Laura Dern

Laura Dern is an actress and producer known for her work in film and television, including Jurassic Park, Big Little Lies and Marriage Story. Dern is the daughter of actors Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern. She grew up in the entertainment industry and began acting at a young age, studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She briefly attended the University of California Los Angeles but withdrew shortly after enrolling to film Blue Velvet (1986).

Dern rose to prominence in the ’80s and ’90s with roles in films such as Mask (1985) and Wild at Heart (1990). Her career continued to build with standout performances in Rambling Rose (1991) and Jurassic Park (1993), with the former earning her an Academy Award nomination for best actress. She became known for portraying complex, resilient characters across a range of genres.

In recent years, Dern has earned critical acclaim for her performances in Big Little Lies and Marriage Story (2019), the latter of which won her an Academy Award for best supporting actress. Her additional credits include Little Women (2019), The Son (2022) and Is This Thing On? (2025). On television, she’s appeared on Enlightened, Big Little Lies and Palm Royale.

Dern was previously in a long-term relationship with Billy Bob Thornton, and they were briefly engaged before their split. She later married musician Ben Harper in 2005, and the pair share two children: Ellery (born in 2001) and Jaya (born in 2004). They finalized their divorce in 2013.