Laura Dern, 59, Opens up About Losing Roles Over Her Tall Torso and Height

Laura Dern is opening up about what life is really like when you stand at 5’11”. In a recent discussion with The Independent, the Oscar-winning actress reflected on how her height—combined with what she calls a radically tall torso—has been a constant hurdle in her professional life.

She recalled that by the time she was twelve years old, she had already reached her full height and was actively looking for work, which led to her being passed over for roles more times than she can count.

The star joked that she has probably been rejected roughly 150 times because casting directors didn’t know what to do with her statuesque frame. This long history of height-related hurdles is why she found her experience filming the new movie Is This Thing On? so refreshing.

Starring opposite Will Arnett, who stands 6’2″, provided a rare opportunity for her to feel like she was on equal footing with a male lead. Dern noted that it was a unique joy to finally be in a scene where she and her costar could look straight into each other’s eyes without any camera tricks or height adjustments.

She mentioned that when she and Arnett are seated together, they are actually the same height, a dynamic that felt both crazy and wonderful after years of feeling like the odd one out on set.

While her height may have caused issues in the film world, it recently served her well in the fashion industry. This past October, Dern made her professional runway debut at Paris Fashion Week, opening the show for Gabriela Hearst.

She looked every bit the natural model as she walked the catwalk in a romantic floral dress, proving that the very features that once cost her acting jobs are now being celebrated in a different spotlight.

As of early February, Laura Dern is having a massive start to the year. She recently took home the Best Actress award at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards for her performance as Tess in Is This Thing On?.

The film, directed by Bradley Cooper, follows the emotional journey of a couple navigating the end of their marriage while the husband, played by Arnett, tries to make it as a stand-up comedian in New York.

Beyond her screen success, Dern has turned her attention to a deeply personal cause following the recent passing of her mother, the legendary actress Diane Ladd. She is currently the face of a major health campaign called Beyond the Scars, which aims to raise awareness for pulmonary fibrosis.

She has been using her platform to share their final conversations and encourage families to talk about their health before it’s too late. Looking ahead, fans can see Dern reuniting with her original Jurassic Park costars, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum, in a viral Super Bowl commercial for Xfinity that premiered just a few days ago.

Do you think Hollywood’s obsession with height standards for actresses is finally starting to fade thanks to stars like Laura Dern and Gwendoline Christie, or is there still a long way to go? Share your thoughts in the comments.