Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother & Daughter Ponder Life's Big Questions [Memoir]

A collection of deeply personal conversations from award-winning actress and activist Laura Dern and the woman she admires most, her mother—legendary actress Diane Ladd—that take readers on an intimate tour of their lives, sharing their most honest conversations on love, life, success, and everything in between.

Award-winning actresses and mother-daughter duo Laura Dern and Diane Ladd are the kind of women who draw strength from their lifelong friendships with other women, and most of all, from each other. Ever since Laura was born, the two have leaned on one another through the trials of everyday life and the tribulations that come with even the most storied Hollywood careers. They were always close, but when Diane developed a sudden illness, their relationship grew even deeper.

When a doctor prescribed long walks to build back Diane's lung capacity, the pair began taking strolls together every day. These meandering walks soon became epic ones, and the conversations the two women shared began to break down the traditional barriers between mothers and daughters. With topics ranging from ambition and legacy to intimacy and marriage, ranging from humorous to deeply poignant, nothing was off limits. By the time Diane was healed they were more than a close pair; they had covered tremendous ground and formed a true friendship. Peppered throughout these intimate exchanges, they enclose personal photos, family recipes, and much more. The result is a book that will make you want to call your own mom—a testament to the intimacy that can be achieved when we are brave enough to speak our truths to those we love most.

About the Author

Laura Dern is an award-winning actress, director, and film producer. She has received a number of accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and five Golden Globes. She embarked on her acting career in the 1980s and rose to prominence after her performance in David Lynch's Blue Velvet (1986). She then received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in Rambling Rose (1991), gaining international recognition a few years later for her role in Jurassic Park (1993). She has received praise for her roles in the TV shows Enlightened (2011), Wild (2014), Big Little Lies (2017-2019), and Marriage Story (2019). Laura has also played a significant role in Hollywood's Time's Up movement. Diane Ladd is an American actress, film director, producer, and author. She has appeared in over 120 film and television roles. For the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She went on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television for Alice (1980-81), and to receive Academy Award nominations for Wild at Heart (1990) and Rambling Rose (1991). Her other film appearances include Chinatown (1974), National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), Primary Colors (1998), 28 Days (2000), and American Cowslip (2008).