At 57, Laura Dern has one of the most glittering careers in Hollywood, with roles in Big Little Lies and Marriage Story earning her Emmys and Golden Globes.
Behind the scenes, Laura is a dedicated mother to her two children, Ellery, 22, and Jaya, 19, though her relationship with her kids is changing, with the actress giving an insight into how she's dealing with empty nest syndrome.
Speaking to ES Magazine of her new era, which has seen her life in flux since her daughter left home for college, Laura shared: "It's wild. I'm just getting used to it. [My daughter and I] were just on the phone, saying, "My God, this is the longest we've been apart"."
© GettyOn how she's coping with missing Ellery and Jaya, Laura added that both of her kids will be visiting her in Italy when she's next on a break from filming her latest project, which she calls, "One way to manage missing my children."
Laura is certainly embracing her second act as she nears her 60th birthday, sharing that her freedom since her kids moved out has opened her eyes. "It's a vulnerable but deeply inspiring time to figure out what being a grown-up means."
The Marriage Star's words of wisdom would likely reassure fellow A-lister Gwyneth Paltrow, who has been speaking openly about her fear of having an empty nest.
Gwyneth and Chris Martin's son, Moses, is soon set to leave for college, with the Shakespeare in Love icon sharing she's fretful about his impending departure.
© GettyGwynnie said she's struggling with a "deep sense of impending grief," adding during a chat with Victoria Beckham on the Goop podcast: "My son is going to college in August, and my stepson is too. We're going to have an empty nest.
"I don’t know what is going to be in store for me, I feel like I'm on the precipice of change, I can feel it coming."
Victoria, who has had several children leave home takes a similar approach to Laura when it comes to empty nest syndrome, looking for the positives in what can be a difficult time.
"When you've got an empty house you'll have a lot of fun doing all those things you couldn't do," VB reassured. It seems like Laura is indeed making the most of her empty nest!
Introducing HELLO!'s Second Act
© GettyHELLO! wanted to create a space dedicated to sharing incredible stories from midlife; somewhere you can find inspiring stories of like-minded women, living their best life beyond 45.
Enter, Second Act...
For too long, we were expected to fade into the background when we hit 45, but we're here to reframe your Second Act as a celebratory, exciting new chapter with endless possibilities ahead.
From women who embarked on new careers in their fifties, to those who travelled the world alone after their children left home, to women who finally felt confident when they reached their forties, Second Act is devoted to celebrating the incredible stories of midlife, and we'd love to have you along for the journey - because being part of a community makes everything more enjoyable.
