Courteney Cox And Laura Dern Honor 16-Year Tradition With Their Kids By All Getting Matching Tattoos

Jan 31, 2023 by apost team

It's always interesting to learn about celebrity friendships. While stars might become close after working together on a movie or other project, other times, their friendships can seem quite random. 

That seems to be the case with "Friends" star Courteney Cox and acclaimed actress Laura Dern, who many people may not have known were friends. What's more, the two actresses and their families actually have a Christmas Eve tradition going back 16 years! Who knew?!

Cox and Dern's filmographies reveal a little about their friendship timeline — they not only starred in the ensemble cast film "Mothers and Daughters" together in 2016, but Cox directed Dern in a short film all the way back in 2008, titled "The Monday Before Thanksgiving."

Dern was born into Hollywood royalty to actor father Bruce Dern and actress Diane Ladd on Feb. 10, 1967, and made her first big move into the film world in 1974's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" opposite her mother. She would continue to make waves with the release of movies such as "Mask" and David Lynch's "Blue Velvet," but it wasn't until 1993, with Steven Spielberg's blockbuster "Jurassic Park" that she found widespread international fame. Since then, she's starred in the shows "Enlightened" and "Big Little Lies," among many other roles.

Cox needs no introduction. After rising to fame as the hilarious Monica Geller on "Friends," she starred in the series "Dirt" and "Cougar Town," and has appeared in many movies over the years, including the "Scream" franchise. 

Read on to learn about Cox and Dern's unlikely friendship and the family tradition they uphold each year, which they even made official with tattoos!

Not only are Cox and Dern close friends, but their children also grew up together. Cox was married to fellow actor David Arquette for over 11 years, and together they had a daughter named Coco Arquette in 2004. Meanwhile, Dern married musician Ben Harper in 2005, with whom she had son Ellery Walker in 2001 and daughter Jaya in 2004. Both couples have since divorced.

While Cox and Dern's friendship was occasionally on display at premieres and other events, the two families were strengthening their own connections behind the scenes — specifically, with a longstanding Christmas tradition.

Posting to Instagram on Dec. 24, 2019, Cox shared a photo of her and Coco with Dern, Ellery and Jaya alongside the caption:

"I love this family and our Christmas Eve tradition. Some things never change...much. 🎄♥️🎄 #family"

Another photo appeared to be of Coco and Ellery as young children, proving that the Christmas Eve tradition has been going on for quite a while! If it was surprising to learn of Cox and Dern's close friendship, it must have been even more shocking to know their broods are truly like "family" to one another.

On Jan. 18, 2023, Cox shared another photo set highlighting the special tradition and the rather permanent way the group chose to honor it. One photo was of the five huddled together and smiling, while another showed off their new matching tattoos!

"Adding a new layer to our 16 year Christmas Eve tradition. Watch out… we might have sleeves by 2025," Cox cheekily wrote.

apost.com

Proudly showing off their fresh ink, the tattoos included the words "Go long" and featured a flying paper plane. Cox, Ellery, 21, and Raya, 18, chose to get theirs on their forearms, while Dern opted for her inner arm. Coco got hers on her shoulder blade and went with just a paper place without the additional words.

Fellow celebrities showed their support in the comments, including Reese Witherspoon, who wrote, "Love it!" as did Michelle Pfeiffer, who said, "Love!"

The long-running tradition has been going on for almost as long as Coco and Jaya have been alive. In 2022, the daughters of Cox and Dern turned 18, and naturally, both moms celebrated their girls on Instagram. Cox wrote in June 2022, alongside a current mother-and-daughter snap and a throwback photo:

"Happy 18th birthday coco! I'm so proud to be your mom. You are courageous, smart, deep, funny, unique and beautiful with the biggest heart. I can't wait to see what's next. I love you x."

Meanwhile, in November, Dern honored Jaya with some throwback photos and a current one. Her caption said:

"My girl is 18 today!!! Happiest birthday, Jaya! You teach me every day about what it means to be an honest and profound empath, artist, and activist. I love you with everything."

Dern also honored Ellery for his 21st birthday in August 2022. She wrote: 

"Greatest gift I could have ever dreamt up. Happiest 21st birthday to you my amazing son/friend/inspiration. ... I’m so blessed and lucky to love you and learn from you. And you make me laugh every day."

Did you know Laura Dern and Courteney Cox were close friends? What do you think about their Christmas Eve tradition with their children? Would you ever get matching tattoos with your kids? Let us know, then pass this on to your friends so they can weigh in!