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Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1982)
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02of 18Blue Velvet (1986)De Laurentiis Entertainment Group/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyInBlue Velvet,the first of her collaborations with writer/director David Lynch, Dern played the daughter of a detective who, along with her friend Jeffrey Beaumont, tries to solve the mystery of a severed ear in the grass near their homes.
02of 18
Blue Velvet (1986)
De Laurentiis Entertainment Group/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty
InBlue Velvet,the first of her collaborations with writer/director David Lynch, Dern played the daughter of a detective who, along with her friend Jeffrey Beaumont, tries to solve the mystery of a severed ear in the grass near their homes.
03of 18Wild at Heart (1990)Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyAnother David Lynch film! Dern, who played Lula in the film, acted opposite Nicolas Cage, who played her boyfriend, Sailor. Sailor is released from jail after serving time for a murder he committed in self-defense. Lula’s mom is none too happy about the pair and attempts to have Sailor killed, making for a Bonnie and Clyde-esque pairing with some camp and humor thrown in.
03of 18
Wild at Heart (1990)
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty
Another David Lynch film! Dern, who played Lula in the film, acted opposite Nicolas Cage, who played her boyfriend, Sailor. Sailor is released from jail after serving time for a murder he committed in self-defense. Lula’s mom is none too happy about the pair and attempts to have Sailor killed, making for a Bonnie and Clyde-esque pairing with some camp and humor thrown in.
04of 18Rambling Rose (1991)Seven Arts/GettyDern acted opposite her own mother, Diane Ladd, in the film, which earned them both Oscar nominations in 1992 — Best Actress for Dern and Supporting Actress for Ladd. Dern’s performance as the titular character also earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
04of 18
Rambling Rose (1991)
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Dern acted opposite her own mother, Diane Ladd, in the film, which earned them both Oscar nominations in 1992 — Best Actress for Dern and Supporting Actress for Ladd. Dern’s performance as the titular character also earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
05of 18Afterburn (1992)HBO/GettyDern was nominated for an Emmy Award and won a Golden Globe for her performance as a woman who loses her husband after his F-16 jet fighter aircraft crashes. Dern’s character, Janet Harduvel, takes on the United States military and manufacturer of the aircraft.
05of 18
Afterburn (1992)
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Dern was nominated for an Emmy Award and won a Golden Globe for her performance as a woman who loses her husband after his F-16 jet fighter aircraft crashes. Dern’s character, Janet Harduvel, takes on the United States military and manufacturer of the aircraft.
06of 18Jurassic Park (1993)Murray Close/GettyDern played paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler in the Steven Spielberg film series, both in the first and the third installments.She’llreturn to the rolein the third installment of the reboot this year.
06of 18
Jurassic Park (1993)
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Dern played paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler in the Steven Spielberg film series, both in the first and the third installments.She’llreturn to the rolein the third installment of the reboot this year.
07of 18Citizen Ruth (1996)Miramax/courtesy EverettIn 1996, Dern played a woman who can’t seem to stay out of trouble, and then finds herself pregnant. The only issue? She ends up in the middle of a pro-choice/pro-life debate with each side attempting to bribe her to make a choice that supports their cause.
07of 18
Citizen Ruth (1996)
Miramax/courtesy Everett
In 1996, Dern played a woman who can’t seem to stay out of trouble, and then finds herself pregnant. The only issue? She ends up in the middle of a pro-choice/pro-life debate with each side attempting to bribe her to make a choice that supports their cause.
08of 18Ellen (1997)ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty ImagesA role that had a lasting impact on pop culture, Dern was in one of the most prolific episodes of television in recent history. Dern played an out lesbian on “The Puppy Episode” ofEllenin whichEllen DeGenerescomes out as gay. Dern was nominated for an Emmy award for her role.Derntold PEOPLEthat the episode was a pivotal experience for her.“If empathy and compassion are all we’re really here for, then I couldn’t ask for a greater gift than the experience of what it meant for Ellen to come out, to be with her at the moment that she said those words for the first time, to watch her change history, and to listen to and share so many stories from people around the world that moment impacted,” she said. “It changed my life forever, I’m forever grateful.”
08of 18
Ellen (1997)
ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images
A role that had a lasting impact on pop culture, Dern was in one of the most prolific episodes of television in recent history. Dern played an out lesbian on “The Puppy Episode” ofEllenin whichEllen DeGenerescomes out as gay. Dern was nominated for an Emmy award for her role.
Derntold PEOPLEthat the episode was a pivotal experience for her.
“If empathy and compassion are all we’re really here for, then I couldn’t ask for a greater gift than the experience of what it meant for Ellen to come out, to be with her at the moment that she said those words for the first time, to watch her change history, and to listen to and share so many stories from people around the world that moment impacted,” she said. “It changed my life forever, I’m forever grateful.”
09of 18
October Sky (1999)
Dern played Miss Riley in this retelling of a true story about Homer H. Hickam, Jr., who grew up in a coal mining town, but was inspired to shoot for the moon (literally) after the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957.
10of 18Focus (2001)Russ Martin/Focus Prod/Carros/Kobal/ShutterstockDern played Gertrude Hart in this post-World War II film based on the Arthur Miller novel of the same name, opposite William H. Macy. In the film, Macy’s character, Lawrence Newman, gets glasses that make him “look Jewish,” and suddenly he becomes a target for his Brooklyn neighborhood.
10of 18
Focus (2001)
Russ Martin/Focus Prod/Carros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Dern played Gertrude Hart in this post-World War II film based on the Arthur Miller novel of the same name, opposite William H. Macy. In the film, Macy’s character, Lawrence Newman, gets glasses that make him “look Jewish,” and suddenly he becomes a target for his Brooklyn neighborhood.
11of 18The Master (2012)Ghoulardi Film CompanyInThe Master, which also starred Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams, Dern gave a haunting performance as a devout follower of a cult that doesn’t seem all too far-fetched.
11of 18
The Master (2012)
Ghoulardi Film Company
InThe Master, which also starred Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams, Dern gave a haunting performance as a devout follower of a cult that doesn’t seem all too far-fetched.
12of 18Enlightened (2011-2013)Home Box Office/Kobal/ShutterstockDern’s performance as Amy Jellicoe on the HBO series earned her a Golden Globe in 2012 and an Emmy nomination in 2013.
12of 18
Enlightened (2011-2013)
Home Box Office/Kobal/Shutterstock
Dern’s performance as Amy Jellicoe on the HBO series earned her a Golden Globe in 2012 and an Emmy nomination in 2013.
13of 18Wild (2014)20th Century Fox/Kobal/ShutterstockThis movie gave us two very important things: the start of a beautiful friendship between Dern and her costar, Reese Witherspoon,andan Academy Award nomination for Dern in 2015.
13of 18
Wild (2014)
20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
This movie gave us two very important things: the start of a beautiful friendship between Dern and her costar, Reese Witherspoon,andan Academy Award nomination for Dern in 2015.
14of 18Twin Peaks (2017)Patrick WymoreWhen David Lynch comes a-callin' … Laura Dern signs up. She starred in hisTwin Peaksreboot in 2017 as Diane Evans.
14of 18
Twin Peaks (2017)
Patrick Wymore
When David Lynch comes a-callin' … Laura Dern signs up. She starred in hisTwin Peaksreboot in 2017 as Diane Evans.
15of 18Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)D James/Lucasfilm/Disney/Kobal/ShutterstockIn a galaxy not-so-far-away, Laura Dern could still have these gorgeous lilac locks. But alas, it was just for her turn in theStar Warsfranchise.
15of 18
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
D James/Lucasfilm/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
In a galaxy not-so-far-away, Laura Dern could still have these gorgeous lilac locks. But alas, it was just for her turn in theStar Warsfranchise.
16of 18
Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/courtesy of HBO
17of 18Little Women (2019)Wilson Webb/Columbia PicturesIn one of her more recent ventures, Dern took on the March family matriarch, Marmee, in Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of the classic novel.
17of 18
Little Women (2019)
Wilson Webb/Columbia Pictures
In one of her more recent ventures, Dern took on the March family matriarch, Marmee, in Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of the classic novel.
18of 18Marriage Story (2019)Wilson WebbDern’s role inMarriage Storyearned her a Golden Globe, SAG Awardandher first Academy Award. In the film she played divorce attorney Nora Fanshaw, representing Scarlett Johansson’s character, Nicole Barber.
18of 18
Marriage Story (2019)
Wilson Webb
Dern’s role inMarriage Storyearned her a Golden Globe, SAG Awardandher first Academy Award. In the film she played divorce attorney Nora Fanshaw, representing Scarlett Johansson’s character, Nicole Barber.
source: people.com
