Laura Dern is an Oscar-winning actress that has proved her talent among comedies, dramas, sci-fi, and romance films. With nearly 90 credits to her name, she has played one iconic character after another, and there are so many great and memorable flicks with this familiar face since the 1970s.
Thankfully, she hasn't aged a day, and neither has her talent. This list includes both film and television since she's slain in both realms. Let's throw it back to her most iconic roles, ranked from the sassiest and most villainous to the most loving and heroic.
Amy Jellicoe - Enlightened (2011-2013)
This might be a lesser-known series, but it's definitely memorable for anyone who has seen it. Laura Dern is actually a creator of this drama series, and stars, with Diane Ladd, Sarah Burns, and Luke Wilson.
This show won a Golden Globe, and Dern plays a self-destructive woman, who after a spiritual awakening, wreaks havoc on those around her. Of course, this isn't the most heroic role, but it's definitely memorable.
Renata Klein - Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
This critically-acclaimed drama series follows some upper-class mothers, who all deal with family, love, children, friendship - and a murder. Alongside Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Adam Scott, and Alexander Skarsgård, Laura Dern's character is as sassy as they come.
While she might have been the villain in the first season, fans are certainly all for this bombshell. Of course, she's still not exactly the nicest of the gang.
Nora Fanshaw - Marriage Story (2019)
This Oscar-winning drama is directed by Noah Baumbach, and stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. They play a married couple, who struggle through parenting and a divorce, while they live on separate coasts.
This is the most genuine and pure story of marriage out there today, and Laura Dern brilliantly plays Johansson's lawyer, Nora Fanshaw. She's all about strength, and she's certainly bold and fierce.
Sandy Williams - Blue Velvet (1986)
This is an iconic '80s mystery flick with a young Laura Dern. Directed by David Lynch, Dern joins Isabelle Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, and Dennis Hopper. A young man finds a severed human ear in a field, and partners up with an officer's daughter to find the psychopathic criminals involved with a nightclub singer.
Laura Dern is the officer's daughter and uses her listening ear to help her friend find out as much as they can about the case, including the mysterious singer. While it's not totally villainous, this suspenseful story definitely centers around two rebel youths.
Miss Riley - October Sky (1999)
This biography drama is a '90s classic, and Laura Dern stars alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Cooper. Taking place in 1957, a high school student, who is also a coal miner's son, takes up rocketry after the first Sputnik launch.
With an apprehensive father and community, one teacher, Miss Riley (Laura Dern), encourages his story, which leads to remarkable success. This classic is definitely a wholesome role of Dern's that is a must-see.
Bobbi - Wild (2014)
This biography drama based on the best-selling memoir of the same name also stars Reese Witherspoon, and she plays Cheryl, who embarks on an over one thousand mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, after experiencing a personal tragedy that left her lost.
Laura Dern plays her mother, Bobbi, in flashbacks, and paints a picture of a struggling but loving family. This flick is full of strength, adventure, and inspiration, and is certainly a memorable watch.
Frannie - The Fault In Our Stars (2014)
This popular teen drama is based on the famous novel by John Green. Starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, two teenagers with cancer go on a journey to Amsterdam amidst their illnesses, love, and friendship.
Laura Dern plays Frannie, Hazel's mother, and provides a wholesome and real perspective for a mother of a child with cancer. This funny, raw, and inspiring story certainly has a heroic character played by Laura Dern.
Vice Admiral Holdo - Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
This sequel to our favorite sci-fi franchise is certainly a must-see. Directed by Rian Johnson, Dern joins classics Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher alongside new recruits Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, and John Boyega.
Playing Vice Admiral Holdo, she certainly is on the heroes' side in this battle of the Resistance against the First Order. This role is different for Dern but has become totally iconic in a short period of time.
Marmee March - Little Women (2019)
The newest adaptation of this classic novel is directed by Greta Gerwig, and stars Saorise Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Timothée Chalamet, and Laura Dern. Four young women come to terms with family, poverty, sickness, marriage, and love.
Dern is the mother of the girls and plays an incredibly selfless and loving mother, who also actively helps her community. This flick is stunning and is the wholesome movie that we all need to watch immediately.
Ellie - Jurassic Park (1993)
This was undoubtedly Dern's breakout role and actually might just continue to be her most famous role to date. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this iconic and classic series is timeless. With three Oscar wins, Laura Dern became memorable as Dr. Ellie Sattler.
Although this was nearly 30 years ago, Dern has thrown us back to this role in many of the sequels that have come out, and we will always remember her running with dinosaurs alongside Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum. Obviously, she was smart and brave, and a total heroine.