Laura Dern Is Now an Emmy Winner and Everything Is Right With the World

Laura Dern is now an Emmy winner. Let’s just repeat that since it sounds so good: Laura Dern is now an Emmy winner. The actress won top honors in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie category for her turn as Renata Klein on HBO’s “Big Little Lies.” The victory marks a high point in a year that has seen Dern return to peak. Her role as Diane Evans in “Twin Peaks: The Return” earned acclaimed from fans, and she’ll next be seen in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

Dern’s win for “Big Little Lies” follows five previous Emmy nominations. She last earned a nomination in 2013 in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category for “Enlightened.” Dern’s performance on “Big Little Lies” summarized what was so great about the series. What on paper could’ve been an over-the-top stereotype was instead a more vulnerable character in Dern’s hands. Renata was a ruthless socialite, but you always knew she was coming from a relatable place of maternal instinct.

“Big Little Lies” found the actress reuniting with co-star Reese Witherspoon and director Jean-Marc Vallee. All three worked on the film “Wild” together, which earned both Witherspoon and Dern Oscar nomaintions.