Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning | |
|---|---|
| File:ElleFanningsuperocho.jpg Elle Fanning in December, 2010 | |
| Born | Mary Elle Fanning April 9, 1998 |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, model |
| Years active | 2001–present |
Mary Elle Fanning (born April 9, 1998), credited as Elle Fanning, is an American actress and model. She is the younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning and mainly known for her starring roles in Phoebe in Wonderland, Somewhere, and We Bought a Zoo. In 2011, Fanning starred in her breakout role as Alice Dainard in J.J. Abrams' sci-fi-drama blockbuster, Super 8. For this role she received overwhelming critical acclaim and was often cited as one of the film's best aspects. She received nominations for a Saturn Award, a Young Artist Award, a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, a Teen Choice Award, a Scream Award, an MTV Movie Award, and more including a special Spotlight Award at the Hollywood Film Festival.
Personal life
Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia, the daughter of Heather Joy (née Arrington), who played tennis professionally, and Steven J. Fanning, who played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and now works as an electronics salesman in Los Angeles.[1] Her maternal grandfather is American football player Rick Arrington, and her aunt is ESPN reporter Jill Arrington.[2] Fanning is the younger sister of Dakota Fanning, who is also an actress.[3] Fanning has German, Irish, English, and French ancestry (her paternal grandmother was born in Ludwigshafen, Germany).[4][1] Fanning and her family are members of the Southern Baptist Convention.[5] She has been quoted as saying "We're just normal sisters. We both go to school and we just play together."[6] Fanning currently attends Campbell Hall School in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, that was also attended by child actresses Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen.[7]
Career
Fanning started acting at the age of 2 years and 8 months. She began her acting career by playing the younger version of her older sister Dakota's characters in both the mini-series Taken and the movie I Am Sam. In 2002, at the age of four, Fanning, in the comedy Daddy Day Care, won her first role independent of her sister. Anecdotal evidence of her emerging skill was seen in the decision to cast her in the role of Ruth in The Door in the Floor (2002) opposite Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger. The film's producers had originally planned to hire identical twins for the intense shooting schedule, but were so impressed with Fanning that they used only her.[8]
Late in 2003, Fanning appeared in Because of Winn-Dixie in the small role of Sweetie Pie Thomas. In 2004, she did voicework in the English dubbed version of Miyazaki's animated film My Neighbor Totoro, in the role of Mei. Later that same year, she filmed I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With. In early 2005, Fanning filmed scenes in Charlotte's Web as the "future granddaughter" of Fern Arable played by Dakota Fanning. However, the scenes didn't make the final cut. In mid 2005, she played Debbie, the daughter of Richard and Susan Jones (played by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) in the Academy Award-winning film Babel. In early 2006, Fanning filmed scenes in both The Nines and Déjà Vu. In mid 2006, she filmed The Lost Room a sci-fi TV mini-series. Also in 2006, she appeared on the episode "Need to Know" of House: MD, playing the patient's daughter.
By the end of 2006, Fanning began to book lead roles. The first of these was the one of Emma Learner in Reservation Road—the grieving daughter of Grace and Ethan Learner. The film deals with the aftermath of a tragic car accident in which Emma's brother is killed. Late in 2008, Fanning had a small part in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button as a younger version of Cate Blanchett's character. Mid-year 2007, Fanning filmed the title role Phoebe of Phoebe in Wonderland—the fantastical tale of a little girl who won't—or can't—follow the rules. Phoebe in Wonderland also starred Felicity Huffman and was released in March 2009.
From July through October 2007, Fanning appeared in The Nutcracker in 3D, playing Mary. Set in 1920s Vienna, this is a tale of a little girl whose godfather gives her a special doll on Christmas Eve. The movie was filmed in Budapest, Hungary and was released late 2010.
In March 2008, Fanning and her sister Dakota were scheduled to star in My Sister's Keeper, but the opportunity fell through when Dakota learned she would have to shave her head. The sisters were immediately replaced by Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva.[9]
Variety reported in April 2009 that Fanning would be starring in Academy Award-winning screenwriter Sofia Coppola's new film, Somewhere. The plot centers around a "bad-boy" actor who is forced to re-evaluate his life when his daughter, played by Fanning, arrives unexpectedly.[10] The film was released during the 2010 awards season. At its first film festival, the 67th Venice Film Festival, it took out the Golden Lion.[11]
In late 2010, Fanning began working on Francis Ford Coppola's new film Twixt, that Coppola wrote, based on a dream he had.[12] She plays the role of a young ghost named V.
In 2011, Fanning starred in in J. J. Abrams' sci-fi-drama film Super 8 as Alice Dainard. The movie was released on June 10, 2011 and centers around a group of kids who are forced to deal with strange happenings in their small town.[13] For this role, Fanning was introduced to a much more mainstream audience, leading to this becoming her breakout role. She received overwhelming critical acclaim and was reported by several critics and fans as a frontrunner to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In December 2011, Fanning appeared in Cameron Crowe's We Bought a Zoo.[14] She played Lily, a thirteen-year-old who is working illegally at the zoo's restaurant, and lives on the property with her only parental figure, Kelly (Scarlett Johansson).
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | I Am Sam | Younger Lucy | |
| 2003 | Daddy Day Care | Jamie | Nominated - Young Artist Award for Best Young Ensemble in a Feature Film |
| 2004 | The Door in the Floor | Ruth Cole | |
| 2005 | My Neighbor Totoro | Mei (Voice) | Disney remake English language version voice |
| P.N.O.K. | Rebecca Bullard | Short film | |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Sweetie Pie Thomas | ||
| 2006 | Déjà Vu | Abbey | |
| Babel | Debbie Jones | Nominated - Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actress Age Ten or Younger | |
| I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With | Penelope | ||
| 2007 | The Nines | Noelle | |
| Reservation Road | Emma Learner | ||
| Day 73 with Sarah | Sarah | Short film | |
| 2008 | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Daisy, Age 6 | |
| Phoebe in Wonderland | Phoebe Lichten | Lead role | |
| 2009 | Astro Boy | Grace | Voice |
| 2010 | The Nutcracker in 3D | Mary | Nominated - Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress[15] |
| Somewhere | Cleo | Young Hollywood Award for Film Actress of the Year Nominated - Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Performer | |
| 2011 | Super 8 | Alice Dainard | Co-lead role Hollywood Spotlight Award Phoenix Film Critics Society for Breakthrough Performance on Camera Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Nominated - Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Young Performer Nominated - Empire Award for Best Newcomer Nominated - New York Film Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress - Drama Nominated - Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role - Female Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated - Scream Award for Breakout Performance - Female Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress - Sci-Fi Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Chemistry Nominated - Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress[16] Nominated - Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Ensemble Cast Pending - Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor Nominated - MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Performance |
| The Curve of Forgotten Things | Short film | ||
| Twixt | V | ||
| We Bought a Zoo | Lily Miska |
Notable TV guest appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Taken | Allie Keys – Age 3 | "Charlie and Lisa" |
| 2003 | Judging Amy | Rochelle Cobbs | "Maxine Interrupted" |
| CSI: Miami | Molly Walker | "Death Grip" | |
| 2004 | CSI: NY | Jenny Como | "Officer Blue" |
| 2006 | House: MD | Stella Dalton | "Need to Know" |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Eden | "Cage" | |
| The Lost Room | Anna Miller | 3 episodes Nominated - Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama) - Supporting Young Actress | |
| 2006–2007 | Criminal Minds | Tracey Belle | 2 episodes (guest role) "The Boogeyman" and "No Way Out, Part II: The Evilution of Frank" |
| 2007 | Dirty Sexy Money | Kiki George | "Pilot" |
Awards
| Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Nominated Work |
| 2004 | Nominated | Young Artist Award | Best Young Ensamble in a Feature Film | Daddy Day Care |
| 2007 | Nominated | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special (Comedy or Drama): Supporting Young Actress | The Lost Room |
| Nominated | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a Feature Film: Young Actress Age Ten or Younger | Babel | |
| 2011 | Nominated | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award | Best Young Actor/Actress | Somewhere |
| Won | Young Hollywood Award | Actress of the Year Award | ||
| Nominated | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress | The Nutcracker in 3D | |
| Won | Hollywood Film Festival | Spotlight Award | Super 8 | |
| Nominated | Satellite Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | ||
| Nominated | Scream Award | Breakout Performance: Female | ||
| Nominated | Teen Choice Award | Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy | ||
| Nominated | Choice Movie Chemistry | |||
| Won | Phoenix Film Critics Society | Best Ensemble Acting | ||
| Nominated | Breakthrough Performance on Camera | |||
| Nominated | Best Performance by a Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role: Female | |||
| 2012 | Nominated | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award | Best Young Actress | |
| Nominated | Young Artist Award [16] | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress | ||
| Nominated | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Ensemble Cast | |||
| Nominated | MTV Movie Award | Best Breakthrough Performance | ||
References
- ^ a b 1 rootsweb
- ^ Stein, Joel (February 27, 2005). "The Million-Dollar Baby". Time. Retrieved December 10, 2007.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Elle Fanning FAQ, Totally Elle
- ^ "Dakota Fanning Lives Out Her Dreams". timessquare.com. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
- ^ "Interview: Dakota Fanning". lifeteen.com.
{{cite web}}: Text "il 2007" ignored (help) - ^ "We're just normal sisters. We both go to school and we just play together." Elle Fanning Quotes, Totally Elle
- ^ Hollywood be thy name... Episcopal Church marks 100 years of mission, ministry in movie mecca. The Episcopal News. Retrieved August 22, 2011
- ^ Elle Fanning Biography, NetGlimse
- ^ Abigail Breslin Is My Sister's Keeper, Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ Sofia Coppola books Marmont film – Entertainment News, Variety
- ^ Sofia Coppola's SOMEWHERE Wins Venice Film Festival's 2010 Golden Lion, Art Film Guide
- ^ Francis Ford Coppola Discusses His New Horror Movie, Twixt Now And Sunrise, Bleeding Cool
- ^ Cast Set for J.J. Abrams' Super 8, ComingSoon.net
- ^ Patrick Fugit and Elle Fanning Join Cameron Crowe’s ‘We Bought a Zoo’, Slash Film
- ^ "32nd Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "33rd Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
External links
- Elle Fanning at IMDb