Early life

Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia. She attended Montessori School of Covington. Her mother, Heather Joy (née Arrington), played tennis professionally, and her father, Steven J. Fanning, played minor league baseball and now works as an electronics salesman in Los Angeles, California. Her maternal grandfather is former American football player Rick Arrington, and her aunt is former ESPN reporter Jill Arrington. Dakota is the older sister of Elle Fanning, also an actress.

Fanning has English, French, German and Irish ancestry. She and her family are Southern Baptist.

Acting career

1999-2003: Beginnings

When Fanning was a small child, she was an actress at the Towne Lake Arts Center in Woodstock, Georgia starring in small plays, then in 1999, Fanning began acting at the age of five after appearing on a Tide commercial. Her first significant acting job was a guest role in the NBC prime-time drama ER, which remains one of her favorite roles

("I played a car accident victim who has leukemia. I got to wear a neck brace and nose tubes for the two days I worked.").

Fanning subsequently had several guest roles on television series, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Practice, and Spin City. She also portrayed the title characters of Ally McBeal and The Ellen Show as young girls.

In 2001, Fanning was chosen to star opposite Sean Penn in the movie I Am Sam, the story of a mentally challenged man who fights for the custody of his daughter (played by Fanning). Her role in the film made Fanning the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, being seven years of age at the time. She also won the Best Young Actor/Actress award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association for her performance.

In 2002, director Steven Spielberg cast Fanning in the lead child role of Allison "Allie" Clarke/Keys in the science fiction miniseries Taken. By this time, she had received positive notices by several film critics, including Tom Shales of The Washington Post, who wrote that Fanning

"has the perfect sort of otherworldly look about her, an enchanting young actress called upon ... to carry a great weight."

In the same year, Fanning appeared in three films: as a kidnap victim who proves to be more than her abductors bargained for in Trapped, as the young version of Reese Witherspoon's character in Sweet Home Alabama, and as Katie in the movie Hansel and Gretel.

A year later, she starred in two prominent films: playing the uptight child to an immature nanny played by Brittany Murphy in Uptown Girls, and as Sally in The Cat in the Hat. In addition, Fanning did voice-over work for four animated projects during this period, including voicing Satsuki in Disney's English language release of My Neighbor Totoro, a little girl in the Fox series Family Guy, and a young Wonder Woman in the episode "Kids Stuff" from Cartoon Network's Justice League Unlimited.

In 2004, she made an appearance on season ten of the television series Friends, playing the role of Mackenzie, a young girl who is moving out of the house Monica and Chandler are buying.

2004-2007

In 2004, Fanning appeared in Man on Fire as Pita, a nine-year-old who wins over the heart of a retired mercenary (Denzel Washington) hired to protect her from kidnappers. Roger Ebert wrote that Fanning

"is a pro at only ten years old, and creates a heart-winning character."

Hide and Seek was her first release in 2005, opposite Robert De Niro. The film was generally panned, and critic Chuck Wilson called it

"a fascinating meeting of equals - if the child star challenged the master to a game of stare-down, the legend might very well blink first."

Fanning voiced Lilo (succeeding Daveigh Chase) in the direct-to-video film Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch. She also had a small part in the Rodrigo García film Nine Lives (released in October 2005), in which she shared an unbroken nine-minute scene with actress Glenn Close, who had her own praise for Fanning:

"She's definitely an old soul. She's one of those gifted people that come along every now and then."

Fanning also recorded voice work for Coraline during this time.

Fanning completed filming on Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (opposite Kurt Russell) in late October 2004.

Kris Kristofferson, who plays her character's grandfather in the film, said that she is like Bette Davis reincarnated. While promoting her role in Dreamer, Fanning became a registered member of Girl Scouts of the USA at a special ceremony, which was followed by a screening of the film for members of the Girl Scouts of the San Fernando Valley Council.

Fanning then went on to star in War of the Worlds, starring alongside Tom Cruise. Released in reverse order (War in June 2005 and Dreamer in the following October), both films were a critical success. War director Steven Spielberg praised

"how quickly she understands the situation in a sequence, how quickly she sizes it up, measures it up and how she would really react in a real situation."

Fanning moved straight to another film without a break: Charlotte's Web, which she finished filming in May 2005 in Australia, and premiered on December 15, 2006.

During the summer of 2006, Fanning worked on the film Hounddog, described in press reports as a "dark story of abuse, violence and Elvis Presley adulation in the rural South." Fanning's parents have been criticized for allowing her to film a scene in which her character is raped. However, Fanning defended the film by saying, "It's not really happening," to Reuters.

"It's a movie, and it's called acting."

Although the film was a failure both at the box office and with critics, Dakota's performance was praised by Roger Ebert, who compared her to Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver.

In the same year, at the age of twelve, she was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, becoming the youngest member in the Academy's history. Later that year, she was ranked 4th in Forbes list of "Top Earning Stars Aged Under 21", having earned an estimated $4 million in 2006.

In the spring of 2007, she filmed Fragments - Winged Creatures alongside Kate Beckinsale, Guy Pearce, Josh Hutcherson, and Academy Award winners Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson. She plays Anne Hagen, a girl who witnesses her father's murder and who turns to religion in the aftermath. In July, Fanning appeared on a short film titled Cutlass, one of Glamour's "Reel Moments" based on readers' personal essays. Cutlass was directed by Kate Hudson.

From September to the end of the year, Fanning filmed Push, which centers on a group of young American expatriates with telekinetic and clairvoyant abilities who hide from the Division (a U.S. government agency) in Hong Kong and band together to try to escape the control of the division. Fanning played Cassie Holmes, a 13-year-old psychic.

2008-present: Independent films and recent roles

In January 2008, Fanning began filming the film adaptation of The Secret Life of Bees, a novel by Sue Monk Kidd. Set in South Carolina in 1964, the story centers on Lily Owens (Fanning), who escapes her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father by running away with her caregiver and only friend (played by Jennifer Hudson) to a South Carolina town where they are taken in by an eccentric trio of beekeeping sisters (played by Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo, and Alicia Keys).

Her films Coraline and Push were released on the same day, February 6, 2009.

In March 2008, upon the original creation of the film adaptation Dakota and Elle Fanning were cast to play Kate and Anna respectively in the film My Sister's Keeper. However, when Dakota heard that she would be required to shave her head for the role, she dropped out of the film as then did Elle. The two sisters were replaced; Abigail Breslin took on the lead role as Anna Fitzgerald, and Sofia Vassilieva was cast as Kate Fitzgerald.

Fanning played Jane, a member of the Volturi Guard, in New Moon and reprised the role in Eclipse, based on novels by Stephenie Meyer. New Moon was released on November 20, 2009, and Eclipse was released on the following June. On In March 2009, she was ranked number three on the list of Forbes' Most Valuable Young Stars after having earned an estimated $14 million.

In 2010, she starred in the film The Runaways, alongside Kristen Stewart, Stella Maeve, and Scout Taylor-Compton, where she played Cherie Currie, the lead singer of the band. Then from the end of the year until early 2011, Fanning filmed Breaking Dawn, reprising the role of Jane.

Fanning's voice was heard in Rise, a documentary film commissioned by U.S. Figure Skating to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the crash of Sabena Flight 548 which resulted in the loss of the entire American team and subsequent cancellation of the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships. She read a poem written by U.S. national champion Laurence Owen (who died in the crash) that was said to be an eerie premonition of the afterlife.

So far the Twilight has a revenue of more than $1 billion in total which makes it one of the most successful franchises in history.

During the summer of 2011 she played Tessa in Now Is Good. Fanning also became the face of Marc Jacobs' Oh, Lola! perfume campaign, but the ad was banned in the UK as the Advertising Standards Authority judged that "the ad could be seen to sexualize a child."

In 2011, she played Annie James in The Motel Life, which was released on November 8, 2013. In the fall of 2011, Fanning played the starring role in Effie, directed by Richard Laxton, written and co-starred by Emma Thompson, with Greg Wise, Tom Sturridge, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, Derek Jacobi and Claudia Cardinale.

In August 2012, she signed on to play the lead role of a wealthy financial eco-terrorist, Dena Brauer, who finances a plan, in a thriller film Night Moves opposite actors Jesse Eisenberg and Peter Sarsgaard. The film was to be directed by Kelly Reichardt. Night Moves tells the story of three Eco-terrorists who work at an organic farm and collaborate on a plot to blow up a hydroelectric dam.

In January 2013, she was cast as Beverly Aadland in the Errol Flynn biopic The Last of Robin Hood. Later that year in September, Fanning was cast as Olivia in Franny. In November, she was cast in Viena and The Fantomes as Viena; about a roadie traveling across America with a punk rock band in the 1980s. The film is set to be released in 2015.

In February 2014, she recorded a voice role for the animated movie Yellowbird.

In May 2015, Every Secret Thing, based on the 2004 novel by Laura Lippman, co-starring Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks, Danielle Macdonald, Colin Donnell and Nate Parker was released in the U.S.

Also in 2015, Koolhoven confirmed that Jack Roth joined the cast of the film Brimstone. In June 2015, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Dakota and Kit Harington had replaced Mia Wasikowska and Robert Pattinson in the film, respectively. The set of primary recording began June 15 and will be held in Romania, Spain and Germany.

Personal life

In June 2011, Fanning graduated from Campbell Hall School in Studio City, California, where she participated on the varsity spirit cheerleading squad and was voted homecoming queen. Since 2011, she has attended New York University.

In January 2012, it was reported that Fanning signed to be represented by WME (William Morris-Endeavor), thus ending a decade-long association with Osbrink Talent Agency. In April 2014, it was announced that Fanning switched agencies again and is now represented by CAA.

Fanning began dating British model Jamie Strachan in 2013.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	Father Xmas	Clairee	Short
	Tomcats	Little Girl in Park
	I Am Sam	Lucy Diamond Dawson
2002	Trapped	Abigail "Abbie" Jennings
	Sweet Home Alabama	Young Melanie
	Hansel and Gretel	Katie
2003	Uptown Girls	Lorraine "Ray" Schleine
	Cat in the Hat, TheThe Cat in the Hat	Sally Walden
	Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time	Preschool Kim	Voice role
2004	Man on Fire	Lupita "Pita" Martin Ramos
	My Neighbor Totoro	Satsuki Kusakabe	Voice role
	In the Realms of the Unreal	Narrator	Voice role
2005	Hide and Seek	Emily Callaway
	Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch	Lilo Pelekai	Voice role
	Nine Lives	Maria
	War of the Worlds	Rachel Ferrier
	Dreamer	Cale Crane
2006	Charlotte's Web	Fern Arable
2007	Hounddog	Lewellen
	Cutlass	Lacy	Short
2008	Secret Life of Bees, TheThe Secret Life of Bees	Lily Owens
2009	Coraline	Coraline Jones	Voice role
	Push	Cassie Holmes
	Fragments - Winged Creatures	Anne Hagen
	Twilight Saga: New Moon, TheThe Twilight Saga: New Moon	Jane Volturi
2010	Runaways, TheThe Runaways	Cherie Currie
	Twilight Saga: Eclipse, TheThe Twilight Saga: Eclipse	Jane Volturi
2012	The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2	Jane Volturi
	Celia	Hannah Jones	Short
	The Motel Life	Annie James
	Now Is Good	Tessa Scott
2013	Night Moves	Dena Brauer
	The Last of Robin Hood	Beverly Aadland
2014	Very Good Girls	Lilly Berger
	Effie	Euphemia 'Effie' Gray
	Every Secret Thing	Ronnie Fuller
	Yellowbird	Delf	Voice role; English version
2015	The Benefactor	Olivia
	Viena and the Fantomes	Viena
2016	Brimstone	Liz	In post-production
	American Pastoral	Merry Levov	In post-production
2018	Ghost Wars	Marina Richards	In production

Television

Year	Title	Role	Episode
2000	ER	Delia Chadsey	Episode: "The Fastest Year"
	Ally McBeal	Ally (5 years old)	Episode: "The Musical, Almost"
	Strong Medicine	Edie's Girl	Episode: "Misconceptions"
	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Brenda Collins	Episode: "Blood Drops"
	Practice, TheThe Practice	Alessa Engel	Episode: "The Deal"
	Spin City	Cindy	Episode: "Toy Story"
2001	Malcolm in the Middle	Emily	Episode: "New Neighbors"
	Fighting Fitzgeralds, TheThe Fighting Fitzgeralds	Marie	Pilot
	Family Guy	Little girl	Episode: "To Love and Die in Dixie"
	Ellen Show, TheThe Ellen Show	Young Ellen	Episode: "Missing the Bus"
2002	Taken	Allie Keys	Miniseries; 10 episodes (voice only in 6)
2004	Justice League Unlimited	Young Wonder Woman (voice)	Episode: "Kids' Stuff"
	Friends	Mackenzie	Episode: "The One with Princess Consuela"

Video games

Year	Title	Voice role
2009	Coraline (video game)	Coraline Jones

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
2001	Broadcast Film Critics Association	Best Young Performer	I Am Sam	Won
2002	Las Vegas Film Critics Society	Youth in Film	I Am Sam	Won
2002	Screen Actors Guild	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role	I Am Sam	Nominated
2002	Satellite Awards	Outstanding New Talent	I Am Sam	Won
2002	Chicago Film Critics Association	Most Promising Performer	I Am Sam	Won
2002	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actress Age Ten or Under	I Am Sam	Won
2003		Best Performance in a TV Movie, Mini-Series or Special - Leading Young Actress	Taken	Won
2003	Saturn Awards	Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series	Taken	Nominated
2004	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress	Cat in the Hat, TheThe Cat in the Hat	Nominated
2005	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress	Man on Fire	Nominated
2005	Gotham Awards	Best Ensemble Cast	Nine Lives	Nominated
2005	Locarno International Film Festival	Best Actress	Nine Lives	Won
2005	MTV Movie Awards	Best Frightened Performance	Hide and Seek	Won
2005	Las Vegas Film Critics Society	Youth in Film	War of the Worlds	Won
2005	Irish Film and Television Awards	Best International Actress	War of the Worlds	Nominated
2005	Broadcast Film Critics Association	Best Young Actress	War of the Worlds	Won
2006	MTV Movie Awards	Best Frightened Performance	War of the Worlds	Nominated
2006	Saturn Awards	Best Performance by a Younger Actor	War of the Worlds	Won
2006	National Association of Theatre Owners (ShoWest Award)	Actress of the Year		Won
2006	Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Movie Actress	Dreamer	Nominated
2006	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress	Dreamer	Won
2006	Fangoria Chainsaw Awards	Best Actress	Hide and Seek	Nominated
2006	Broadcast Film Critics Association	Best Young Actress	Charlotte's Web	Nominated
2007	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress	Charlotte's Web	Nominated
2007	Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Movie Actress	Charlotte's Web	Won
2008	Black Reel Awards	Best Ensemble Cast	Secret Life of Bees, TheThe Secret Life of Bees	Nominated
2008	Broadcast Film Critics Association	Best Young Actress	Secret Life of Bees, TheThe Secret Life of Bees	Nominated
2008	Hollywood Film Festival	Cast year (Shared with cast)	Secret Life of Bees	Won
2009	Broadcast Film Critics Association	Best Young Performer	Secret Life of Bees	Nominated
2009	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress	Secret Life of Bees, TheThe Secret Life of Bees	Won
2009	Palm Springs International Film Festival	Rising Star Award		Won
2010	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role - Young Actor/Actress	Coraline	Nominated
2010	MTV Movie Awards	Best Kiss	Runaways, TheThe Runaways	Nominated
2010	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Movie Scene Stealer - Female	The Twilight Saga: New Moon	Nominated
2013	National Arts Awards	Bell Family Foundation Young Artist Award		Won

Charities

Dakota Fanning supports the following charitable causes: Children, Red Cross.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]