Golden Slumbers - Your #1 Dakota & Elle Source

BIOGRAPHY

Mary Elle Fanning was born on 9th April, 1998 in Conyers, Georgia, USA. Her career in the acting industry began at the age of just 2 years, 11 months old when she appeared in I Am Sam as the younger version of her older sister Dakota’s character, Lucy Diamond Dawson.

She then went on again to appear in the TV mini-series Taken, as the younger version of her sister’s character, Allie Keys, in episode ‘Charlie and Lisa’. Before booking her first significant movie role, Elle also appeared on popular TV drama series, Judging Amy.

It was in 2003 that Elle got her first significant movie role, when she appeared in the hilarious comedy, Daddy Day Care, alongside Eddie Murphy, providing a memorable performance as Jamie, one of the day care kids. Elle clearly enjoyed her experience filming the movie recalling her favourite scenes as “jumping in the flowers and.. the water scenes 'cause we got to be in bathing suits and swim in the water, and in the water fountain”.

After her success in Daddy Day Care, Elle then went on to book a guest role on the TV crime series, CSI: Miami, as well as finding time to complete various modelling projects, and television commercials for companies such as Target, Smuckers, and Toyota.

In 2004, Elle booked the role that really launched her career higher up the bar, appearing in the Tod Williams film, The Door in the Floor, based on the novel ‘A Widow for one Year’ by John Irving, and starring alongside Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger. Elle plays the role of Ruth Cole in the movie, the young daughter of Bridges and Basinger’s characters, delivering a highly mature and emotional performance for one so young. Elle received much praise for her role in the film, with Kim Basinger stating "the thing about Elle is she's so full of life and, needless to say, magically gifted.” Tod Williams recalls a scene with Elle in saying, "I remember the first time she had to do a crying scene, she was in the room with Jeff and I shouted "Action!" and she just started crying and crying and hitting Jeff and Jeff was trying to calm her down but all of a sudden.. it wasn't Ted Cole trying to calm her down. Jeff was literally freaked out in the first take and kept screaming "Hey guys!" and when I called cut she just started laughing and ran out of the room and went back to her little play room. She could just turn it on and off and she was so convincing that it was amazing to watch. She turned five on the set of our movie."

Elle finished 2004 appearing in an episode of CSI: New York, and began 2005 by appearing in a short film, P.N.O.K, which chronicles a day in the life of two soldiers on Casualty Notification Duty as they bear the grim news of three soldiers killed in Iraq to three families back home. Elle appears in the film as Rebecca Bullard, the daughter of one of the deceased soldiers.

Also in 2005, Elle appeared in the movie adaptation of the popular book, Because of Winn Dixie, as the adorable Sweetie Pie Thomas. She was clearly popular on set with the producer stating "Elle was a darling to have around the set, she was always dancing and singing. I just love her!" and co-star Courtney Jines saying, "[Elle] is the cutest little girl, I just love her so much. We had a great time working together, she is so joyful and cute."

2006 saw Elle’s popularity really begin to rise as she booked more and more brilliant roles. She started off by appearing in an episode of the hugely popular medical drama series, House, alongside Hugh Laurie; an episode which became part of an Emmy Award campaign. She then booked a role in the independent film, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, alongside her Daddy Day Care co-star Jeff Garlin.

Her most significant role film wise however, was in the dramatic Babel, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga. The film also starred Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and garnered the most Golden Globe nominations for the 2007 Golden Globes being nominated for Best Picture - Drama, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress (twice), Best Screenplay, and Best Score. Elle received much praise from critics for her role in this film with a reporter for the NY Daily News stating "the greatest marvel of "Babel" may be the performances González Iñárritu got from Elle Fanning and Nathan Gamble. You will never see more authentic looks of fear in the faces and body language of small children than when Debbie and Mike are lost in the desert with their panic-stricken nanny."

During 2006, Elle also appeared in episodes of two of the most popular series on TV at present; Criminal Minds and Law and Order: SVU. Elle’s appearance on SVU saw one of her most challenging performances to date as a disturbed child following horrific abuse.

Elle also completed a small role in the film, Déjà vu, which saw her working alongside director Tony Scott who directed her sister’s film, Man on Fire; and actor Denzel Washington, who also starred in Man on Fire; as well as appearing in a TV mini-series for the Sci-fi channel called The Lost Room.

The Lost Room revolves around magic room which contains several everyday objects with unique powers such as bus ticket that can instantaneously transport a person to a particular location or a comb that can temporarily freeze time around a person. The series' protagonist, Joe Miller, is searching for these "Objects" to use as tools in rescuing his daughter, Anna, who disappeared inside of the Room. Elle features in the three part mini as Anna Miller, delivering a strong performance and holding her own against her adult co-stars. ‘The Lost Room’ director, Craig R. Baxley, says of Elle, "she is very, very talented and very smart. You'll see what she brings to the table in night one, and it's twofold in night three."

Elle recently completed filming The Nines, from director John August, due for release in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival. The extent of Elle’s role is unknown so far, however John August stated on his blog that "Elle's terrific in the movie. She has a small part -- she only worked three days -- but everyone in the cast and crew adored her."

Also due for release in 2007 is the movie Reservation Road in which Elle stars alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Jennifer Connelly, in a film about two haunted men and their families who are engulfed by the emotions surrounding an unexpected and horrendous death. Elle also begins filming Gideon’s Gift, based on a novel of the same name, that tells the story of how one long-ago Christmas, Big Earl Gibson lost the two things most precious to him-his wife and daughter. Angry and heartbroken, he abandoned his belief in God and is now living on the street. Gideon, a seven-year-old leukaemia patient is determined to reach out to this lonely and hurting man but Earl is just as determined to rebuff her. It is only through a miracle that Earl finally comes to understand the true meaning of Christmas and it's only then that he can return the favour with a precious gift of his own.

It is clear to see that Elle’s popularity and recognition and respect of her talent is continuing to grow as she books more and more challenging and high profile roles. The future clearly is bright for this talented young actress.