Laura Dern and mother perform synchronised swimming routine to celebrate Reese Witherspoon’s birthday

Laura Dern has wished her friend Reese Witherspoon a happy birthday from afar, sharing a video of a synchronised swimming routine she performed to mark the occasion.

On Sunday 22 March, Witherspoon celebrated her 44th birthday.

The Little Fires Everywhere star spent the day with her three children, Ava, Deacon and Tennessee, and her husband Jim Toth.

A few days ago, Governor Gavin Newsom of California ordered all residents of the Golden State to stay indoors amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the exception of “essential needs”.

While Dern could not be with her Big Little Lies co-star on her birthday, she and her mother, actor Diane Ladd, put their dancing and singing talents to good use by unveiling a synchronised swimming routine they devised in Witherspoon’s honour.

In the video shared on Dern’s Instagram account, she and her mother perform a series of arm movements in unison in a swimming pool while singing “Happy Birthday”.

“Amazing day cause we got REESE!!!! Happy birthday, sister,” the video’s caption read.

The synchronised swimming routine went down a treat with Witherspoon who said in the comment section that “this is the greatest gift I could hope for”.

“Love my other family!” she added.

Witherspoon’s 20-year-old daughter also left a comment underneath the video, writing: “Haha what an iconic happy birthday!”

Before they were told to stay home last week, Witherspoon and Dern ventured out on a hike together, demonstrating how to do so while practising social distancing.

The actors both shared photographs from their hike on Instagram.

“Friendship with social distancing. Hi @lauradern!@” Witherspoon wrote in her caption.

“We walked a few days ago... before we were told to #stayhome. Now we are inside to keep everyone safe.”