Academy Award-winning actor Laura Dern has launched a fierce defence against the modern discourse surrounding so-called 'nepo babies', labelling the entire conversation as 'absurd' and 'insane'.
A Legacy, Not a Label
In a candid new interview with The Telegraph, the 58-year-old star of Jurassic Park and Blue Velvet was asked about the term, which is often used disparagingly to describe children of celebrities who enter show business. Dern, the daughter of acclaimed actors Bruce Dern and the late Diane Ladd, argued the critique is unfairly targeted at the entertainment industry.
'It’s insane,' Dern stated. 'I’m curious if anyone’s ever called your local butcher whose kids take over the business a ‘nepo baby’. Or a milliner. It is absurd.' She reflected on her own early career, explaining she actively sought to establish her own identity separate from her famous parents. 'When I started, I definitely wanted to be my own person... because you want to stand on your own.'
Dern contrasted the current climate with her own experience, noting, 'Back then, there wasn’t ‘nepo’ anything; it was part of a legacy story – I was raised in this industry.' She expressed sympathy for the younger generation, including her own children, suggesting social media has turned a family legacy into a 'scarlet letter'.
Family in the Spotlight
Dern's own children with ex-husband musician Ben Harper have followed creative paths. Her son, Ellery, is a musician, and her daughter, Jaya, is an actor. The proud mother said of them, 'They’re the greatest people I’ve ever met... I just want to listen to their brains at work.'
The interview also served as a tribute to her mother, Diane Ladd, who died in November 2025 at the age of 89 from respiratory failure. Dern highlighted Ladd's off-screen activism as a major influence, recalling marching for human and women's rights with her from a very young age. 'What I learnt from Jane Fonda, and my mum... is that they were also activists,' she shared.
Looking Forward
Dern's latest professional venture is the upcoming film Is This Thing On?, directed by Bradley Cooper. The project is scheduled for release in UK cinemas later this month, marking her continued prominence in the industry she was born into but has unequivocally made her own.
Her comments add a significant voice to the ongoing debate about privilege and merit in Hollywood, challenging the reductive nature of the 'nepo baby' label while acknowledging the unique pressures faced by today's generation of industry legacies.
