Will Arnett has admitted he initially felt intimidated by working alongside Laura Dern on Is This Thing On?, the Bradley Cooper-directed film in which they play a divorcing couple. Speaking ahead of production, the 55-year-old actor said his admiration for Dern’s long career left him feeling nervous and unsure of himself. He described confessing his anxieties to her early on, telling her he felt he was stepping into “deeper water” than ever before.
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Arnett said Dern responded with warmth and generosity, helping to ease his concerns throughout filming. He praised her as a gracious and supportive collaborator, adding that the experience only deepened his respect for her as an artist and performer. The actor said her approach made the process far less daunting than he had feared.
Reflecting on his personal life, Arnett also revisited his separation from Amy Poehler in 2012, describing the period as deeply painful. He recalled pulling over in his car and crying for an hour on the way to filming Arrested Development. He has previously spoken about how difficult it was to cope with the end of the marriage while it was being widely discussed in public.
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Arnett said the scrutiny surrounding the split was particularly hard given they share two children, Archie and Abel. He criticised the tendency for strangers to take sides, stressing that break-ups involving families are not a form of entertainment. Looking back nearly a decade on, he said time has helped, adding that he feels fortunate to co-parent successfully with Poehler and remains grateful for their continued closeness.
