Laura Dern

Who Is Laura Dern?

Born on February 10, 1967, in Los Angeles, California, Laura Dern is an accomplished actress who followed in the footsteps of her parents, Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd, both established figures in the acting industry. She made her mark with notable performances in films such as Mask, Wild at Heart, and Rambling Rose, the latter earning her an Academy Award nomination. Dern gained widespread recognition for her role in Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Jurassic Park. Her career continued to flourish, culminating in her first Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress in Marriage Story. In addition to her film success, Dern has received critical acclaim for her work in television, winning awards for her performances in HBO’s Enlightened and Big Little Lies.

Acting Background

Laura Elizabeth Dern, the granddaughter of politician George Dern, has showcased a remarkable range throughout her career, portraying characters ranging from ethereal ingénues to troubled individuals battling addiction. Her formal education in acting began at the University of Southern California, where she studied for one semester, followed by a brief stint at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dern ultimately pursued her passion for acting at the esteemed Lee Strasberg Institute, where she honed her method acting skills, setting the stage for her successful career in film and television.

Film and Television Career of Laura Dern

Early Career: ‘Foxes,’ ‘Mask,’ ‘Smooth Talk,’ ‘Blue Velvet’

Laura Dern began her career with several minor roles during her childhood but landed her first significant role in Adrian Lyne’s 1980 film Foxes. She continued to build her filmography with roles in Teachers (1984) and Mask (1985). However, it was her performance as a rebellious teenager in Smooth Talk (1986) that garnered critical acclaim and earned her a New Generation Award from the Los Angeles Film Critics. In the same year, Dern ventured into darker territory with a notable role in David Lynch’s unsettling film Blue Velvet.

Collaboration with David Lynch: ‘Wild at Heart,’ ‘Rambling Rose’

In 1990, Dern re-collaborated with Lynch in Wild at Heart, where she portrayed an uninhibited 20-year-old on the run alongside Nicolas Cage. The following year, her performance in Rambling Rose (1991), where she starred alongside her mother, Diane Ladd, earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. This marked a historic moment as both mother and daughter received Oscar nominations in the same year.

Mainstream Recognition: ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Afterburn’

In 1993, Dern captured the attention of mainstream audiences with her role as a determined scientist in Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Jurassic Park, based on Michael Crichton’s acclaimed novel. That same year, she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture for her work in HBO’s Afterburn.

Diverse Roles: ‘Citizen Ruth,’ ‘October Sky,’ ‘Daddy and Them’

Following Jurassic Park, Dern showcased her versatility in various roles, including a resentful pregnant woman in Citizen Ruth (1996), a supportive high school teacher in October Sky (1999), and a member of an unconventional family in Billy Bob Thornton’s Daddy and Them (2001). Additionally, she earned an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of a lesbian in a groundbreaking episode of Ellen in 1997.

Continued Success: ‘Inland Empire,’ ‘Recount’

Dern remained a prominent figure in both film and television, reprising her role in Jurassic Park III (2001) and collaborating again with Lynch in Inland Empire (2006). In 2009, she won another Golden Globe for her supporting role in the TV movie Recount (2008), where she starred alongside Kevin Spacey and Denis Leary.

Recent Work: ‘Enlightened,’ ‘Wild,’ ‘F is for Family’

In 2011, Dern garnered a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy for her role in HBO’s Enlightened. In addition to acting, she co-created and co-executive produced the series alongside Mike White. Despite receiving critical acclaim, the show faced low ratings and concluded in 2013 after two seasons.

In 2014, Dern co-starred in The Fault in Our Stars and When the Game Stands Tall. She portrayed a devoted mother in Wild, a film adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, which earned her a second Oscar nomination. The following year, Dern showcased her versatility with a voice role in the animated series F is for Family.

Career Highlights

In 2017, Laura Dern made a notable return to the screen alongside Reese Witherspoon in the HBO series Big Little Lies. Despite sharing the spotlight with a stellar cast that included Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley, Dern’s performance as the formidable Renata Klein earned her significant acclaim, culminating in wins at both the Emmy Awards and the Golden Globes. That same year, she also appeared in the revival of the cult classic series Twin Peaks and portrayed a key ally to the iconic Princess Leia in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Following her success in major productions, Dern continued to explore more intimate, character-driven narratives. She starred in films such as The Tale, Trial by Fire, and JT LeRoy, all of which premiered at various festivals in 2018. In 2019, she joined forces with Liam Neeson in the vigilante dark comedy Cold Pursuit, and later that year, her supporting role in Noah Baumbach’s poignant Marriage Story garnered her another Golden Globe and marked her first Academy Award win. She also portrayed Marmee March in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women.

Personal Life

Laura Dern was married to musician Ben Harper on December 23, 2005. Together, they welcomed two children, son Ellery Walker and daughter Jaya, before their divorce in 2010. Prior to her marriage, Dern was engaged to fellow actors Billy Bob Thornton and Jeff Goldblum and has had notable relationships with other celebrities, including Nicolas Cage and Kyle MacLachlan.