TV & Movies

21 Alluring Old Photos of a Young Laura Dern

Laura Dern Young
Photo: Getty Images

It’s safe to say that Laura Dern was destined to be a star. Born to actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd, she was bitten by the Hollywood bug when she was young: “At the ripe age of seven I knew I wanted to be an actress,” she has said. “I was watching [my parents work with] Hitchcock and Scorsese…of course I wanted to be an actor.” Sure enough, Dern made appearances alongside her famous mother in the films White Lightening and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore before she was even 10 years old.

However, it wasn’t until she met writer-director David Lynch at the age of 17 that her career really became her own. Between 1986 and 1990, she starred in two of the legendary auteur’s landmark films: Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart. “I don’t know what he saw, but I’m so grateful that he trusted me,” she has said of working with Lynch on those early films.

Undoubtedly, Lynch saw what so many of us have seen as we’ve followed her career over the four decades since: a seemingly effortless ability to blend intellect, authenticity, and fearlessness into a range of characters. From her breakout role as Dr. Ellie Sattler in 1993’s Jurassic Park to her 1997 appearance in the groundbreaking coming-out episode of Ellen and her more recent turns in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Twin Peaks, Palm Royale, and Marriage Story, Dern has shown a knack for depicting individuals who are complex, unconventional, and unforgettable. As Reese Witherspoon, Dern’s co-star in the HBO series Big Little Lies, put it: “Her ability to create characters who have both humor and deep emotional impact is unparalleled.” It’s no wonder Dern has won five Golden Globes, an Oscar, and an Emmy.

Though she’s no stranger to a well-cut blazer or a power suit, Dern’s personal style has long transcended trends—and she’s never been afraid to take a playful risk with a dramatic silhouette or bold color now and then. “If we could all figure out a way to just be true to ourselves and have a good time doing what we’re doing, it would be a lot more fun,” she’s said. Here, a look at photos of a young Laura Dern doing just that.

  • Image may contain Laura Dern Diane Ladd Clothing Coat Accessories Bag Handbag Jacket Purse Adult Person and Face
    Photo: Getty Images
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    1981

    Dern in a silk button-up and wool coat with her mother, actress Diana Ladd, in 1981.

  • Photo: Getty Images
    2/21

    1982

    In 1982, a 15-year-old Dern served as Miss Golden Globe—a now retired Golden Globes tradition that introduced newbie stars (often the children of well-known actors) to Hollywood.

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