Laura Dern

From the surreal world of David Lynch to the blockbuster prehistoric adventures of Steven Spielberg, Oscar-nominated actress Laura Dern created one of the most interesting and unusual careers of any actress in Hollywood. Her track record as a risk-taker and her dedication to well-written female characters on a journey of self-discovery in films like "Blue Velvet" (1986) and "Rambling Rose" (1991) often meant that her finest work was seen more often in art house cinemas. A growing public interest in upscale cable television movies such as "Afterburn" (HBO, 1992), "Down Came a Blackbird" (Showtime, 1995) and "Recount" (HBO, 2008) provided a second outlet for Dern's facile work with character dramas and dark comedy, leading to multiple Emmy nominations. Of course, Dern starred in major blockbusters like "Jurassic Park" (1993) and "Jurassic Park III" (2001), but she made her career in smaller films like "I Am Sam" (2001), "We Don't Live Here Anymore" (2004), and "Year of the Dog" (2007). The statuesque blonde with the respectable Hollywood pedigree could easily have sold out her sophisticated taste for a fulltime job brandishing weaponry in action thrillers, but she remained true to the offbeat, counterculture leanings of her famous parents, actors Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern. Adding to her list of indelible characters in acclaimed films ranging from Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" (2012) and Kelly Reichart's "Certain Women" (2016), Dern was the star of her own series, "Enlightened" (HBO. 2011-13), which earned her more acclaim and helped cement her status as one of Hollywood's most unique talents. After reuniting with David Lynch for an unforgettable performance in "Twin Peaks: The Return" (Showtime 2017), Dern made her debut in the Star Wars universe with a key role in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2017).