'Enlightened': Laura Dern on working with mother Diane Ladd

I think my and Mike White's orientation is an interest in the sad, funny world we live in. Comedy that has a lot of tragedy in it. I grew up watching "I Love Lucy" every day, and I cringed every day. She was so impossible, but you loved her, nonetheless. And I've been lucky to play characters where you have to walk a fine line to gain empathy. All those things set the stage for our taste level.

I am really interested in the part of all of us that I think can relate to Amy. What I find uncomfortable is when we look in a mirror and don't realize it. I wanted her complicated, to make poor choices, so we can laugh at her, and cringe. What interests me as a citizen who was confused about our cultural apathy in this country, what I thought would be exciting to connect to is a character who is someone who can watch CNN and not turn it off. She is riddled with the agonies of the day. She can't stop feeling, and I think we're all becoming just like her.

He's a brilliant writer, and within his writing, he writes complicated humans. There's duality in all the characters. He's hysterically funny but never intentionally looking to land a joke. And his episodes are so beautifully directed.

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The amazing gift of this show is that the con no longer exists. It did with youth, and now, entering my 40s, I can enjoy her. Now it's purely about the artistic experience. It's been seamless. Now that I'm a grown-up, I can enjoy the woman. I was always afraid every choice she made reflected on me, but I was a kid, 19, 20. It's a refreshing and amazing experience. When you look into your own mother's eyes, there is nothing but the truth.

My mom, as a woman and go-getter, is very politically and socially involved. She taught me a great deal about getting your own made. And both of them are not interested in the limelight. They were never clocking their magazine covers. And my dad taught me an immense amount of reverence toward an impossible character. He played impossible people, yet had empathy for each of them, and that inspired me.

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He is one of cinema's great geniuses, he's one of my best friends, and my mentor and my maestro. As a director, I've had a life with him. He asked me, at 17, to be Sandra Dee, the girl next door , then in a couple years play this sexual vixen , then in another film he wanted me to be all the characters . His vision and his bravery, in terms of experimenting with film, it's like painting.