name for herself as an actress in Hollywood. As a mother, Bernadette has always been incredibly supportive of her kids and their dreams. She’s encouraged them to pursue their passions, work hard, and stay true to themselves.
With Renee and Natalie, Bernadette provided a stable, loving home environment as they grew up. She cheered them on through their schooling and extra-curricular activities. When Aubrey decided to pursue acting, Bernadette was there to offer guidance and moral support. She’s been Aubrey’s biggest fan, celebrating her successes and comforting her through challenges.
Now that her children are grown, Bernadette is a doting grandmother as well. She adores spending time with her grandkids and being an involved presence in their lives.Family has always been the center of Bernadette’s world. She’s worked hard to give her children roots and wings – a strong foundation and the encouragement to soar. Her dedication as a mother has shaped her kids into the amazing adults they are today.
Bernadette’s Role in Aubrey Plaza’s Life
As mentioned, Bernadette Plaza is the proud mother of actress Aubrey Plaza. Throughout Aubrey’s life and career, Bernadette has been a constant source of love and support.Growing up, Aubrey was a creative, imaginative child. With Bernadette’s encouragement, she explored her artistic side through theater and other outlets.
When Aubrey decided to seriously pursue professional acting, Bernadette was right there cheering her on. She’s helped Aubrey navigate the ups and downs of the entertainment industry.From Aubrey’s early days doing improv in New York to her breakout role on Parks and Recreation and beyond, Bernadette has been her daughter’s biggest cheerleader. She never misses a premiere or important career moment.
Bernadette has also undoubtedly served as an inspiring example for Aubrey. As a successful professional woman balancing a demanding career with family responsibilities, Bernadette has modeled drive, resilience, and heart for her daughter.
It’s clear that so much of who Aubrey Plaza is as a person and performer has been shaped by her close relationship with her amazing mom Bernadette. The love and respect the two share is truly special.
Professional Life of Bernadette Plaza
Bernadette M. Plaza has built an impressive career as an attorney in Wilmington, Delaware. She earned her law degree and has been practicing for many years in her hometown.
As a lawyer, Bernadette likely works long hours to advocate for her clients. Arguing cases in court requires confidence, quick thinking, and strong public speaking skills. These are all traits she seems to have passed on to her daughter Aubrey.
Growing up, Aubrey probably looked up to her hard-working mom as a role model. Seeing Bernadette’s drive and success in a challenging field may have inspired Aubrey to fearlessly pursue her own dreams in the competitive world of acting.
While the day-to-day of Bernadette’s legal work is probably very different from Aubrey’s experiences on Hollywood sets, the two share the experience of performing and persuading audiences, whether it’s a jury or a theater crowd. With her mom’s example to follow, it’s no wonder Aubrey has excelled.
Influence on Aubrey Plaza’s Career
It’s clear that Bernadette Plaza’s support has been instrumental in Aubrey’s acting success. As a parent, having your child pursue an artistic career path can be daunting. But Bernadette encouraged Aubrey’s talents from a young age.
Aubrey has shared fond memories of putting on plays in their living room and her mom always being her biggest fan. Even as she got older and started landing bigger roles, Bernadette was there cheering her on every step of the way.
Beyond just moral support, a parent with a stable career like Bernadette’s can provide important financial backing early on. Pursuing acting often involves a lot of upfront costs, from headshots to acting classes to moving to expensive cities like New York or LA. Having a mom with a steady lawyer salary likely gave Aubrey some valuable stability and freedom to take career risks.
Now that Aubrey is an established star, she still remains close with her mom. In interviews, she frequently sings Bernadette’s praises, making it clear that her mom is her rock. Aubrey’s groundedness, work ethic, and confidence to chart her own path in the industry all seem to come straight from Bernadette.
Public Appearances with Aubrey Plaza
While Bernadette seems to prefer staying out of the limelight herself, she has stepped out to support Aubrey at a few high-profile Hollywood events over the years. The proud mom has been spotted on the red carpet with her daughter at movie premieres and award shows.
One especially memorable appearance was at the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Aubrey was hosting the show that year, and she brought Bernadette along as her date. The actress used part of her opening monologue to humorously introduce her mom to the star-studded crowd.
Aubrey joked that her mom was worried about her famously deadpan style of comedy, quipping “She thinks I’m going to bomb. She’s like, ‘Please God, don’t let her bomb.'” But Bernadette looked like she was having a ball laughing along in the audience. Aubrey even came and checked on her during breaks, showing what a sweet bond the mother-daughter duo share.
Personal Life and Marital Status
Bernadette Plaza seems to be happily married to Aubrey’s father David Plaza. Not much is known about him, as the couple appears to keep their relationship very private. It’s clear the Plaza parents maintain a tight-knit family and a stable home life though.
Aubrey has a younger sister Renee who also appears to be on good terms with their mom Bernadette. The Plaza sisters have been photographed attending events with their mother over the years. By all accounts, they are a loving, low-key family.
Where Is She Now?
These days, Bernadette Plaza is still based in Delaware working as an attorney. She maintains a relatively quiet life, which is understandable for the parent of a celebrity. Still, she remains a big presence in her daughter’s life behind the scenes.
In a 2019 interview with NPR, Aubrey talked about how much she cherishes her visits home to see her parents, sharing: “I go home, and I just love to spend time with them. They’re just my favorite people on the planet.”
While Bernadette may not be a public figure like her famous daughter, it’s clear she’s had an outsized impact on Aubrey’s life and career. From inspiring her with an awesome example of a hard-working woman to being her biggest champion, Bernadette is the unsung hero behind Aubrey’s success. The love and respect the two share is truly heartwarming.
Conclusion
Bernadette Plaza may not have a Hollywood resume like her daughter Aubrey, but her story is equally inspiring. As a successful attorney and a supportive mother, she’s played a huge role in shaping Aubrey into the groundbreaking performer she is today.
While celebrity parents often get a lot of attention in the media, Bernadette is an example of the quiet, steady support that can make all the difference in a child’s life. Her love and encouragement have clearly given Aubrey the foundation to thrive.
So the next time you see Aubrey Plaza on screen, remember the awesome woman who raised her: Bernadette Plaza. Here’s to all the hardworking moms out there supporting their kids’ dreams, even if they don’t end up in the spotlight themselves.
