You know that face. It’s the one that can go from a trembling, tear-streaked mess to a shark-like grin in about three seconds flat. Whether she’s screaming at a T-Rex or screaming at a barista in a high-end Monterey cafe, Laura Dern has this uncanny ability to make being "unhinged" look like a high art form.
Honestly, it's kind of wild to look at the sheer range of laura dern movies and shows over the last four decades. She isn't just an actress; she’s a vibe. From the neon-soaked surrealism of David Lynch to the blockbuster dust of Jurassic Park, she has managed to stay relevant while most of her 80s peers have either retired or moved into "distinguished elder" cameos. Dern? She’s just getting started. Again.
The Roles That Defined the "Dernaissance"
Most people talk about the "Dernaissance" like it’s a recent thing. Sure, her Oscar win for Marriage Story in 2020 was a massive peak, but if you've been paying attention, she's been doing the heavy lifting for years.
Take Big Little Lies. As Renata Klein, she basically invented a new category of "stressed-out power mom." You couldn't look away. When she yelled, "I will not not be rich!" it wasn't just a meme; it was a masterclass in entitlement and anxiety. It’s easily one of the most iconic performances in modern television.
Then there’s the Lynch stuff.
You can’t talk about her career without David Lynch. Blue Velvet gave us the innocent Sandy Williams, while Wild at Heart saw her go full Southern gothic as Lula. And Inland Empire? That movie is basically a three-hour fever dream where Dern proves she can carry a film with almost no coherent script. It’s unsettling. It’s brilliant. It’s very Laura.
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A Career of High Stakes and Dinosaur Breath
- Jurassic Park (1993): Dr. Ellie Sattler. She wasn't a damsel. She was a paleobotanist who went into the maintenance shed to turn the power back on while everyone else was hiding.
- Citizen Ruth (1996): This is the one most people miss. She plays a glue-huffing, pregnant woman caught in the middle of the abortion debate. It’s a pitch-black comedy that proves she has zero ego when it comes to looking "un-glamorous."
- Enlightened (2011-2013): Amy Jellicoe is perhaps her most "cringe" character. A woman trying so hard to be "zen" after a public breakdown that she becomes terrifyingly destructive.
What's Actually New in 2026?
If you think she’s slowing down, you haven’t seen the January 2026 release schedule. Bradley Cooper’s new film, Is This Thing On?, features Dern in a role that’s already getting "sexy, date-night" buzz. She plays Tess, a woman navigating a crumbling marriage with Will Arnett’s character.
Apparently, she even had to play volleyball against professionals for the film. Talk about commitment.
There's also the ongoing saga of Palm Royale on Apple TV+. Playing a 1960s heiress-turned-activist, she gets to flex those comedy muscles alongside legends like Carol Burnett. It’s camp, it’s colorful, and it reminds us that she can do "light and funny" just as well as "dark and brooding."
Why We Can't Get Enough of Her
It’s the "Dern Face." You’ve seen it—the chin quivers, the eyes well up, and you feel her soul being crushed in real-time. But then, she flips a switch.
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She has this weirdly specific talent for playing women who are right on the edge. Whether it’s Vice Admiral Holdo in Star Wars: The Last Jedi or the fierce Marmee in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, she brings a grounded, human weight to everything.
The Awards Shelf is Getting Heavy
It’s not just fan-girling, either. The critics agree. She’s sitting on:
- One Academy Award (from three nominations).
- Five Golden Globes.
- A Primetime Emmy (out of a staggering nine nominations).
She’s basically the "actor’s actor" who somehow became a household name without ever losing her indie soul.
The "Must-Watch" Checklist
If you're looking to dive into the deep end of laura dern movies and shows, you've got to be strategic. Don't just watch the big hits.
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Start with Smooth Talk (1985). She was only 18, but she played a teenager discovering her sexual power with a nuance that most veterans can't touch. Then, jump to Marriage Story. Her monologue about the Virgin Mary and the double standards of motherhood? It should be required reading for anyone alive.
Finally, check out The Tale (2018). It’s a tough watch—dealing with childhood trauma and memory—but it’s arguably her most brave performance. It shows the limitation of memory and how we protect ourselves from the truth.
Actionable Insights for the Laura Dern Fan:
- Track her 2026 projects: Keep an eye out for Is This Thing On? in theaters now, and stay tuned for the rumored third season of Big Little Lies which remains a "maybe-someday" industry whisper.
- Go back to the 90s: Watch Afterburn or Rambling Rose to see how she and her mother, Diane Ladd, made Oscar history as the first mother-daughter duo nominated for the same film.
- Support Indie Cinema: Much of her best work is in smaller, "messier" films like Certain Women. These are where she really shines without the big-budget distractions.