Praised for her emotional depth, versatility and fearless choices over a four-decade career, Laura Dern is that rare breed of Hollywood actress who speaks fluent film. Her latest film, Is This Thing On?, received both critical and public acclaim. Despite her success, there is still something gloriously unmanufactured about her. She remains disarmingly direct, funny and deeply human. That is what makes her such a compelling cover star for the spring issue of I-M Inquisitive Minds.
In this interview with Guy Kelly, Dern speaks with rare candour about love, family, fame, activism and the changing nature of Hollywood. She reflects on the kind of intimacy modern cinema too often overlooks, the value of enduring connection in a world addicted to novelty, and why emotional honesty still matters, both on screen and off. From her memories of David Lynch, whom she describes as a formative force in her life, to her clear-eyed views on the so-called “nepo baby” debate, Dern comes across as both self-aware and completely unbothered by easy labels.
“If there is something that seems broken, you respond to it” – Laura Dern
There is real depth here, but also plenty of wit. She is warm, irreverent and wonderfully unfiltered, moving with ease between the absurdity of celebrity culture and much weightier reflections on motherhood, vulnerability and the responsibility of using one’s voice. The result is a portrait of an actress who has not only endured, but stayed curious, politically awake and artistically fearless.
More than a film star, Laura Dern emerges in these pages as a woman who has grown up inside the machinery of cinema without ever becoming mechanical herself. She talks about childhood, protest, purpose and the pressure placed on women to turn themselves into brands, offering the kind of insight that feels both intimate and refreshingly unscripted.
If Laura Dern has always stood apart, this interview shows exactly why. Intelligent, funny and full of feeling, it is one of the standout reads of the new issue.
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