Laura Dern Trying To Put Focus On Women In Film

Laura Dern has made quite a career for herself as a kind of Jill of all trades. Now the actress is hoping that she can help get the attention on other successful women who are working hard in the entertainment industry. On Friday, Laura Dern gathered with a number of other high-profile actors and actresses in order to celebrate and promote women in front of and behind the camera.

Laura Dern’s event, officially called the Women in Film Pre-Oscar Cocktail Party, was a sort of kick-off for the upcoming Oscars award show. Laura Dern was just one of well-known and well-respected women in attendance. Other actresses who attended included Meryl Streep, Rosamund Pike, and newcomers like Elle Fanning. It seems as though it has been the mission for a while for the actress to try and get more prominent names to take up the cause. She has been working hard to get a more feminine voice in Hollywood, which many people consider to be a bit too masculine these days.

With my girls pic.twitter.com/7tz2CRYvFt

— Laura Dern (@LauraDern) November 8, 2014

Laura Dern and prominent female voices aren’t the only ones who seem to understand the importance of bringing more women to the forefront. At the event, Peter Fonda said, “We can’t just stop at Kathryn Bigelow,” speaking of the only female director to ever win an Oscar. Fonda went on to say that there are a number of women like Laura Dern who can work as actors and directors and writers. He added these women could stand toe to toe with men, but Hollywood has a screwy way of doing things.

For Laura Dern’s part, the actress has managed to find roles and positions that fit what she wants to do. She isn’t attempting to keep up with the younger stars but rather trying to compliment them. This is the kind of role that someone like Meryl Streep has managed to do quite well because she understands the limitations Hollywood places on women actors and adapts and overcomes them.

It’s been a while since Dern has been thought of as an A-lister when it comes to acting, but she’s managed to put together a long and storied career. She’s also managed to pilot her way through tough personal issues like a 2013 divorce with grace and class. As she promotes women in film, more women in Hollywood would do well to pattern themselves after Laura Dern.

[Photo by Chris Weeks/Liaison]