Laura Dern May Be An Oscar Winner, But She Told Us Why She Still Pops Up In Smaller Roles

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Laura Dern is one of the most successful actors working today. Over the past few decades, she’s appeared in a wide range of films, from critically acclaimed independent movies like Blue Velvet and Certain Women to huge blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Despite winning an Oscar for Marriage Story and achieving legendary status, Dern still chooses to take on smaller roles. She recently explained to TopMob why she continues to do so.

Laura Dern is scheduled to appear in three films in 2025, either in supporting roles or with brief cameos. Her latest project is the dramedy Is This Thing On?, directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Will Arnett. In a recent interview with TopMob, Dern and Arnett discussed the film, and Dern explained her thoughtful approach to selecting roles, offering a perspective that perfectly suits her personality.

I really enjoy being around smart, creative people, especially those who are great storytellers. Honestly, I just want to be where the energy is good and have a good time. It might sound self-centered, but I’m a big movie fan and I love spending time with interesting people.

It’s fantastic to hear an actor talk like that, and it really shows how much Laura Dern loves acting, even if she doesn’t have a huge role. What’s truly remarkable is that whenever she appears in something – like Little Women – she delivers a brilliant performance, no matter the size of the part. I’m thrilled to see her act in any capacity, and Will Arnett actually asked a question that perfectly captures how I feel about it.

Who’s not delighted to watch something and see Laura Dern show up?

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Over the past ten years, Laura Dern has taken on smaller roles in television series like The Mindy Project, The Last Man on Earth, and The White Lotus. She’s also contributed voice work to Jurassic World video games and made a cameo in Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled” music video as part of Swift’s close-knit group of friends. It’s great to see Dern collaborate with people she enjoys and clearly has good relationships with, adding some fun variety to her impressive career.

This year, Laura Dern made a brief appearance in the post-credits scene of the movie Caught Stealing, playing Austin Butler’s mother. She’s also starring in Jay Kelly, a Netflix film coming out in 2025, though I felt her character could have been used more effectively. In Is This Thing On?, Dern plays Tess Novak, a woman dealing with the end of her marriage to Alex (Arnett), who unexpectedly takes up stand-up comedy.

I’m really hoping Laura Dern keeps taking on interesting, smaller parts in films. She’s consistently wonderful, and every movie she’s in seems to get a little better. If you’d like to see her latest work, check out Is This Thing On?, which comes out in theaters on December 19th.

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2025-12-18 02:08