Elle Fanning

Infobox actor


caption = Elle at the Los Angeles Film Festival, 2008
birthname = Mary Elle Fanning
birthdate = birth date and age|1998|4|9
birthplace = Conyers, Georgia, U.S.A.
occupation = Actress
yearsactive = 2001 - present

Elle Fanning (born April 9 1998) is an American child actress and the younger sister of award-winning actress Dakota Fanning.

Biography

Personal life

Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia, the daughter of Joy (née Arrington), who played tennis professionally, and Steve Fanning, who played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and now works as an electronics salesman in Los Angeles. [ [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/celeb/fanning.htm 1 ] ] Her maternal grandfather is football player Rick Arrington and her aunt is ESPN reporter Jill Arrington.cite news|last=Stein|first=Joel|coauthors=|title=The Million-Dollar Baby|pages=|publisher=Time|date=2005-02-27|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1032353,00.html|accessdate=2007-12-10] Fanning is the younger sister of Dakota Fanning, also an actress. She goes by her middle name "Elle" just like her older sister. [ [http://www.elle-fanning.net/elle_faq.php Elle Fanning FAQ] , "Totally Elle"] Fanning is of half German descent and her last name is of Irish origin.cite web | publisher=timessquare.com | title=Dakota Fanning Lives Out Her Dreams | url=http://timessquare.com/Movies/FILM_INTERVIEWS/Dakota_Fanning_Lives_Out_Her_Dreams/ | accessdate=July 21 | accessyear=2006] She and her family are members of the Southern Baptist Convention.cite web | publisher=lifeteen.com | title=Interview: Dakota Fanning | url=http://www.lifeteen.com/default.aspx?PageID=FEATUREDETAIL&__DocumentId=106317&__ArticleIndex=0 | accessdate=July 19 | accessyear=2006] She had been home-schooled all her life until 2007, but started school recently. She was quoted as saying "We're just normal sisters. We both go to school and we just play together." [ [http://www.elle-fanning.net/elle_quotes.php "We're just normal sisters. We both go to school and we just play together." Elle Fanning Quotes] , "Totally Elle"]

Career

Fanning 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 won her first role independent of her sister, in the comedy "Daddy Day Care".

In 2003, Fanning filmed "The Door in the Floor" opposite Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger. Anecdotal evidence of her young skill was seen in the decision to cast her in the role of Ruth in "The Door in the Floor". 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. [gfnx [http://www.netglimse.com/celebs/pages/elle_fanning/index.shtml Elle Fanning Biography] , "NetGlimse"]

Late in 2003, Fanning filmed "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 charming animated film My Neighbor Totoro, in the role of Mei. Later that same year, Fanning 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, Fanning played Debbie, the daughter of 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.

By the end of 2006, Fanning began to book lead roles. Her first being in "Reservation Road" playing Emma Learner, the grieving daughter of Joaquin Phoenix and Jennifer Connelly. The film deals with the aftermath of a tragic car accident in which Emma's brother is killed. Early in 2007, she had a small part in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" as a younger version of Cate Blanchett's character (as opposed to "Babel" where Fanning played her daughter). Mid-year 2007, Fanning filmed "Phoebe in Wonderland" as the title role Phoebe. It is the fantastical tale of a little girl who won't - or can't - follow the rules. It also stars Felicity Huffman and is expected to be released in 2009.

From July to October 2007, Fanning filmed "Nutcracker: The Untold Story", playing Mary. Set in 1920's Vienna, this is a tale of a little girl whose godfather gives her a special doll one Christmas Eve. Fanning filmed this movie in Budapest, Hungary. It is expected to be released late 2009. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1041804/ Nutcracker: The Untold Story] , "IMDB"]

In March 2008, Elle 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. They were immediately replaced by Abigail Breslin and Sofia Vassilieva. [ [http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/news/1708879/ Abigail Breslin Is My Sister's Keeper] , "Rotten Tomatoes"]

Filmography

elected TV guest appearances

"Dirty Sexy Money" (2007)
Episode: Pilot
Season: 1
Playing: Kiki George
Screen Time: Small
Note: Elle was replaced by Chloe Moretz after the pilot, as Elle had to pull out of the project due to scheduling conflicts with the various movies Elle had taken on.

"Criminal Minds" (May 16, 2007)
Episode: "No Way Out II: The Evolution of Frank"
Playing: Tracey Belle
Season: 2
Screen Time: Small

"" (November 11, 2006)
Episode: ""
Playing: Eden
Season: 8
Screen Time: Large

"Criminal Minds" (October 25, 2006)
Episode: "The Boogeyman"
Playing: Tracey Belle
Season: 2
Screen Time: Medium

"" (February 7, 2006)
Episode: "Need to Know (House episode)"
Playing: Stella
Season: 2
Screen Time: Medium

"" (2004)
Episode: "Officer Blue"
Playing: Jenny Como
Season: 1
Screen Time: Very Small

"" (2003)
Episode: "Death Grip"
Playing: Molly Walker
Season: 2
Screen Time: Small

"Judging Amy" (2003)
Episode: "Maxine Interrupted"
Playing: Rochelle Cobbs
Season: 4
Screen Time: Very Small

References

External links

*
*
* [http://www.elle-fanning.net Elle Fanning website]
* [http://www.ellefanning.info Elle Fanning News, Video and Photos]
* [http://www.elle-fanning.de Elle Fanning - German Fansite]
* [http://forum.elle-fanning.de Elle Fanning - German Board]
* [http://www.childstarlets.com/lobby/bios/elle_fanning.html Elle Fanning Image Library]