Laura Dern On The Low-Key Feminist Moment From 'Jurassic Park' You Might've Missed

And why it's important.
Dern at the premiere of "Twin Peaks" on May 19, 2017 in Los Angeles.
Dern at the premiere of "Twin Peaks" on May 19, 2017 in Los Angeles.
Jason LaVeris via Getty Images

Laura Dern really is *just like us* ― she loves a good feminist movie scene.

In an Aug. 28 interview, the β€œBig Little Lies” actress spoke with WWD about being a single mother to her two children and, of course, β€œWonder Woman.”

β€œI loved seeing it β€” and I really loved seeing it with my 12-year-old daughter,” Dern said of the box-office smash β€œWonder Woman.” β€œPeople are like, β€˜Well, you can’t turn this kind of film into a statement.’ It’s like, no. You infiltrate every story that you tell. It can be a traditional movie, but you respond to something different.”

Dern added that she got to do just that for her role in the 1993 β€œJurassic Park” opposite of Jeff Goldblum.

β€œWe did it on β€˜Jurassic Park’ ― there was a rather feminist line in response to something Jeff Goldblum says about β€˜man creates dinosaurs, and dinosaurs eat man.’ Something like that. And then I look back and say the line, β€˜Yeah ― and woman inherits the earth’ and that was such a big deal,” Dern said. β€œIt was like here it is, we’re in this formulaic, big movie and it’s this fabulous, fun, feminist moment.”

Watch the β€œJurassic Park” clip Dern is referring to below.

Dern explained to WWD that 12-year-old girls, like her daughter, were watching β€œJurassic Park” and heard that subtle feminist line ― and that’s important.

β€œThen there are 12-year-old girls watching the movie and they hear that, and it’s one line,” Dern said. β€œFor years it was β€˜Oh, well that’s more for boys, because it’s a dinosaur movie,’ and that’s what they used to say about β€˜Star Wars,’ and now because there are female icons in it, all the girls want to see it as much as boys. So yeah, it’s really exciting to consider with every story that you tell. Every film I get to be part of, [I consider] how we can make it truly relatable, to all of us.”

Head over to WWD to read Dern’s full interview.

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