Laura Elizabeth Dern (born February 10, 1967) is an American actress and filmmaker. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and five Golden Globe Awards.
Born to actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd, Dern embarked on an acting career in the 1980s and rose to prominence for her performances in Mask (1985) and David Lynch's Blue Velvet (1986) and Wild at Heart (1990). She then received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of the titular orphan in the drama film Rambling Rose (1991). She achieved international recognition for her role in Steven Spielberg's adventure film Jurassic Park (1993), after which she guest starred in the "Puppy Episode" of the sitcom Ellen in 1997, during which Ellen DeGeneres publicly came out.
After winning two Golden Globe Awards for her performances as Katherine Harris in the television film Recount (2008) and Amy Jellicoe in the comedy-drama series Enlightened (2011–2013), Dern earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Wild (2014). In 2017, she began starring as Renata Klein in the drama series Big Little Lies, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film, and reunited with David Lynch for Twin Peaks: The Return. She has since played supporting roles in the films Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), Marriage Story (2019), and Little Women (2019). Her performance in Marriage Story won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.
Early life[edit]
Laura Elizabeth Dern was born on February 10, 1967, in Los Angeles, California.[1][2][3][4] The daughter of actors Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern, and great-granddaughter of former Utah governor and Secretary of War, George Dern, she was conceived while her parents were filming The Wild Angels.[2] The poet, writer, and Librarian of Congress Archibald MacLeish was her great-great-uncle. After her parents divorced when she was two years old, Dern was largely brought up by her mother and grandmother of Norwegian ancestry (Oslo).[5] She was raised as a Catholic.[5] Her godmother was actress Shelley Winters.[6] She developed scoliosis as a child.[7]
Her first film foray was an appearance as an extra in White Lightning (1973), a film in which her mother starred.[8] Her official film debut was an appearance in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), opposite her mother.[9] In 1982, Dern served as Miss Golden Globe at 15 years old.[10] In the same year, she portrayed a rebellious rock band member in the cult film Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains.[11] At 16,[12] she sought for and attained emancipation,[13] which allowed her to work the amount of hours of an adult on films.[8]
Career[edit]
Between 1985 and 1990, Dern gained critical acclaim for her performances in Mask, Blue Velvet, and Wild at Heart–the latter two of which were directed by David Lynch–which began a longstanding collaboration between Dern and Lynch.[14] Dern's starring role in Blue Velvet was widely regarded as her breakthrough performance.[15][16] Dern also auditioned for the iconic character Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), but lost the role due to studio's skepticism about her level of fame at the time.[17][18] In 1992, Dern and her mother, Ladd, became the first mother and daughter to be nominated for Academy Awards for acting in the same film for their performances in Rambling Rose–Ladd received a Best Supporting Actress nomination, while Dern received one for Best Actress.[19] Dern starred as Dr. Ellie Sattler in Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Jurassic Park. That same year, Clint Eastwood contacted the actress for his film A Perfect World. She starred in Alexander Payne's directorial debut film Citizen Ruth. Dern's mother makes a cameo appearance, playing Dern's character's mother, with Dern's character screaming a torrent of abuse at her.
In 1997, Dern was featured in Widespread Panic's music video for their song, "Aunt Avis", which was directed by Dern's then boyfriend and future fiancé, Billy Bob Thornton. In 1998, Dern co-starred in Jodie Foster's film The Baby Dance. While dating Thornton in 1999, she was cast as his love interest in his film Daddy and Them, which also includes Diane Ladd. Dern also appeared in Joe Johnston's film October Sky. Robert Altman called upon Dern's talents to play a Champagne-loving Aunt in his Texas-based comedy Dr. T & the Women in 2000. She co-starred in Within These Walls and Arthur Miller's Focus. She had a minor role in Jurassic Park III, and was a supporting actress in the film I Am Sam. She starred in the 2002 film Damaged Care and the 2004 film We Don't Live Here Anymore. Dern starred in the 2005 film Happy Endings, and in the same year, she appeared in the film The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio.
In 2006, Dern reunited with David Lynch for Inland Empire, and in the same year, Dern portrayed a supporting role in Lonely Hearts. Mike White, known for writing School of Rock and The Good Girl, hired Dern for his directorial debut in 2007, the comedy titled Year of the Dog, and starring Molly Shannon, John C. Reilly and Peter Sarsgaard. In 2008, Dern starred as Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in Recount, for which she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.[20] The following year, Dern was seen in the independent drama Tenderness[21]and in 2010, she appeared in Little Fockers, portraying Prudence, an elementary school principal.[22]
Dern has done much work on television, most notably Afterburn, for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. She guest-starred on The West Wing, was a voice on King of the Hill, and was a lesbian who coaxes Ellen DeGeneres out of the closet in the famous 1997 "The Puppy Episode" of the television series Ellen. On the April 24, 2007 airing of DeGeneres's talk show, Dern revealed she did not work for more than a year following her appearance in that episode because of resulting backlash, but nevertheless called it an "extraordinary experience and opportunity."[23]
On November 1, 2010, she received the 2,420th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her parents, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern, were also presented with stars. In October 2011, Dern starred in a new HBO television series titled Enlightened.[24] Dern played Amy Jellicoe, a "health and beauty executive who returns from a post-meltdown retreat to pick up the pieces of her broken life." Dern brought screenwriter Mike White back into television work after he had had an on-the-job meltdown of his own.[25] Dern received her third Golden Globe Award for her performance in the series.[26]
Dern starred in the psychological drama film The Master.[27] She starred alongside Reese Witherspoon in Jean-Marc Vallée's biographical drama film Wild, for which she received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. In 2017, Dern reteamed with both Witherspoon and Vallée for the 2017 HBO miniseries Big Little Lies, winning her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her portrayal of Renata Klein.[28] That same year, she appeared in David Lynch's revival of Twin Peaks for Showtime[29][30] and in Rian Johnson's blockbuster Star Wars: The Last Jedi as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo.[31]
In 2018, Dern portrayed a lead role in The Tale, an autobiographical feature film written and directed by Jennifer Fox. The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2018 and later on HBO on May 26, 2018.[32] In 2019, Dern appeared in Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story alongside Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver,[33] and portrayed Marmee March in Greta Gerwig's film adaptation of Little Women, which also stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper.[34] For her performance in Marriage Story, Dern earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, the SAG Award for Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.[35][36][37]
Dern will next reprise her role as Ellie Sattler in Jurassic World: Dominion, which is set for a 2021 release.[38]
Personal life[edit]
Relationships and family[edit]
Dern began dating musician Ben Harper after they met at one of his concerts in fall 2000.[39] Harper and Dern married on December 23, 2005, at their home in Los Angeles.[40] They have two children together, son Ellery Walker (born August 21, 2001)[39] and daughter Jaya, born in November 2004.[41] Through this marriage, Dern also became a stepmother to Harper's children from his first marriage, his son Charles and daughter Harris.[39] In October 2010, Harper filed for divorce from Dern, citing irreconcilable differences.[42] They briefly reconciled and attended the 2012 Golden Globe Awards together,[42] but Dern reactivated the divorce by filing a legal response in July 2012.[42] The divorce was finalized in September 2013.[43]
On October 18, 2017, in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal, Dern appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and revealed that she had been sexually assaulted at age 14.[44]
Political views and activism[edit]
During the 66th Golden Globe Awards, on January 11, 2009, Dern expressed support for the incoming administration of Barack Obama during her acceptance speech for her Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film win, stating: "I will cherish this as a reminder of the extraordinary, incredible outpouring of people who demanded their voice be heard in this last election so we can look forward to amazing change in this country. Thank you so much!"[45]
An activist and supporter of various charities, Dern advocated for Down syndrome awareness in a cover story for Ability Magazine.[46] In 2018, Dern brought activist Mónica Ramírez to the 75th Golden Globe Awards as a guest.[47] In the same year, she attended a Families Belong Together event and expressed her support for immigrants' rights.[48][49] She is also an advocate for women's rights,[50] gender pay parity,[51] as well as combating gun violence and climate change.[52]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | White Lightning | Sharon Anne | Uncredited |
| 1974 | Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore | Girl Eating Ice Cream Cone | Uncredited |
| 1980 | Foxes | Debbie | |
| 1982 | Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains | Jessica McNeil | |
| 1983 | Grizzly II: The Predator | Tina | |
| 1984 | Teachers | Diane Warren | |
| 1985 | Mask | Diana Adams | |
| 1985 | Smooth Talk | Connie Wyatt | |
| 1986 | Blue Velvet | Sandy Williams | |
| 1988 | Haunted Summer | Claire Clairmont | |
| 1989 | Fat Man and Little Boy | Kathleen Robinson | |
| 1990 | Wild at Heart | Lula Fortune | |
| 1990 | Industrial Symphony No. 1 | Heartbroken Woman | Concert film |
| 1991 | Rambling Rose | Rose | |
| 1993 | Jurassic Park | Dr. Ellie Sattler | |
| 1993 | A Perfect World | Sally Gerber | |
| 1996 | Citizen Ruth | Ruth Stoops | |
| 1996 | Bastard Out of Carolina | Narrator (voice) | |
| 1999 | October Sky | Miss Riley | |
| 2000 | Dr. T & the Women | Peggy | |
| 2001 | Daddy and Them | Ruby Montgomery | |
| 2001 | Jurassic Park III | Dr. Ellie Sattler | |
| 2001 | Focus | Gertrude 'Gert' Hart | |
| 2001 | I Am Sam | Randy Carpenter | |
| 2001 | Novocaine | Jean Noble | |
| 2002 | Goose | Narrator (voice) | Short film |
| 2004 | We Don't Live Here Anymore | Terry Linden | |
| 2005 | Happy Endings | Pam Ferris | |
| 2005 | The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio | Dortha Schaefer | |
| 2006 | Lonely Hearts | Rene Fodie | |
| 2006 | Inland Empire | Nikki Grace / Susan Blue | Also co-producer |
| 2007 | Year of the Dog | Bret | |
| 2008 | The Monday Before Thanksgiving | Theresa | Short film |
| 2009 | Tenderness | Aunt Teresa | |
| 2010 | Everything Must Go | Delilah | |
| 2010 | Little Fockers | Prudence Simmons | |
| 2011 | Fight for Your Right Revisited | Café Patron | Short film |
| 2012 | The Master | Helen Sullivan | |
| 2013 | Jay-Z: Made in America | Herself | Documentary |
| 2014 | The Fault in Our Stars | Frannie Lancaster | |
| 2014 | When the Game Stands Tall | Beverly Ladouceur | |
| 2014 | Wild | Bobbi Lambrecht | |
| 2014 | 99 Homes | Lynn Nash | |
| 2015 | Bravetown | Annie | |
| 2016 | Certain Women | Laura Wells | |
| 2016 | The Founder | Ethel Kroc | |
| 2017 | Wilson | Pippi | |
| 2017 | The Black Ghiandola | Doctor | Short film |
| 2017 | The Good Time Girls | Clementine | Short film |
| 2017 | Downsizing | Laura Lonowski | |
| 2017 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo | |
| 2018 | The Tale | Jennifer Fox | |
| 2018 | Trial by Fire | Elizabeth Gilbert | |
| 2018 | JT LeRoy | Laura Albert | |
| 2019 | Cold Pursuit | Grace Coxman | |
| 2019 | Marriage Story | Nora Fanshaw | |
| 2019 | Little Women | Marmee March | |
| 2021 | Jurassic World: Dominion | Dr. Ellie Sattler | Filming |
Television[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Insight | Amy | Episode: "Who Loves Amy Tonight?" |
| 1981 | Shannon | N/A | Episode: "Gotham Swansong" |
| 1983 | Happy Endings | Audrey Constantine | Television film |
| 1984 | The Three Wishes of Billy Grier | Crissy | Television film |
| 1989 | Nightmare Classics | Rebecca | Episode: "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" |
| 1992 | Afterburn | Janet Harduvel | Television film |
| 1993 | Fallen Angels | Annie Ainsley | Episode: "Murder, Obliquely" |
| 1995 | Frasier | June (voice) | Episode: "Sleeping with the Enemy" |
| 1995 | Down Came a Blackbird | Helen McNulty | Television film; also executive producer |
| 1996 | The Siege at Ruby Ridge | Vicki Weaver | Television film |
| 1997 | Ellen | Susan | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | The Larry Sanders Show | Herself | Episode: "I Buried Sid" |
| 1998 | The Baby Dance | Wanda LeFauve | Television film |
| 2001 | Within These Walls | Sister Pauline Quinn | Television film |
| 2002 | Damaged Care | Linda Peeno | Television film; also co-producer |
| 2002 | The West Wing | US Poet Laureate Tabatha Fortis | Episode: "The U.S. Poet Laureate" |
| 2002–2003 | King of the Hill | Serving Wench / Katherine (voices) | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Recount | Katherine Harris | Television film |
| 2011–2013 | Enlightened | Amy Jellicoe | 18 episodes; also co-creator and executive producer |
| 2013 | Call Me Crazy: A Five Film | N/A | Television film; as director (segment: "Grace") |
| 2014 | Kroll Show | Cleo | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Drunk History | Nellie Bly | Episode: "New York City" |
| 2015 | The Mindy Project | Dr. Ludmilla Trapeznikov | Episode: "Best Man" |
| 2015–present | F Is for Family | Sue Murphy (voice) | 36 episodes |
| 2017–2019 | Big Little Lies | Renata Klein | 14 episodes |
| 2017 | The Last Man on Earth | Catherine | Episode: "Got Milk?" |
| 2017 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Wendy Hebert | Episode: "Kimmy Can't Help You!" |
| 2017 | Twin Peaks | Diane Evans | 9 episodes |
Awards and nominations[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ DIET, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH. BiblioGov. July 25, 2002. p. 33. ISBN 978-1983541629.
- ^ a b Harrington, Richard (September 14, 2007). "The Essential Roger Corman". The Washington Post. Washington DC: WPC. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
Dern's real-life wife, Diane Ladd, playing the Loser's wife, became pregnant with daughter-actress Laura Dern during shooting.
- ^ Diamond, Jamie (August 25, 1992). "A Lifetime of con men and killers". Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
In 1967 I did a movie with Peter Fonda called The Trip... I had just had my daughter Laura
- ^ "Showtime movie a family affair". Spartanburg Herald Journal. January 28, 1996. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
- ^ a b Dern, Laura (October 7, 2013). "Laura Dern Interview". WTF Podcast (Interview). Interviewed by Marc Maron.
- ^ "How the Dern Family Survived Career Setbacks, Embarrassing Set Moments". The Hollywood Reporter. October 28, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ Arnold, Amanda (December 19, 2019). "Laura Dern Is So Good at Sitting". The Cut.
- ^ a b Ellison, Nancy; Manning, Barbara (April 29, 1985). "Laura Dern, Daughter of Bruce (and Diane Ladd) Steps Out on Her Own with a Star Role in Mask". People. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ Kempley, Rita (January 12, 1997). "Laura Dern's Liberal Lust". The Washington Post.
- ^ VanHoose, Benjamin (January 6, 2020). "Laura Dern Recalls Being Miss Golden Globe in 1982: My Grandma Drove Me Up in Her Toyota Corolla". People. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ Ann Powers (September 14, 2008). "'Fabulous' determination". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ Jung, E. Alex (December 2, 2019). "Laura Dern Doesn't Need Our Approval But we gave her an honorary degree anyway". Vulture. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ Smallwood, Christine (May 7, 2019). "Laura Dern Embraces the Messiness of Human Life". The New York Times. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ Desta, Yohana (October 28, 2019). "David Lynch Gave the Shortest Oscar Acceptance Speech Imaginable". Vanity Fair.
- ^ Regensdorf, Laura (October 8, 2019). "Laura Dern, Famous for Her Flameout Heroines, Is a Low-Key Wellness Hero". Vanity Fair.
- ^ "MFA celebrates the films of Laura Dern". The Boston Globe. December 23, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ Baxter, Joseph (April 2015). "The 3 Actresses Silence Of The Lambs Almost Hired Instead Of Jodie Foster". CinemaBlend.
- ^ Watkins, Gwynne (April 2, 2015). "How Jodie Foster Fought for 'Silence of the Lambs' Role". Yahoo.
- ^ Champlin, Charles (March 16, 1992). "In a Family Way : 'Rose' Bouquet for Mom Diane Ladd, Daughter Laura Dern". The Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (December 15, 2017). "Laura Dern on Enlightened preceding the resistance: 'Now, most of us are Amy Jellicoe'". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (December 10, 2009). "The Young and the Not So Innocent, Swooning Over a Homicidal Fella". The New York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Mike (December 22, 2010). "Is Little Fockers the Worst Movie of the Year (and 24 Other Urgent Questions)?". Vanity Fair.
- ^ "Ellen and Laura Dern reunite after kiss". Associated Press. April 23, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Enlightened: Homepage". HBO. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ "HBO's 'Enlightened' Take On Modern Meditation", Fresh Air interview with Dern and White on NPR, October 10, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
- ^ Schwartz, Dana (January 7, 2018). "Laura Dern wins best supporting actress at Golden Globes". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ "Laura Dern, Amy Adams and Others Join P.T. Anderson's 'The Master'". FirstShowing.net. June 1, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (September 17, 2017). "'Big Little Lies' Flexes Femme Muscle With Eight Big Emmy Wins". Variety. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ Lowe, Kinsey (January 9, 2016). "Laura Dern Joins Cast Of 'Twin Peaks' Follow-Up On Showtime". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ McHenry, Jackson (December 23, 2016). "It Sure Looks Like Laura Dern's Going to Have a Big Part in the Twin Peaks Revival". Vulture.com. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "Star Wars Episode VIII now filming".
- ^ Galuppo, Mia; Lee, Ashley (January 26, 2018). "Sundance: Laura Dern Drama 'The Tale' Nabbed by HBO Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (November 17, 2017). "Noah Baumbach Casts Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern in Next Film". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
- ^ Hammond, Pete (October 24, 2019). "'Little Women' Debuts To Standing Ovation And Another Likely Date With Oscar For Greta Gerwig". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Miller, Julie (January 6, 2020). "Laura Dern Bests Jennifer Lopez for Golden Globe". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (February 2, 2020). "BAFTA Awards: '1917' Takes Best Film And Leads Way With Seven Wins – The Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Drury, Sharareh (February 9, 2020). "Oscars: Laura Dern Dedicates Best Supporting Actress Win to Her Parents". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Romano, Nick (February 25, 2020). "Jurassic World 3 gets Dominion title as filming begins". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c Miller, Samantha (February 4, 2002). "Dern Happy". People. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Actress Laura Dern Marries Ben Harper". People. December 23, 2005. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Laura Dern gives birth to a daughter". Today. November 2004. Retrieved February 27,2020.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Zach (July 9, 2012). "Laura Dern Reactivates Dormant Divorce From Ben Harper". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Laura Dern, Ben Harper Divorce Is Finalized". Huffington Post. September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
- ^ Fisher, Luchina (October 18, 2017). "Laura Dern recalls being sexually assaulted at age 14". ABC News. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ "Laura Dern Goes Political at the Golden Globes". YouTube. Retrieved January 11,2009.
- ^ "Laura Dern interview with Chet Cooper". Abilitymagazine.com. Retrieved August 31,2016.
- ^ CNWN Collection. "Golden Globes 2018: How to Support the Activists' Causes". Allure. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- ^ Romano, Nick (June 30, 2018). "'Families Belong Together' rallies draw celebrities to protest Trump's immigration policy". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Jordan, Julie (November 3, 2018). "Big Little Lies Star Laura Dern Makes Passionate Plea to Protect Environment and Immigrants". PEOPLE.
- ^ Brockington, Ariana (May 22, 2018). "Nina Shaw, Laura Dern Stress Importance of Intersectionality in Time's Up Movement". Variety.
- ^ Franklin, Ericka (April 30, 2019). "Laura Dern Promotes Gender Parity Across Industries at Women in Tech Code-a-Thon". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Tschorn, Adam (December 12, 2019). "2019 is Laura Dern's year. We're just living in it". The Los Angeles Times.
External links[edit]
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laura Dern. |
 | Wikiquote has quotations related to: Laura Dern |
- Laura Dern on IMDb
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