Then & Now: The Little Girl From Jurassic Park Is All Grown Up & Gorgeous
The original "Jurassic Park" movie is a bona fide classic filled with iconic performances. One of these came from young actor Ariana Richards, starring as Lex Murphy, a plucky young teen who, along with her little brother, gets caught in the chaos and majesty of the island's escaped dinosaurs. Lex plays a pivotal role in several of the film's most memorable scenes — who could forget her slack-jawed jello eating, her timely computer skills, or how she desperately distracts the velociraptors in the kitchen?
All this is to say that Richards helped create a character cemented in pop culture. But after this 1993 film, the actor largely fell off the Hollywood map, only taking on smaller roles and cameos. This left many fans wondering: What happened to little Lex? It turns out that she's been living her best life. No longer a child star, Richards is now grown, married, working as a painter, and completely stunning.
Universal Pictures & Amblin Entertainment/Movie Screencaps
That's right, Ariana Richards is one of those child stars who grew up to be gorgeous. Far from her pubescent stardom, Richards is now resplendent in her mid-40s, completely owning her adult look. And while she may not be a red carpet regular these days, she still knows how to captivate the cameras. Attending the 2022 premiere of "Jurassic World: Dominion," Richards expertly pulled off a dark, shimmery smokey eye and kept the rest of her makeup light and understated for a high-contrast, otherworldly effect. And examining other recent photos, we can see that she has a versatile aesthetic, looking easy and effortless in various styles.
Ariana Richards is equally comfortable (and stunning) in both casual and statement fashions
As her "Jurassic Park" character, Lex, Ariana Richards was dressed down in practical '90s kidswear, complete with a baseball cap and a practical braid. In her real, adult life, though, Richards has more fashion leeway, exploring the spectrum of casual and formal looks. For instance, an August 2026 Instagram post shows Richards in her natural habitat, peacefully sketching in the sunlight of her home. The artist looks totally relaxed in dark trousers and a fitted olive-green top, her hair loose and her smile soft.
However, Richards is just as dazzling in louder ensembles — while she may have taken a step back from the Hollywood limelight, the "Tremors" star is clearly still comfortable attracting attention. Appearing at a "Jurassic Park" reunion panel for Chicago's C2E2 fan convention in 2026, Richards stunned in an eye-catching, highlighter-bright pantsuit. The monochromatic neon-green set, which featured sharp slacks and a blazer over a matching turtleneck, was a definite head-turner.
Kudos to Richards for wearing such a daring statement set, plus for maturing like a queen. If you ask us, the former actor is looking better than ever. And she's not the only "Jurassic Park" alum with some interesting 'fits in her sartorial repertoire. Even 30 years later, we're still thinking about co-star Laura Dern's best-dressed moments in the '90s.