Laura Dern: The 7 Essential Movies And TV Shows Defining Her Career Renaissance (2024-2025)
Laura Dern, an actress renowned for her ability to embody complex, fiercely intelligent, and often subversive characters, is currently experiencing one of the most dynamic phases of her decades-long career. Her recent work, including a scene-stealing role in a major 2024 streaming series and a slate of highly-anticipated projects for 2025 and beyond, solidifies her status as a Hollywood icon who continues to evolve and challenge expectations. As of today, December 23, 2025, her filmography is a masterclass in versatility, bridging blockbuster franchises with deeply emotional, character-driven dramas and innovative new genres.
From her early collaborations with directors like David Lynch to her Oscar-winning turn in a Netflix drama, Dern’s choices are consistently bold. This article dives into the essential movies and TV shows—both recent hits and future must-watches—that are defining her career renaissance, providing a definitive guide for fans and critics alike to her most impactful and current work.
Laura Dern: A Career-Spanning Biography and Profile
Laura Elizabeth Dern was born on February 10, 1967, in Los Angeles, California, into a lineage of Hollywood royalty. Her parents are legendary actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd, both of whom are Oscar-nominated performers. This unique upbringing provided a front-row seat to the craft, and she made her screen debut at a young age, often appearing alongside her mother.
- Full Name: Laura Elizabeth Dern
- Born: February 10, 1967 (Age 58 as of 2025)
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Parents: Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd (both actors)
- Breakthrough Role: Sandy Williams in Blue Velvet (1986)
- Iconic Roles: Dr. Ellie Sattler in Jurassic Park (1993), Renata Klein in Big Little Lies (2017–2019), and Nora Fanshaw in Marriage Story (2019).
- Major Awards:
- Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Supporting Actress (Marriage Story, 2019)
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series (Big Little Lies, 2017)
- Five Golden Globe Awards
- Recent & Upcoming Collaborators: Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Glen Powell, and Anthony Mackie.
The 2024 Triumphs: From Satire to Solitude
The year 2024 saw Dern cement her presence across both the small and big screens, showcasing her range from biting social satire to quiet, romantic drama. These projects are crucial to understanding her current career trajectory, moving seamlessly between major studio productions and prestige television.
Palm Royale (2024– ) - The Television Hit
In the Apple TV+ comedy series Palm Royale, Laura Dern plays the role of Linda Shaw, an heiress turned activist. Set in 1969 Palm Beach, the show is a vibrant, satirical look at class and ambition, centered around a woman (played by Kristen Wiig) desperately trying to break into the exclusive high society of the Palm Royale country club. Dern’s character is a fascinating pivot from the high-powered executive Renata Klein of Big Little Lies, offering a more grounded, yet equally complex, critique of wealth and privilege. Her performance was widely praised for its subtle humor and emotional depth, proving her mastery of the limited series format. The show's success highlights the actress's continued drawing power in the streaming era.
Lonely Planet (2024) - The Netflix Romantic Drama
Released on Netflix in October 2024, Lonely Planet is a romantic drama where Dern stars opposite Liam Hemsworth. The film, directed by Susannah Grant, explores themes of connection, travel, and the unexpected turns life takes. After the high-stakes legal drama of Marriage Story and the intensity of Big Little Lies, Lonely Planet offered Dern a chance to explore a more intimate, character-focused narrative. The project further underscores her willingness to work with established female filmmakers and take on roles that prioritize emotional vulnerability over spectacle.
The Highly Anticipated Upcoming Projects (2025 and Beyond)
Dern's future slate is arguably the most exciting part of her current career phase. It includes a directorial debut, a high-profile legal thriller, a mind-bending sci-fi drama, and a reunion with major comedy stars. This diverse mix ensures she will remain a dominant force in cinema for the next several years.
1. Is This Thing On? (2025)
Slated for a 2025 release, Is This Thing On? is a major comedic feature starring Laura Dern alongside Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper, with Cooper also directing. While plot details are tightly guarded, the combination of these comedic talents suggests a sharp, character-driven film. Dern's ability to blend drama and comedy—a skill honed in projects like Enlightened—makes her a perfect fit for a cast led by Arnett and Cooper, promising a fresh and memorable performance. The film is a significant entry into her post-Oscar filmography, positioning her in a high-profile, star-studded ensemble.
2. Monsanto (In Development) - The Legal Thriller
Dern is set to return to the courtroom, a setting where she previously won an Oscar for Marriage Story, in the legal drama Monsanto. The film tells the true story of young, untried attorney Brent Wisner (played by Glen Powell) who takes on a colossal legal battle against the powerful U.S. chemical giant Monsanto. The project, which also co-stars Anthony Mackie, is described as an "Erin Brockovich"-style narrative, suggesting a powerful, socially conscious role for Dern. Her involvement signals a commitment to impactful, true-life stories and reinforces her reputation for portraying formidable women in high-pressure environments.
3. Morning (TBA) - The Sci-Fi Drama
Perhaps her most intriguing upcoming project is the sci-fi drama Morning, co-starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Noah Jupe. Set in the near future, the film depicts a society that has moved beyond the need for sleep thanks to a new pill, coupled with an artificial sun that ensures perpetual daytime. The story is described as a "joyful, reflective, and defiant story" about how a preoccupation with productivity has eroded humanity's ability to rest and connect. This high-concept, futuristic role represents a bold new direction for Dern, allowing her to explore philosophical themes within a genre framework, a departure from her recent prestige dramas.
4. Hart's Location (TBA) - Directorial Debut
Adding another dimension to her career, Laura Dern is set to make her feature film directorial debut with Hart's Location. The drama centers on a daughter who attempts to regain custody of her son and seeks out her estranged father, who left her when she was three years old. The deeply personal nature of the story, focusing on fractured family dynamics and reconciliation, suggests a powerful and intimate directorial vision. This move into directing is a major career milestone, demonstrating her desire to shape narratives from behind the camera as well as in front of it. Her father, Bruce Dern, is also rumored to be involved in the project, which would add a poignant, meta-textual layer to the family drama.
5. Ozi, Voice of the Forest (TBA) - Animated Feature
Dern also lends her voice talents to the animated feature Ozi, Voice of the Forest, where she voices Ozi's Mother. The film, which co-stars Amandla Stenberg, RuPaul Charles, and Donald Sutherland, is an environmental adventure about a little orphan orangutan named Ozi. This project showcases her commitment to family-friendly and conservation-themed content, rounding out her filmography with a voice role that appeals to a broader audience while supporting a positive message.
The Enduring Legacy: Topical Authority and Key Collaborations
No discussion of Laura Dern’s career is complete without acknowledging the foundational roles that established her topical authority and led to her current renaissance. These projects serve as the essential context for her new work and continue to influence pop culture.
- Dr. Ellie Sattler (Jurassic Park & Jurassic World Dominion): Her role as the paleobotanist Dr. Sattler is a cornerstone of modern blockbuster cinema. Her reprisal in 2022’s Jurassic World Dominion was a critical and commercial success, reintroducing the iconic character to a new generation.
- Renata Klein (Big Little Lies): The HBO series, co-starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, and Zoë Kravitz, earned Dern an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Her portrayal of the high-powered, perpetually stressed Renata became a cultural phenomenon, generating countless memes and cementing her as a master of prestige television.
- Nora Fanshaw (Marriage Story): Her Oscar-winning role as the divorce lawyer Nora Fanshaw was a masterclass in controlled, yet devastating, performance. The monologue on the double standards of motherhood and fatherhood remains one of the most celebrated scenes of the decade.
- David Lynch Collaborations: Her work with auteur David Lynch in films like Blue Velvet (1986), Wild at Heart (1990), and the television series Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) is essential to understanding her early career and her willingness to embrace the surreal and unconventional.
Laura Dern’s filmography is a testament to an artist who refuses to be pigeonholed. From the tropical satire of Palm Royale to the futuristic intensity of Morning and her personal journey in Hart's Location, her upcoming work promises to be just as impactful as her legendary past. Fans have much to look forward to as she continues to deliver fresh, compelling, and award-worthy performances across every medium.
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