Laura Dern and Andra Day have expressed their admiration for Bradley Cooper’s latest film, a sensitive comedy drama exploring themes of divorce and self-discovery. The film, titled Is This Thing On?, showcases a Bradley Cooper film collaboration that brings together a talented cast, including Will Arnett and these two acclaimed actresses, portraying complex characters in a story set primarily in London. Dern, standing 5ft 11in, describes the physical dynamic with Arnett, who is 6ft 2in, as crucial to their convincing portrayal of a couple facing relationship challenges.
“It means that when Will and I are sitting side by side, we’re the same height. And it’s crazy to be in a scene with a male actor, and we’re actually looking straight into each other’s eyes, you know?”
Dern shared, explaining how their similar stature helped establish the couple’s tense interactions on screen.
Creating Realistic and Balanced Characters
The importance of presenting equal footing between Dern’s and Arnett’s characters is central to the film’s emotional footing. Dern emphasized the necessity of her role’s strength in confrontation scenes, saying,
“When she tells him, ‘Something is wrong [between us], this isn’t working,’ I had to be formidable coming at him.”
This dynamic reflects the film’s unvarnished approach to exploring separation through the filter of humor and vulnerability.
Laura Dern also recounted the challenges she faced early in her career due to her height, laughing at the memory:
“Oh, 150 times! I was 5ft 11 at 12 years old and acting already, so I was losing parts constantly!”
Her tall stature, once considered a casting obstacle, now adds authenticity to her role alongside Arnett.
A Unique Casting Ensemble in a London Setting
The interview took place in a London hotel suite, where Dern wore a striking yellow gown while Andra Day, nominated for an Oscar for her role in The United States vs Billie Holiday, sported a large caramel-colored coat. Their onscreen chemistry as best friends adds depth to the narrative, providing emotional honesty that lifts what could have been a typical divorce story.
Arnett plays Alex, a man navigating mid-life separation through the unexpected joy and pain of stand-up comedy. Inspired by John Bishop, who co-wrote the script with Cooper and Mark Chappell after sharing his own mid-life crisis and comedy journey, the film captures the male perspective on breakups. However, it balances this with rich female roles brought to life by Dern and Day, who both bring complexity and nuance to characters previously relegated to less dimensional parts.
Championing Complex Female Roles in Film
Day voiced her frustration with underdeveloped female characters in cinema, praising Bradley Cooper’s approach:
“I’m tired of seeing flat female characters because someone was too lazy to write them,”
she said.
“But it was the generosity of Bradley to have this beautiful script, but also to rely on [us], too.”
Dern added that Cooper invited her to help shape the female roles more realistically, explaining,
“Bradley said, ‘What are we missing? You inform us about these female characters. You help us build them, and this sisterhood.’”
The actresses bonded quickly, sharing a mutual sense of safety and trust, which encouraged them to bring authenticity to their performances.
A Departure from Typical Roles for Laura Dern
For Laura Dern, Is This Thing On? represents a shift from the powerful, larger-than-life characters she has portrayed in series like Big Little Lies and films such as Marriage Story. These roles won Dern widespread acclaim for embodying fierce, glamorous women, but this film sees her embody a more grounded, multi-faceted figure grappling with real-life upheaval.
As the daughter of legendary actors Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern, Laura Dern carries the weight of Hollywood heritage but remains firmly dedicated to presenting honest, relatable women on screen and advocating for feminism and female empowerment. Her warmth and presence deeply influenced those around her during the filming.
Andra Day’s Transition From Music to Film
Although Natalie Day is best known as a Grammy-nominated singer, her acting roles, highlighted by her portrayal of Billie Holiday, introduced her to the demands and scrutiny of the film industry. She candidly admits that the experience was intimidating at first:
“If I was aware of the depth of what I was getting into, I think I would have run away,”
she said, acknowledging the anxiety about meeting expectations.
Day also reflected on the pressure to perform and how it can yield rewarding results:
“You’re always worried about not being good enough; asking ‘am I gonna mess this up?’. But I’ve realised that those butterflies you get… the pressure cooker sometimes makes the best meal.”
Dern expressed admiration for Day’s compelling portrayal in previous films:
“And you were playing the most iconic singer of all time, and you were incredible,”
she said. Day responded with laughter,
“See, this is what happens when you’re sitting next to Laura Dern…”
Career Evolutions and the Challenge of Restlessness
Much like Arnett’s character Alex, Day took a creative leap in her thirties, shifting from music to acting.
“Even once you’ve reached something, there is still more,”
she stated.
“You don’t have to accept the idea that there’s something wrong with you if you feel restless. But as you get older, it seems like there are fewer permissions to do that.”
Laura Dern agreed, recalling the pressure she felt during her younger years to conform to certain achievements:
“I can recount formative moments in my life – saying at 11 that I’m going to be a professional actor, or falling in love for the first time – and I think I believed there was a stopping point to it all eventually,”
she said.
“Like, I’ve achieved those things, so now I need to stick to them. That’s what the world told me. But, actually, we need to let ourselves be ever-evolving.”
Influential Directors and Mentorship in Their Careers
Both actresses credit key filmmakers with fostering their artistic growth. Laura Dern has been a muse to visionary director David Lynch, who cast her in iconic roles such as the enigmatic girl-next-door in Blue Velvet, the fiery character in Wild at Heart, and the complex FBI secretary in Twin Peaks. Inspired by Lynch’s faith in her talent, Dern shared the impact of his support:
“I once said to my mom that David Lynch’s unconditional trust in me is something I’d only ever felt from her. It’s that kind of love where they just believe in you so much. [He] saw things in me I didn’t see in myself.”
Andra Day, similarly, found a creative home with director Lee Daniels, who shaped her performances in The United States vs Billie Holiday and The Deliverance. Day expressed profound trust in Daniels’s direction:
“You know that you’re in the hands of somebody who really does care about you,”
she said.
“I would even play a live-action Kermit the Frog for him if he wanted me to, no questions asked.”
Dern reflected on how rare such mentorship is, calling it a blessing:
“We found our person, right? And my person told me that I can do anything.”
Addressing Ageing and Gender Expectations in Hollywood
Despite their flourishing careers, both Dern and Day voiced concerns about the entertainment industry’s treatment of women as they age. Dern described the shame and pressure women face:
“Lately, I have never seen more shame around ageing and women as public figures, and it’s just so tragic.”
She highlighted the example of her friend Sheryl Crow, who defies these norms by becoming “more badass than ever,” yet faces persistent societal narratives about hiding signs of age or “fixing” them.
Day vowed to resist these expectations.
“I’m doing away with the social rules of what you’re supposed to be doing at this age. I’m not going to do any of the shrinking that people or society has – even unconsciously – required of me. I’m going to break the rules, actually.”
Dern added a generational perspective, recalling conversations she overheard growing up about the sacrifices women made to stay employable in Hollywood, which she believes have worsened:
“It’s so much worse now than for my mother’s generation. I remember, when I was a child, hearing her friends talk about the pressure at 70 to get a facelift if you wanted to keep working. But now I’m hearing my 21-year-old daughter’s friends say, ‘You should get Botox now so that you’re never wrinkled.’”
Day chimed in with a sardonic note: “Preventative Botox!”
Dern declared,
“So the idea that we’re advancing in empowerment is bats***. And these are societal norms that have been created, most of the time, from people’s fears and insecurities. And it’s all consumerism, right? It’s like the tobacco industry saying smoking looks cool. Look at the Marlboro Man! They’re just making money. They’re saying we’ll have a whole generation of girls buying our products if we say it’s ‘preventative’. But we’re supposed to be the ones to not buy into it, right?”
Hope for a New Era of Empowerment
The interview concluded on a hopeful note, with Dern expressing optimism for change in how age and female identity are portrayed and accepted in film and society.
“So I look forward to watching all of us grow together into comfort in our own skin,”
she said.
“And, as artists, for us to grow into portraying those truths, whether that’s the insecurity about it, or the rage about it, or – hopefully – the acceptance, too.”
Day summed up the moment with a smile:
“She says something, and that’s the new truth.”
Film Release and Audience Reception
Is This Thing On? is currently playing in cinemas, offering audiences a fresh, candid look at divorce and self-reinvention through the lens of a Bradley Cooper film collaboration. Drawing on real-life inspiration from comedian John Bishop and grounded acting by Will Arnett, Laura Dern, and Andra Day, the film promises to resonate with viewers who appreciate raw emotion balanced with humor.
