At the start of her film career, Laura Dern took a significant risk by quitting college to star in David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet.” The “Big Little Lies” star recalled that she learned she had landed the role of Sandy Williams in the 1986 psychological thriller just two days after starting college.
“I was 17, so excited to get into UCLA,” Dern shared on the most recent episode of the “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” podcast, co-hosted by Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson. “I was there for two days when I auditioned and got offered the role in ‘Blue Velvet.’”
At the time, Dern was studying psychology and minoring in journalism. She requested a leave of absence from the head of the film department but was denied. Dern tried to negotiate, offering to “write papers” and “double-up classes” upon her return, but the UCLA administrators were firm in their decision.
“I said, ‘I have this opportunity,’ and he said, ‘Well, I’ll look at the script if you want to give me the script, but you’re not going to get a leave of absence. It’s not going to happen. It’s not a medical emergency,’” Dern recounted. After the head of the film department read the script, Dern was called back into the office and given an ultimatum.
“They told me, ‘First of all, if you make this choice, you are no longer welcome at UCLA. You’ll be out. But secondly, having read this script, that you would give up your college education for this is insane,’” Dern recalled.
Despite the warning, Dern chose to pursue the role. “Blue Velvet,” starring Isabella Rossellini and Kyle MacLachlan, went on to become a classic. Dern noted that the film is now part of UCLA’s curriculum.
“After my two days at UCLA, today, if you want to get a master’s in film at that school, there are three movies you are required to study when writing a thesis,” she said. “And you know what one of them is… Pisses me off.”
