Ancestry® has teamed up with Academy Award®-winning actress Laura Dern (known for Jurassic Park, Big Little Lies) and her mother, the iconic Diane Ladd (known for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Rambling Rose), to embark on a discovery journey across New York City. While shooting for Ancestry’s YouTube series, “unFamiliar™”, the pair revisited meaningful places from Diane’s early career on Broadway and Laura’s memories of growing up in the city before moving to Los Angeles – while uncovering new family stories along the way. 

Earlier this year, the mother-daughter duo debuted a joint memoir, Honey, Baby, Mine, inspired by the conversations on the walks the two often took when Diane fell ill a few years ago. When doctors initially thought the worst, they were inspired to share stories and have deep conversations and to preserve them with voice notes so they wouldn’t be forgotten.

Now, they have made a new chapter of connection through Ancestry, building off what was shared in their New York Times best-selling book.

Laura and Diane first visit The Actors Studio where Diane got her start. She says, “This place saved me,” as she reminisces about the iconic actors she learned with, and remarks that Laura is the first baby of The Actors Studio.

One ancestor they learn more about is Laura’s great-great-grandmother who was known as “Aunt Prudie” both in her family and her community. She was very dear to Diane, who has always felt a deep connection to her. Prudie was a self-taught doctor, said to have delivered over 3,000 babies in Southern Mississippi. Laura opens a 1920 U.S. census record on Ancestry, showing Prudie’s occupation listed as “midwife.”

Aunt Prudie was the driving inspiration for Diane when she bravely left her home in the South as a teenager to pursue her dreams in New York. “There’s some blood flowing through these veins that came from some ancestors that had courage,” said Diane. Diane always remembered Prudie for that.

Next, they visit Central Park, reflecting on where Laura spent her days as a child riding her big wheels up and down Fifth Avenue nearby. Their final stop is Tavern on the Green, where they enjoy their family recipe banana pudding at the same place where Diane and Laura’s father, Bruce, went on their wedding day after a courthouse elopement.

Here, Laura is shocked over a discovery Diane made using Ancestry – that Prudie’s given name was, in fact, Laura. Diane holds back tears while sharing this discovery, never knowing what inspired her to give her that name – now she knows it was her beloved Aunt Prudie. Laura is moved and delighted to carry the name of such an inspiring woman, saying, “No! I can’t believe it! That’s incredible!”

Reflecting on this heartwarming experience, Laura says, “I hope our book, our time together, all our discoveries, encourage others to do the same together.”

Take it from Laura and Diane – ask your family members meaningful questions because you never know what you may find when you simply ask. There’s no time like the holidays to upload your favorite memories, and start building your family tree for free with a free trial at Ancestry.com. 

View the full episode here.