Unfortunately, overall, movies are a conglomerate. People buy and sell people in this business, which can get really ugly unless you have the right set of values and understand why you're doing it. Luckily, I was raised by people who'd already gotten to that point, and seen all the yuck stuff - which is probably why they originally didn't want me to act.
Laura DernI do think my mother was a bit overprotective, not in any sordid way, but just normally. She certainly might say to me, "You know, Laura, I don't have a good feeling about that guy. I don't know if I want you to go out with him."
Laura DernIt's really fun to act like a bimbo. But it's fun to act like a bimbo only when people know that you really aren't one.
Laura DernWhat do you say when someone has truly inspired you? How do you express to an artist how deeply their work has affected you?
Laura DernI made a commitment to myself: that I wanted to be an actress, and I wanted to do films that make a difference... It has to move people.
Laura DernI love comedy. David's Lynch the only person I've worked with more than once who sees me as a specific thing - he sees me as the sexy bimbo, in ways, and he also sees me as Lucille Ball. Actually, Nick Cage and I did Lucy and Ricky in two scenes in Wild at heart that were cut because the movie was four hours long.
Laura Dern