Actress Laura Dern, 41, and kids Ellery, 6 ½, and Jaya, 3 ½, stayed protected from the sun while on the beach set of Hannah Montana on Tuesday. Dad is musician Ben Harper.
Photos by Whittle/Kaminski/Splash News.
Another image of Laura and Jaya, plus dress and shoe info, below!
Jaya wears Ralph Lauren’s Malia Cotton Jersey dress ($40).
She also wears Crocs kid’s Mary Janes in peacock ($25).
Is Ben Harper their biological father?
- Sadie on
Yes. He is their father, they just favor their mother, more so, in skin tone.
- carie on
yes! he is.
- Sasha on
Sadie-
Ben Harper is their biological father. They’re super cute!
- Meghan on
Yes he is their biological father. I know they are only 1/4 african american because Ben is half but you would think they would be some what darker. I bet when they are in the sun they get beautiful tans though. Cute Kids.
- cortney on
Jaya is a big 3 1/2 year old! She’s taller than my youngest sister who’s almost 5!
- Krissie on
Cute kids! I don’t want to start a humongous debate by saying this, but I’ll just reiterate the sentiment that’s been expressed often on this site: mixed race children (and Black children in general) come in all shades. There isn’t any “expected” color for them to be because that isn’t the way biology works.
- Erica on
In my oppinion Jaya wears dress from Ralpf Lauren .
- yovana on
The children are absolutely georgeous. Jaya seems so tall for her age.
As for the ethnic breakdown, it is not known or clear whether the children are genetically 1/4 African American or 1/10. Some African Americans were pretty mixed with Native American and European blood lines from many generations prior. Which is why these children have such an “Anglo” appearance.
Socially and ethnically, I don’t recall reading any quotes from the parents on the “ethnic, religious, or eco-world views” of their family. Suffice to say, that it is the domain and autonomy of the parents to decide these issues, not any of us.
- BeckyPooBear on
Yes, genetics is a wonderful thing, you never quite know what you’re going to get but let’s be honest….the little girl is BLOND! It’s amazing how much they favor the mother. I think it’s quite reasonable that people would wonder if BH was the bio father. It’s ok to sometimes state the obvious, it doesn’t make you a insensitive beast. They are probably going to get that question often.
And yes, they are beautiful!
- Nina on
Yes Ben Harper is half Jewish, so the children are 1/4 African, and 3/4 European. They have the same racial background as the Rocker Slash children and his children are very fair also. Laura and Ben’s kids need to be protected from the sun because they have the types of complexions that will burn easily I think.
- Biracial gurl on
You should see the daughter of tennis star Boris Becker. Her name is Anna and although she is five years old, she still models. Anna’s mother is half Russian and Half African, and Anna looks like Laura Dern’s daughter.
- Bella on
Biracial Gurl,
Humans, complex in their mating patterns, are not like the peas, associated to Mendel’s groundbreaking experiement regarding genetics. The ancestry of humans, therefore, cannot be partitioned, in the same fashion as a green pea. Besides, the fact of cross-population mixing, there is also the notion of what happens during cell division. Its not always a clean, linear, 50/50 genetic contribution between parents. Sometimes, one parent’s genetic contribution is less than another particularly in the case of a girl, where one parent’s x chromosome is inactivated. So, the 75/25 split that you posit, is not necessarily appropos.
I’ve seen pics of the other Harper children. They are cuties as well.
- BeckyPooBear on
Here is the link for Boris Becker and all three of his children.
Genetics of color within the black community are completely random. The parents fairest/lightest black woman at my college were quite dark.
Then you have two fair people, and they have a slightly darker child. There are no guarantees of what texture hair the child will have, it can be straight or a bit kinky – again random. My cousin is black, her husband is white their daughter is fair with bone straight hair, and their son is dark with kinky hair. My other cousin’s son is dark with bone straight hair. Again, random.
All that being said, they are two beautiful children, and they came out the color they were meant to be.
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/mulatto/vpost?id=1982518&trail=15
- Bea on
Well now we know that Laurn Durn Harper is a natural blond that’s for sure. I have seen pictures of Ben’s Jewish mom and she is a pretty brunette. Those kids are so beautiful. What a mixture.
- Mallory on
im loving lauras hat
- lola on
Bea,
I’m not sure where the notion of the black community fits in? Given that 3/4 of their heritage, is from the white community, and they fit well within the Anglo range, wouldn’t it be appropriate to show examples of the range of Anglos?
- BeckyPooBear on
Beckypoobear,
The only reason that I mentioned the color variables within the black community, was because other people were commenting on how ‘fair’ the children are. The question of the children’s shade would not be an issue or up for discussion if the heritage of their father wasn’t factored in.
In all the time I have read this blog, I have seen many instances of questioning the color or lack their of, of children with even the slightest hint of black heritage, but I have yet to see the color discussion in regards to children of anglo heritage.
To me, their color is not an issue. Obviously if you read some of the earlier posts, the childrens color is an issue to the point where people outright questioned whether a 1/2 black man could be their father.
My post is a response to those posts.
- Bea on
Very good points Bea. If they weren’t so fair skinned and the little girl blonde no one would question either parent. Biracial kids no matter if they are 1/4, 1/2 or whatever, can range from one end of the spectrum to the other. Just look at Thandie Newtons girls.
Gorgeous children.
- Dee on
Well, I just wanted to say these children are beautiful, I hope one day when I have children they will be blessed with such diversity in their genes. It also wouldn’t hurt if my kids got the talent genes these kids must have. LOL We need to be honest in the US, we still have such issues with race/color. There is so much beauty in all races/cultures…it only makes us stronger. We need to just get over it.
- Sarah on
Ben Harper maybe mixed but he is dark skinned in my opinion. I never would have guessed these were his kids. Sorry but it’s the truth.
- Roni on
If i was him id take a parternity test even though they are 1/4 africain american,they dont look mixed at all.DNA TEST… DNA TEST.will save alot.
- cg on
They are an awesome family. Love them. Such talented parents (Laura just got an Emmy nomination!) and such lovely kids.
- emmalee on
“I’m not sure where the notion of the black community fits in? Given that 3/4 of their heritage, is from the white community, and they fit well within the Anglo range, wouldn’t it be appropriate to show examples of the range of Anglos?”
^^^^^Many Americans still go by the “one drop” rule left over from the slavery era: if you have “one drop of Black blood” you’re considered part of the Black community, not necessarily the other way around.
A lot of fair skinned mixed people are probably assumed to be “all” White because their mixed background isn’t apparent (same for darker skinned mixed people who are assumed to be “all” Black). But there are many people who look just like Laura and Ben’s children, who are actually mixed. For people who are well acquainted with racially or ethnically mixed families, the fact that Laura and Ben’s children are fair skinned is no surprise.
Anyway I think they resemble both parents and look adorable with the hats. I love their names also.
- chris on
I agree with Bea a 100%. Every time a child of mixed heritage is featured on this website…a comment is always made about their complexion.
- Jay on
Wow they look completely caucasian 
Which is understandable since Ben is bi-racial himself…they are very fair, cute and tall! Jaya is huge for a 3yr old 
I’ve been a fan of Laura since Jurassic Park and I was mad at Billy Bob for the way he ended their relationship but its so good to see her having the family she wanted.
- T on
The blonde doesn’t really surprise me (I’m black and my uncle is a blonde as well as one of my cousins)…the children’s looks don’t really surprise me either…it just goes to show that genetics are funny and how all humans – regardless of “ethnicity” – are related despite the boundaries we put around ourselves.
The kids are adorable and Laura seems like a really sweet person. I love the name Jaya.
- jasmine on
they are sooo cute! my cousin is 1/2 black and his kids are 1/4..and they have blue eyes and blonde blonde hair..i think its so pretty and jaya has got the cutest curliest hair!
- melanie on
I WONDER HOW NAHLA LOOKS LIKE MAYBE THAT’S WHY HALLE IS NOT SHOWING HER YET BECAUSE OF PEOPLE BEING CONCERN WITH SKIN COLOR.
- Lani on
Ben Harper is currently married to a Caucasian woman. His music is a fusion between Rock and R/B. (Caucasian and African American elements). He was friends with Heath Ledger. He and Laura couple date with various Caucasian couples. Lives in Beverly Hills. Parties in Malibu.
The notion about bi-racials being shoehorned into the black community is a distortion and is certainly historical, given the fluity of society. It is not born out in this instance, nor is it born out with many bi-racials. Which isn’t to say that like most Americans, he also has an affinity for things and people African American.
- BECKYPEABODY on
Perhaps, this is a better way of stating my last point.
….which isn’t to say, that like most Americans, he doesn’t have an affinity for various aspects of the African American culture and its people. He just appears, ubiquitous. Not confined. Not marginalized. Not relegated by historical precepts.
- BECKYPEABODY on
I’ve been a fan of Laura since Jurassic Park and I was mad at Billy Bob for the way he ended their relationship but its so good to see her having the family she wanted.
Posted by: T at Jul 17, 2008 2:40:25 PM
Funny because I was mad at Laura for her role in the break up of Billy Bob’s marriage and Ben Harper’s marriage. She gets no free pass from me but her kids are adorable.
- Faith on
I’m a longtime fan of both of them. Laura Dern is a brilliant actress…I was blown away by her performance in We Don’t Live Here Anymore.
The kids are gorgeous.
- Christina on
I am mixed race, not quite bi-racial more of a creole product of many many mixed raced people getting together over the last 200 years. I married a man of Italian decent and our children are blond, green eyed, but light brown skinned. Even tho I have black hair, light brown skin and brown eyes. Our daughter has straight hair like my husband and our son has curly hair like me. A little bit of both of us in each of them.
- Maria on
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