Laura Dern Is Still Having A ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi,’ ‘Twin Peaks,’ ‘Big Little Lies’ Moment

Speaking to that effect, did you have a say in your character’s look? Whose idea was it for the colored hair?

Everybody. That’s what’s incredible also. I had no idea that that I would have any say frankly. I was deeply involved with Michael our genius costumer. Great, collaborative process to find the look. The hair literally was with Rian and Michael and Ram and Kathy and myself to really figure out and invent what the feeling should be.  Again, I think leading with femininity as a power, instead of removing it to prove power was a gorgeous commitment to this character.

I’m sure you know this, but you know what a huge online gay fan base on social media? Has anyone ever told you that?

No! That makes me so happy and particularly happy at our press conference when they asked what color light saber I wanted I said “rainbow,” which I pray will come.

There are people who will use you as a meme. With you holding the glass of burgundy from “Big Little Lies” to represent how they are feeling that day. 

Oh my God. I know Renata became quite a favorite. I am aware of that. Just in the world of fashion it’s been really fun, some designers that have very generously dressed me and they are so Renata obsessed. It makes me so happy.

Speaking about that really quick, I know that Reese recently said that they are working on the storyline for a second season. Do you know if your character will return at all?

[A big smile comes on her face.]

Oh no, it’s another secret thing isn’t it.

Do you see what happens to me? [Laughs.]

Is this literally happening on every project you work on?

It will be interesting to see if Holdo is in “Big Little Lies” too. [Laughs.] Maybe it’s amorphic. Actually that is what Oscar [Isaac] said earlier. He’s like, “Now wait a minute. Maybe that’s why you have purple hair is you drank so much cabernet on ‘Big Little Lies.'”

My last question for you is at least one I think you can answer easily. Do you have any favorite “Star Wars” moments? 

Grew up loving the movies. Having just gotten paired up with Mark [Hamill] was already just amazing. I have so many. In a way, many of them are now overshadowed by that experience of walking on set the first time. Being hugged by Chewbacca and seeing R2D2 and CP30 and being seven-years-old all over again and just freaking out excited and not being able to call home and say, “You can’t believe who I just saw ’cause I can’t tell anybody why I would even see those character or who is in scenes or who isn’t in scenes.” Because we were all together.  You saw everybody even if they are not in scenes with you.  That was an “Oh my God” moment. For me, the father/son dynamic was haunting and riveting and complicated. As we were going from childhood and entering adolescence to start to think about how we separate from our parents to become who we are, that really drove me. Really, “Star Wars” and “Godfather II” were iconic, they are Shakespeares. They really were extraordinary.  In addition, I think when I first met Yoda on screen it changed my adolescence. In a way it was the first true guru mentor character that I had been given in a movie that was about light and truth and the shadow and a judgment free mentor. And whimsical and irreverent and beautiful. I fell in love with that character. I would say that’s my favorite “Star Wars’ character. That was an amazing experience as a kid.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” opens nationwide on Dec. 15.