Reese Witherspoon Calls BFF Laura Dern 'Dern' 'Because My Name Is Laura': 'We Can't Both Be Laura!'

The 'Legally Blonde' star shares with Nicole Kidman why she addresses their shared costar Laura Dern just by her last name in a new 'Vanity Fair' interview

Although Reese Witherspoon doesn't go by her given name, she can't address her friends by their shared name — including Laura Dern.

Witherspoon, 48, joined friend and former Big Little Lies costar Nicole Kidman for a conversation with Vanity Fair on Wednesday, June 5. Throughout their chat, Kidman, 56, asked Witherspoon why she refers to their former castmate Dern, 57, strictly by her last name.

Witherspoon began to tell a story about a phone call she had with Dern on the HBO series, but then Kidman quickly interjected to reveal, “I hate how you call her Dern though!” She explained after Witherspoon asked “Why?” that it’s “because it sounds weird.”

“You know why? Because my name is Laura, and her name is Laura, and it’s confusing to me,” replied Witherspoon — whose given name is Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon.

Related: BFFs Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern Have Outfit 'Emergency’ in Matching Holiday Skirts

“Oh! That’s right,” Kidman replied.

“So I get confused and just call her Dern,” the Legally Blonde star added. “We can’t both be Laura.”

“She doesn’t call you Laura, though,” a puzzled Kidman asked.

“I don’t understand your point. I don’t like your tone. You’re trying to understand something, so it just makes no sense,” Witherspoon joked.

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The Sweet Home Alabama star then continued to share the sweet memory she had with Dern while on the set of the drama series.

“I called her and I was like, ‘Dern, I was so funny today.’ And she’s like, ‘Oh my God. Reese, Reese, I was so funny in my scene yesterday.’ I was like, ‘I know I know. But hold on, then I went to work today, and Nicole’s in the most serious drama I’ve ever seen.’ " Quickly, Kidman and Witherspoon burst out in laughter, with Kidman adding, “That’s right!”

As Witherspoon continued the story, she revealed how she was skeptical if the show would perform, telling Dern at the time, “ ‘This show is not gonna work.’ ” The Election star then added, “And it frickin worked.”

“Who would’ve ever thought?” concluded Witherspoon with the Moulin Rouge actress echoing her sentiment.

The series worked so well that it not only received a second season but was also nominated for 21 Emmys and took home eight of them. Additionally, in November 2023, Kidman teased that a third season was on the horizon, which the pair confirmed in their June 5 Vanity Fair interview.

In the drama, Witherspoon played Madeline Mackenzie, Kidman played Celeste Wright, and Dern played Renata Klein. The three were also joined by Zo? Kravitz and Shailene Woodley, who starred Bonnie Carlson and Jane Chapman, respectively.

The series followed the lives of a group of wealthy parents in Monterey, California, as they dealt with a murder that affected their community.

Related: Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Meryl Streep Have Big Little Lies Reunion at AFI Award Gala

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