Dakota Fanning is Growing Up and Pushing Toward a New Moon By Jordan Riefe
Actress Dakota Fanning has practically grown up on the screen before our eyes. Playing a young Ally McBeal on the hit Calista Flockhart series in the 90s before appearing in the premiere episode of C.S.I., Fanning honed her young acting skils on several top TV shows before launching her big screen career in Sweet Home Alabama with Reese Witherspoon. From there Dakota Fanning's star has continued to soar next to some of Hollywood's biggest stars in such films as Man on Fire next to Denzel Washington, War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise, The Secret Life of Bees with Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah, and the new and current 3D animated release Coraline, with Teri Hatcher and Ian McShane. And to think that Dakota Fanning has a seasoned and impressive career already in the can at the age of 15 is quite the achievement.
Now Fanning jumps into new territory in director Paul McGuigan's sci-fi thriller Push alonside actor Chris Evens in which Dakota steps into a role that sees her involved with a band of young ex-patriots, "Pushers," with super cerebral abilities on the run from a secret government agency. And since Dakota Fanning has shown the world that she can hang with the Hollywood elite in the world of cinematic drama, it was only a matter of time before Fanning tried her hand at other popular genres involving super hero type characters.
However, when we caught up with Dakota Fanning at the Push press junket in L.A., the buzz of the day was over her upcoming role in the upcoming Twilight sequel, New Moon, alongside Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
Dakota Fanning on her look in Push:
"I really like it. I thought it was really important to really develop her. I mean, other characters that I’ve played - not that the costume isn’t important, the costume is always important - but this is a real character and she’s not a super hero. But she has to look different than everyone else, I felt. So I just had a few ideas and Paul [McGuigan] let me do them, which was great. Yeah, I loved having the colors in my hair and the jacket. That was my t-shirt, and the boots. Everything was just great."
Dakota Fanning on whether she sees Push as a new chapter in how she will be viewed on film:
"Yeah. I mean, it definitely could be. I think as you get older - I can no longer play Lucy in I Am Sam anymore or those roles - you have to kind of grow up. Everyone has to do it and I’m doing it through films, which may be more difficult. But it’s what I love to do and I’ll do anything to be able to keep doing that. I think, yeah, most people haven’t seen me be as grown up as they will in this movie. But at the same time, I was older in The Secret Life of Bees than I was in this movie. So I think both of these are kind of at the same time in my life and I’m more mature in one than I am in the other in different ways."
Fanning on how she gets roles, or selects roles, now that’s she’s older:
"I think there’s so many scripts that I get, and there’s so many more that you can’t do than you can do and that’s so unfortunate. But I think that all roles are perfect for someone, just maybe not for me at that time."
Dakota Fanning on whether Jane of the Twilight series is a perfect role for her:
"Maybe, we’ll see. It would be really cool to be a part of Twilight and those books and that movie."
Dakota on the darkness of the Twilight role:
"It’s definitely something I look forward to. I think you have to do all kinds and eventually I’m going to be the person that you hate in a movie. And I think that’s the fun part about acting, is that you can be sweet and be mean at the same time in different films."
Dakota on which super power from Push she would want to possess:
"I don’t know anymore. I thought I was so secure this morning with my answer to that and now it’s dated. I’m going to go with my original - I like the Pushers. I think that’s really fascinating. But the problem is, you’re "push" wears off and then they just want to kill you after that if you do something mischievous. I think that’s partly what the movie is about, that they all have such an upside and then a down side, and sometimes they’re catastrophic. So I think that’s what the characters are dealing with in the movie and I think I would deal with the same thing if I had that."
Dakota Fanning on what a Pusher is:
"A Pusher is someone who can basically get inside your head and make you think whatever they want you to think. They can manipulate your mind any way that they want to."
Funny how people are fussing over such a small role. I mean she'll probably have just a few lines and even less screen time. But i don't really care if she gets cast. It wouldn't ruin the movie for me.
Reply to moulin
syd
February 22, 2009 - 02:52
Subject: Re: don't care for a small character
If this is referring to new moon then you do realize she will also appear in Breaking Dawn for a good portion... It should be a pretty good portion of the last part in the movie...
Rach
February 14, 2009 - 22:41
Subject: Dakota Fanning
I can kinda see her as Jane, she does kind of look the part (the way her face is shaped and some other features) but she is kinda too ugly for the part but I think it'd be hard to find some close enough to Janes appearence. So I say yes and no for Dakota Fanning in New Moon.
bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!you shouldnt even be considered as a movie star are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She cant play Jane shes to ugly and has no acting skills at all how did she get in this bussniess!!!!!!!!!!!!! She sux ass
Reply to
Jazmine
February 10, 2009 - 14:41
Subject: Re: Dakota..Jane..NO FOR CRYING OUT LOUD
I think she'll do great. Ad like you could do any better. Your just jealous
Shelly
February 07, 2009 - 18:29
Subject: Definitely Dakota.
I think Dakota will be perfect for Jane. I don't understand why people wants to see a more mature Jane. In the book Jane is described by Bella as a baby face, very young and beautiful vampire. Get real people !!!!
Lola
February 07, 2009 - 13:05
Subject: Dakota
I really don't care either way if she does get the part, if she doesn't that means she obviously isn't good enough for the role, but if she does then i guess she is better then all the others that tried out for this part, and honestly i would rather have someone play the role who is better then anyone els who had tried out for it.
sarah
February 06, 2009 - 18:24
Subject: no plz no
i absolutely love dakota fanning. i think shes really pretty and a good actress. i just think she would be terrible for the role of jane. maybe another character in the movie just not jane. shes too young to play jane and her voice just wouldnt fit the character. the voltuir are ancient and mature and beautiful. she just seems to young to play that role....sorry dakota. i still love your movies!!
Actress Dakota Fanning has practically grown up on the screen before our eyes. Playing a young Ally McBeal on the hit Calista Flockhart series in the 90s before appearing in the premiere episode of C.S.I., Fanning honed her young acting skils on several top TV shows before launching her big screen career in Sweet Home Alabama with Reese Witherspoon. From there Dakota Fanning's star has continued to soar next to some of Hollywood's biggest stars in such films as Man on Fire next to Denzel Washington, War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise, The Secret Life of Bees with Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah, and the new and current 3D animated release Coraline, with Teri Hatcher and Ian McShane. And to think that Dakota Fanning has a seasoned and impressive career already in the can at the age of 15 is quite the achievement.
"I really like it. I thought it was really important to really develop her. I mean, other characters that I’ve played - not that the costume isn’t important, the costume is always important - but this is a real character and she’s not a super hero. But she has to look different than everyone else, I felt. So I just had a few ideas and Paul [McGuigan] let me do them, which was great. Yeah, I loved having the colors in my hair and the jacket. That was my t-shirt, and the boots. Everything was just great."
"I think there’s so many scripts that I get, and there’s so many more that you can’t do than you can do and that’s so unfortunate. But I think that all roles are perfect for someone, just maybe not for me at that time."
"I don’t know anymore. I thought I was so secure this morning with my answer to that and now it’s dated. I’m going to go with my original - I like the Pushers. I think that’s really fascinating. But the problem is, you’re "push" wears off and then they just want to kill you after that if you do something mischievous. I think that’s partly what the movie is about, that they all have such an upside and then a down side, and sometimes they’re catastrophic. So I think that’s what the characters are dealing with in the movie and I think I would deal with the same thing if I had that."