Laura Dern Slams ‘Nepo Baby’ Tag, Defends Her Hollywood Upbringing

Laura Dern has taken aim at the ‘nepo baby’ label, calling out what she sees as the absurdity of the term and standing up for her family’s long-standing ties to the film industry. The acclaimed actor, whose parents Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd are both well-known in the business, first appeared on screen at just seven years old in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, sharing the set with her mum. By the time she was out of her teens, she’d already carved out a solid reputation in the industry.

In a recent chat with The Telegraph, the Blue Velvet star admitted that if she were starting out now, she’d probably be lumped in with the ‘nepo baby’ crowd. She didn’t mince words about the label, saying,

“It’s insane. I’m curious if anyone’s ever called your local butcher whose kids take over the business a ‘nepo baby’. Or a milliner.”

She went on to call the whole thing “absurd”, adding,

“When I started I definitely wanted to be my own person and separate myself and have casting directors not mention my parents, because you want to stand on your own.”

Family Legacy and Changing Attitudes

Dern was quick to point out that, back in the day, there was no talk of ‘nepo’ anything.

“Back then there wasn’t ‘nepo’ anything; it was part of a legacy story – I was raised in this industry.”

She reckons the whole idea of being embarrassed by family connections is a recent thing, and she’s not shy about blaming social media for making it worse.

“But this generation? My kids’ age? It’s like it’s an embarrassing scarlet letter they’re wearing. I guess social media has done that…”

For Dern, growing up in a family of actors was just the way things were. She’s clear that she wanted to make her own mark, but she doesn’t see why following in your parents’ footsteps should be a source of shame. The way she tells it, the industry used to see it as a story of legacy, not a reason to take the mickey.

New Film and Audience Reactions

Dern’s latest project, Is This Thing On?, sees her starring alongside Will Arnett, who plays her estranged husband. The story follows his character as he turns to stand-up comedy to cope with their split. The film, directed by Bradley Cooper, is loosely inspired by the life of British comedian John Bishop.

Speaking about the response to the film, Dern shared,

“I’ve had so many people come up to me since the screening, saying, ‘I can’t wait to take my husband, we thought we were getting a divorce but I’m so in love with him.”

The film is set to hit UK cinemas on 30 January 2026, and it’s already got punters talking about its take on relationships and second chances.