Dakota Fanning, born on February 23, 1994, is an esteemed American actress who gained recognition early in her career. Notably, she earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination at the age of eight, becoming the youngest nominee in SAG history for her role as Lucy Dawson in the drama film “I Am Sam” (2001). Throughout her childhood, she took on significant roles in various films such as “Uptown Girls” (2003), “The Cat in the Hat” (2003), “Man on Fire” (2004), “War of the Worlds” (2005), “Dreamer” (2005), “Hide and Seek” (2005), “Charlotte’s Web” (2006), “Push” (2009), and voiced the title character in “Coraline” (2009).
As she transitioned into more mature roles, Fanning delivered compelling performances as Lewellen in “Hounddog” (2007), Lily in “The Secret Life of Bees” (2008), Cherie Currie in “The Runaways” (2010), and Jane in “The Twilight Saga” (2009–2012). In the 2010s, she continued to showcase her talent in independent productions such as “Now Is Good” (2012), “Night Moves” (2013), “Very Good Girls” (2013), and “Effie Gray” (2014). More recently, she appeared in mainstream projects like the heist comedy “Ocean’s 8” (2018) and starred in the period drama series “The Alienist.” Her diverse range of roles also includes portraying Manson girl Squeaky Fromme in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019), Susan Ford in the drama series “The First Lady” (2022), and CIA agent Emma Collins in “The Equalizer 3” (2023).
Acting career- 1999–2003
As a young child, Dakota Fanning began her acting journey at the Towne Lake Arts Center in Woodstock, Georgia, where she appeared in small plays. Her professional acting career commenced in 1999 at the age of five when she featured in a Tide television commercial. Notably, she made her mark with a guest role in the NBC prime-time drama ER, portraying a car accident victim with leukemia, a role she fondly remembers.
Following this, Fanning embarked on numerous guest appearances on television series like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Practice, and Spin City. She also portrayed young versions of characters in Ally McBeal and The Ellen Show. In 2001, Fanning was selected to star alongside Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer in the film I Am Sam, where she played the daughter of a mentally challenged man. This role garnered her a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination and earned her the Best Young Actor/Actress award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
Director Steven Spielberg then cast Fanning in the lead child role in the science fiction miniseries Taken. Her performance in various films, including Trapped, Sweet Home Alabama, and Hansel and Gretel, received positive attention from critics. She continued to showcase her talent in projects like Man on Fire, Hide and Seek, and Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch.
Throughout her career, Fanning displayed versatility by taking on diverse roles, from starring in family-friendly films like Charlotte’s Web to portraying more intense characters in films like Hounddog. She also received acclaim for her performances in War of the Worlds and Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story.
Fanning’s career continued to flourish as she transitioned into adolescence. She starred in blockbuster hits like New Moon and Eclipse from the Twilight Saga series and took on challenging roles in films like The Runaways and The Secret Life of Bees. Additionally, she voiced characters in animated projects and tackled roles in documentaries like Rise.
Fanning’s dedication to her craft and her ability to embody a wide range of characters earned her recognition within the industry, including an invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the age of twelve. She consistently ranked among the top-earning young stars and expanded her repertoire by appearing in various genres, from thrillers like Push to dramas like Effie Gray.
As she continued to grow as an actress, Fanning tackled more mature roles in films like Night Moves and Every Secret Thing. Her willingness to take on challenging and diverse roles showcased her versatility and solidified her reputation as one of Hollywood’s most talented young stars.
2016–present
In July 2016, news broke that Fanning had secured a role in the film adaptation of The Bell Jar, portraying Esther Greenwood.
In 2017, Fanning featured in Neill Blomkamp’s Zygote, part of Blomkamp’s series of experimental short films under Oats Studios.
Fanning made a cameo appearance in the heist comedy Ocean’s 8 in 2018. That same year, she took on the role of Sara Howard in the TNT historical television series The Alienist, based on the novel of the same name. In August 2018, TNT greenlit a sequel series based on the follow-up novel The Angel of Darkness, with Fanning slated to reprise her role.
In 2019, Fanning portrayed Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme in Quentin Tarantino’s comedy-drama Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, earning a nomination alongside the film’s cast for the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
In December 2019, it was revealed that both Fanning sisters would star in an adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s 2015 novel, The Nightingale, directed by Mélanie Laurent. In March 2021, the sisters announced the formation of their production company, Lewellen Pictures, which inked a first-look deal with MRC Television/Civic Center Media.
In March 2023, Fanning was announced as the lead in the Netflix miniseries The Perfect Couple. Additionally, she reunited with Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 3.
Personal life
In June 2011, Fanning completed her studies at Campbell Hall School in Studio City, California. During her time there, she was an active member of the varsity spirit cheerleading squad and earned the title of homecoming queen twice. Following her high school graduation, from 2011 to 2014, she pursued her education at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University. Her academic focus centered on women’s studies, particularly exploring the representation of women in film and culture.
Early life
Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia, and attended a Montessori School in Covington. Her mother, Heather Joy (née Arrington), had a career in professional tennis, while her father, Steven J. Fanning, was a minor league baseball player before transitioning to work as an electronics salesman in Los Angeles, California. Her maternal grandfather, Rick Arrington, was a former American football player, and her aunt is the former reporter Jill Arrington. Among her ancestors is William Farrar. Fanning is the older sister of actress Elle Fanning; both siblings adhere to the family tradition of using their middle names as their given names and were raised in the Southern Baptist faith.