May 5, 2008 - The Hollywood Exclusive: Dern Hopes Bipartisanship Makes 'Recount' Skeptics 'Hush Up'/Frank Sinatra Jr. And Sinatra Clan Push New Sinatra Stamp
Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith - Laura Dern is well aware that partisans are already lining up on each side of the political debate to greet with enthusiasm -- or annoyance -- "Recount," HBO's May 25 movie about the hotly disputed 2000 election, in which she plays Katherine Harris, Florida's secretary of state. Dern points out that former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, chief legal adviser for the George W. Bush campaign, "not only likes the film, he's hosting a screening along with Jimmy Carter. That says it all to me; they're very clearly declaring this is a non-partisan project. That ought to hush people up, hopefully. See it. Just watch it," she says. "This is what happens when you get disillusioned, sit [at] home and not vote. Your vote counts." Kevin Spacey leads a cast including Tom Wilkinson, John Hurt, Denis Leary, Bob Balaban and Ed Begley Jr. in the telefilm -- which might be the last work the Oscar-nominated actress does for a while. Dern is planning to star in a feature with her father, Bruce Dern -- which will be a first. "Although I've worked with my mother (Diane Ladd) several times, my dad and I have never worked together," she says. "I've never had the honor, so I'm really looking forward to it. He's also directing this one," which is going under the temporary title of "Hart's Location." But …
"Everything is on hold because of the potential Screen Actors Guild strike. It seems very possible. Certainly the Actors Guild is not going to back down. It's an issue of livelihoods," she says. "There aren't TV movies as there used to be. Reality shows have overtaken scripted shows. Fewer features are being made, and those that are, are being made for less money. A lot of actors are being wiped out, getting jobs outside the industry, losing their homes. But at the same time, the producers hold great opportunities to make money in the new media, so new agreements have to be made -- as the writers ultimately, finally were able to do."
April 30, 2008 - Washington Post - 'Recount' Screening Brings Back Memories, Evokes Anxiety -  Laura Dern arguably steals the show in "Recount," the upcoming HBO flick about the contested 2000 presidential election. And after sitting next to Dern at a private screening of the movie Tuesday night, we know who her biggest fan of all is: her husband, Ben Harper, the Grammy award-winning soul/folk/funk musician who laughed riotously at his wife's every scene. Dern plays the colorful Katherine Harris, who, as secretary of state of Florida, tried to call the state's presidential election -- and thus, the entire contest -- for her friend George W. Bush. After many twists and turns the dispute over the recount was eventually decided, in Bush's favor, by the U.S. Supreme Court. Dern does a spot-on, if slightly over-the-top Harris, who, as a congresswoman after her secretary-of-state stint, was one of the most lampooned members of the House. Dern and Harper were seated at the table next to the Sleuth at a dinner and screening in a huge backyard tent at the home of Washington Post icons and uber power couple Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee. After dinner, we turned our chairs to face the big screen and watch the movie -- Dern and Harper sat together directly in front of us, just a few inches away. Harper laughed and stroked his wife's arm and kissed her shoulder during her scenes, which often involved an accentuated voluptuous and hilariously sexually suggestive version of secretary of state Harris primping for the cameras, relishing her role in the limelight of the recount. The portrayal wasn't far off from reality. In one scene in the movie, Dern as Harris compares herself to Queen Esther in the Bible: "She was willing to sacrifice herself to save the lovely Jewish people and that is exactly what I am doing right now." The tent exploded in a chorus of laughter, led by top fan and hubby Harper.
March 31, 2008 - Dominick’s Restaurant (of West Hollywood, California) opened in 1948 and was a Rat Pack hangout. Its new investors are Ben Harper and Laura Dern. http://www.dominicksrestaurant.com/
November 19, 2007 - World Entertainment News Network - Actress-turned-director ROSANNA ARQUETTE has given her support to the Hollywood writers' strike - despite the ongoing struggle halting production on her new movie GOD IS MY CO-PILOT. The Desperately Seeking Susan star experienced first-hand the effects of the ongoing strike after she was prevented from working with a screenwriter on the film script due to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) action. But Arquette isn't bitter about the protests. She says, "The strike affects us all in Hollywood. I am trying to direct my first film and I want Laura Dern as my lead. It is a difficult situation. In fact, it is going to be a revolution. "Creative people who have the ideas are right to want more than the measly amount of money they get now." Members of the WGA have been staging walk-outs since 5 November (07) after talks between the union and studio representatives failed to resolve a dispute over royalties.
November 6, 2007 - Palm Beach Post - Film crews descend on Tallahassee seeking 'Recount' - full article with video here
October 19, 2007 - Zap2it.com - Laura Dern has signed on to star in dad Bruce Dern's feature directorial debut "Hart's Location".  The pic will certainly be a family affair as also poised to star in the movie is Bruce's ex wife Diane Ladd. Ashley Reed has penned the script that centers on a daughter attempting to regain custody of her son and seeking out her father -- who left her when she was 3 years old. Work on the movie is scheduled to begin in February 2008 in Louisiana.
September 25, 2007 - Variety - Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern, Denis Leary, John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson, Ed Begley Jr., and Bob Balaban will star in HBO Films' Recount, a drama about the 2000 presidential election and the legal and political maneuvering from the point of view of both the Bush and Gore camps. The film starts shooting next month in Florida and is scheduled to air on HBO during the home stretch of next fall's presidential election. Spacey stars as the former chief of staff to vice president Al Gore and one of the lead attorneys who challenged the voting results in Florida. Dern will play Katherine Harris, the secretary of state of Florida who certified that George W. Bush had won the state.
September 3, 2007 - pr-inside.com -  Actress LAURA DERN has blasted U.S. President GEORGE BUSH and is desperate for a Democrat to replace him. The 40-year-old actress now has to decide who she wants to win the Democrat race - because she's friends with Hillary Clinton and a fan of her rival Barack Obama. She said " I'm excited that there are so many wonderful Democratic voices speaking out about important issues. "I mean everyone is sick of Bush. Even my Texan Republican stepdad is saying, 'This is a nightmare, get these people outta there.' We all want change."
August 10, 2007 - Laura Dern and her rocker hubby Ben Harper, doting on their children, Jaya, 2, and Ellery, 5, during a fun-filled dinner at Wabi Sabi in Venice, Calif.'s Abbott Kinney neighborhood on Thursday night, August 2nd.. Even though the two dined with a large party (about 10 guests), they still managed to have a romantic time, stealing kisses while still tending to their children. For dinner, Dern opted for a mixed green salad, and the group shared sushi rolls and tempura dishes. On their way out, Harper gave his young daughter a kiss on the forehead before he and Dern both thanked the staff, walking out hand-in-hand with their children. Bike boy Lance Armstrong was spotted dining at Gibsons - Chicago, Illinois Sunday night, August 5th, with singer Ben Harper, who munched on meatloaf and mashed potatoes at Gibsons Friday with actress/wife Laura "Jurassic Park" Dern, who opted for salad and pecan pie.
April 24, 2007 - CNN.com - Laura Dern blames her lack of work on a ten year old kiss with Ellen DeGeneres on television. CNN reports that ten years after the smooch, Dern appeared with Ellen on Monday on DeGeneres' syndicated talk show to reflect on the "aftermath." DeGeneres, 49, came out of the closet in real life while her sitcom character's coming-out episode aired too, Dern kissed the comedian during a guest shot on the ABC series as Ellen's "lesbian love interest." Dern claimed to Ellen "she couldn't get an acting job for more than a year afterward." "There was certainly backlash, I guess, (that) we all felt from it," she told DeGeneres, who said she "was sorry" and "had no idea" that Dern was toast in Tinseltown. Her career in the deep freezer was "awfully terrifying," recalled Dern, who said she's grateful for the "extraordinary experience and opportunity" to be a part of the historic "out" episode, which also featured Oprah Winfrey, Demi Moore and Melissa Etheridge.
April 7, 2007 - MTV News - Dern now in know on 'Jurassic Park IV' - Just as recently as this past January, "Jurassic Park" star Laura Dern had not heard whit nor word about whether or not Ellie Satler would return for the fourth film in the series. It looks like the wheels may be slowly grinding forward, however, as Dern revealed today that she has heard from Steven Spielberg personally about the status of the sequel. "I’m told its happening and I’m told they’re calling me. I’m told that Ellie Sattler is involved in it." When asked if she'd be interested in reprising her role for a third time, Dern made no bones that Spielberg's call was an offer she couldn't refuse. "Well a certain fellow is the one that called me and it’s hard to say no to him cause he’s always got something totally genius up his sleeve so we’ll see what they have in mind. But I don’t know anything about it at this point." Dern also mentions that Universal and Amblin may be shooting for a 2008 release, although this does conflict with last word from producer Frank Marshall that the fourth "Jurassic Park" film wouldn't be put on the front burner until Steven Spielberg was finished with "Indiana Jones 4."
March 24, 2007 - The American Chronicle - LA Marches and Dances in the Street on St Patrick's Day! - The 'Out of Iraq Peace' March at noon on March 17, 2007 from Hollywood and Vine to Hollywood and Highland took things up several notches from previous marches .At the rally after the march such luminaries as Martin Sheen, Mimi Kennedy and Laura Dern gave moving speeches. Also amazingly, the war has gone on so long there were representatives from the huge and growing contingent of Iraq Veterans for Peace who had been sent to Iraq over and over for years, telling their story.
March 23, 2007 - Defamer.com - "Tuesday 3/20 'round 2pm - Laura Dern and Ben Harper meeting up with some regular folk at Joe's Diner on Main St in Santa Monica. Ben was in dark pants and a plaid flannel shirt and ballcap and Laura was in dark jeans and a black quilted ski parka. I think she's in her 40s, but her skin is amazing. She looks maybe 35."
March 19, 2007 - TNZ Paparazzi Video - Dining with sister-in-law Rosanna Arquette and pals Laura Dern and Ben Harper at Patrick's Roadhouse in Santa Monica, Courteney saw the paparazzi and freaked -- taking refuge behind a magazine and saying, "I look worse than I've ever looked, sorry guys!" Video here.
January 9, 2007 -  Dern in the dark about return to the 'Park' (IGN.com) - "Jurassic Park's" Laura Dern is making the press rounds promoting her new film "Inland Empire," and IGN Filmforce had the chance to ask the question that any "Jurassic Park" fan would jump to ask Dern: Will Ellie Satler be returning in the next proposed film in the franchise? Unless she's playing things close to the vest, Dern seems to be as uninformed about "Jurassic Park IV" as the general public. "I hope you guys can tell me," Dern said. "...People keep telling me I’m in 'Jurassic Park IV,' my character’s in it, I’m in it, and I haven’t gotten the call yet, but I’m very curious to hear more… You never know. It was awfully fun." IGN then asked, "Do you want to get eaten in this one and get kinda killed off…?" "No! The great paleobotanist can never die!" "Jurassic Park IV" is currently in development at Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and Universal Pictures. To date, no credible sources have confirmed the return of Ellie Satler or any of the series' other characters.
The entire four minute interview can be found here!