Highlights
- Dakota Fanning launched Elle Fanning's career by bringing her along to work on projects with big names like Sean Penn and Steven Spielberg.
- Despite their success, Elle and Dakota Fanning didn't have a close bond growing up due to their age difference.
- Over time, their relationship has grown and they now share a deep and meaningful bond, realizing they couldn't do life without each other.
Before Dakota Fanning became a teenager, she had already made enough money to buy her family a mansion. As Elle Fanning grew up, she became a big enough star that fans care enough about her to want to know about her relationship with other stars like Paris Hilton.
Since the Fanning sisters have enjoyed so much success, the media often compare them wanting to know things like which one is wealthier. Since the sisters are often pitted against each other in the media, that begs an obvious question, what is their relationship like in real life?
How Did Dakota Fanning Launch Her Little Sister Elle Fanning's Career?
As of the time of this writing, Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning have both been acting in major projects for more than two decades. Since the sisters have been successful for so long, it can be easy to forget what launched their careers, to begin with.
In the year 1999, Dakota Fanning's professional acting career began when she starred in a Tide commercial at only five years old. The following year, Dakota Fanning's career went to a whole new level when she landed roles in several major TV shows like ER, Spin City, Ally McBeal, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
After turning heads with her performances in those shows, Dakota Fanning landed one of the lead roles in a movie with Sean Penn. When that movie which was called I Am Sam was released, it became extremely acclaimed with Dakota Fanning receiving a huge portion of the praise.
After the success of I Am Sam, Dakota Fanning went on to star in the TV miniseries Taken. Landing a notable role in that miniseries was a big deal for Dakota Fanning since it was produced by Steven Spielberg.
When Dakota Fanning began working with Penn and Spielberg, she brought her little sister along for the ride. The reason for that is the first two roles Elle Fanning landed was as a younger version of Dakota Fanning's character in I Am Sam and Taken.
Why Did Dakota Fanning Admit To Being A Bad Sister To Elle
In an ideal world, everyone would get along with the other members of their family, especially if they are close in age. In reality, however, it is pretty common for siblings to have rivalries that can be surprisingly fierce. In some cases, those feuds last far into adulthood and never truly go away.
When Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning were still kids, they became such talented actors that everyone in Hollywood wanted to work with them. Between the sisters, they worked with heavyweights like Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, Eddie Murphy, Sean Penn, Jeff Bridges, and many more.
Since the Fanning sisters were so great in many movies, it is very safe to say that they both were talented actors as kids. With that in mind, it is safe to say that if they wanted to put up a front in public, the sisters were more than capable of playing their roles.
When Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning appeared in public together as kids, they seemed extremely close. However, when Elle Fanning was interviewed by Porter in 2022, she revealed that she could be the "worst" to her big sister.
“I wasn’t getting recognized, but I was part of the madness. I’d be like, ‘Dakota! Dakota!’ to try and make it happen. I was the worst.”
In 2017, Dakota Fanning was interviewed by Marie Claire and she spoke about her relationship with Elle Fanning. During the resulting conversation, Dakota Fanning agreed that there was a time when she and her little sister didn't have much of a bond.
According to Dakota Fanning, there is a really simple reason why she and Elle Fanning didn't have much of a relationship for a while. Since Dakota Fanning is four years older than Elle Fanning, she believes there was a period when they didn't have much in common.
"There are a few years where you’re both experiencing such different things; age nine and 13 – nothing in common; 12 and 16 – we didn’t know what to do with each other."
How Did Elle And Dakota Fanning Repair Their Relationship?
While both sisters agree that they didn't get along in the past, there is something else they see eye to eye about. According to what the sisters have said in separate interviews, their relationship has grown a lot, and now they share a deep and meaningful bond.
In February 2023, Elle Fanning paid tribute to her sister when it was Dakota Fanning's birthday. According to Elle Fanning's Instagram post, the sisters shared a moment when they truly realized what they mean to each other.
"We had a moment last year, sitting on the couch and we looked at each other and you said, 'thank god I have a sister.' I wouldn’t be able to do life without you, Cody! I love you 🪄🪩💕🧁"
When it was Elle Fanning's birthday in 2021, Dakota Fanning also paid tribute to her sister on Instagram. "I am so grateful to move through this life with you. Happy Birthday @ellefanning I love you beyond compare."
Dakota Fanning has also spoken about the bond that she and Elle Fanning share during several interviews over the years.
During Dakota Fanning's aforementioned Marie Claire interview, she spoke about how her relationship with Elle Fanning strengthened over time. According to Dakota Fanning, the reason her relationship with Elle went from distant to close is simple, they grew up and began to have a lot in common.
"Now as she’s getting older and I’m getting older we’re getting closer… and that’s really lovely." Dakota also explained that the sisters have also learned to not let Hollywood come between them. "We’ve had scenarios where we’ve gone to meet the same person and it’s totally fine. To us, we’re so different."
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