Elle Fanning is a highly acclaimed American actress who transitioned from a child star to a leading figure in Hollywood. Rising to prominence with performances in films like 'Super 8' and 'Somewhere,' she established herself as a versatile talent capable of handling both independent dramas and major studio productions. Fanning is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Princess Aurora in Disney's 'Maleficent' series and her Emmy-nominated role as Catherine the Great in the satirical period drama 'The Great.' Throughout her career, she has garnered critical praise for her nuanced acting, often displaying a sophisticated range in complex, character-driven roles. Beyond her film and television work, Fanning has also become a prominent figure in the fashion industry, frequently recognized for her distinct red-carpet style. With a portfolio spanning multiple genres, she remains one of her generation's most influential and respected performers.
1962: Historical Setting of Ginger & Rosa
The plot of the film Ginger & Rosa, starring Elle Fanning as the character Ginger, is set against the backdrop of 1962 London.
April 9, 1998: Birth of Elle Fanning
On April 9, 1998, American actress Mary Elle Fanning was born, marking the beginning of the life of the future award-nominated performer.
2001: Film debut in I Am Sam
In 2001, Elle Fanning made her motion picture debut as a young child by portraying the younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning's character in the film I Am Sam.
2002: Independent Acting Debut in Daddy Day Care
In 2002, at the age of 4, Elle Fanning secured her first acting role independent from her sister Dakota in the comedy film Daddy Day Care.
2003: Role in Daddy Day Care
During 2003, Fanning continued her career as a child actress by appearing in the comedy film Daddy Day Care.
2003: Appearance in Because of Winn-Dixie
Late in 2003, Elle Fanning took on the supporting role of Sweetie Pie Thomas in the film Because of Winn-Dixie.
2004: Expansion of Filmography
During 2004, Elle Fanning starred as Ruth in The Door in the Floor alongside Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger, provided the voice for Mei in the English-dubbed version of My Neighbor Totoro, and filmed the project I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With.
2005: Early film roles in Charlotte's Web and Babel
In 2005, Elle Fanning filmed scenes for the movie Charlotte's Web, though they were ultimately removed from the final cut. Later in 2005, she portrayed the character Debbie in the film Babel.
2006: Appearance in Babel
In 2006, Fanning was featured in the critically acclaimed drama film Babel as part of her growing portfolio of work.
2006: Expansive television and film appearances
Throughout 2006, Fanning maintained a busy schedule, filming roles for The Nines, Déjà Vu, and the miniseries The Lost Room. She also made guest appearances on the television shows House: MD and Criminal Minds, and by the end of 2006, she began securing lead roles, starting with her performance in Reservation Road.
October 2007: Completion of Filming for The Nutcracker in 3D
Between July and October 2007, Elle Fanning filmed the role of Mary for the movie The Nutcracker in 3D, which concluded in October 2007.
March 2008: Loss of Casting Opportunity in My Sister's Keeper
In March 2008, Elle Fanning and her sister Dakota were removed from the cast of My Sister's Keeper after Dakota declined to shave her head for the role.
2008: Roles in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Phoebe in Wonderland
In 2008, Fanning took on roles in two major projects, contributing to her development as a prolific child actress in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Phoebe in Wonderland.
March 2009: Release of Phoebe in Wonderland
In March 2009, the film Phoebe in Wonderland was released, featuring Elle Fanning in the title role of Phoebe alongside co-star Felicity Huffman.
April 2009: Casting announcement for Somewhere
In April 2009, Variety reported that Elle Fanning was cast to star as the daughter of a "bad-boy" actor in Sofia Coppola's upcoming 2010 film, Somewhere.
2010: Leading role in Somewhere
Fanning gained significant critical recognition in 2010 for her leading performance in the drama film Somewhere, directed by Sofia Coppola.
2010: Release of The Nutcracker in 3D
In late 2010, the motion picture The Nutcracker in 3D, in which Elle Fanning portrayed the character Mary, was officially released to the public.
2010: Release and success of Somewhere
The film Somewhere, featuring Elle Fanning, was released during the 2010 awards season and achieved international recognition by winning the Golden Lion at the 67th Venice Film Festival in 2010.
June 10, 2011: Release of Super 8
On June 10, 2011, the science-fiction drama film Super 8, starring Elle Fanning as Alice Dainard, was officially released in theaters.
December 2011: Appearance in We Bought a Zoo
In December 2011, Elle Fanning appeared in the Cameron Crowe film We Bought a Zoo, portraying the character Lily, a young worker at the zoo.
2011: Leading role in Super 8
In 2011, Fanning furthered her career trajectory by starring in J. J. Abrams' science fiction film Super 8.
September 2012: Starring role in Ginger & Rosa
In September 2012, Elle Fanning starred alongside Alice Englert in the drama film Ginger & Rosa, which explored the lives of the title characters during a 1962 setting.
October 19, 2012: Release of Ginger & Rosa
On October 19, 2012, the drama film Ginger & Rosa, directed by Sally Potter and starring Elle Fanning, was officially released, garnering widespread critical acclaim for Fanning's performance.
2012: Role in Ginger & Rosa
In 2012, Fanning was cast in a lead role in the film Ginger & Rosa, directed by Sally Potter.
2014: Active Film Roles in 2014
In 2014, Elle Fanning had a highly active year in cinema, starring as Princess Aurora in the Disney film Maleficent, appearing in the science-fiction Western Young Ones, playing Amy-Jo in the biographical drama Low Down, and providing the voice for Winnie in the animated film The Boxtrolls.
2014: Role in Disney's Maleficent
In 2014, Fanning reached a major milestone by starring in the high-profile Disney fantasy film Maleficent.
2015: 2015 Film Appearances
During 2015, Elle Fanning continued her film career by co-starring in Jay Roach's biographical drama Trumbo as Nikola Trumbo and taking on a leading role as a young transgender man in the film 3 Generations.
May 2016: Cannes Film Festival premiere of The Neon Demon
In May 2016, the psychological thriller The Neon Demon, starring Elle Fanning as Jesse, celebrated its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
June 24, 2016: Theatrical release of The Neon Demon
On June 24, 2016, the psychological thriller film The Neon Demon, in which Elle Fanning starred as Jesse, was officially released, although it ultimately performed poorly at the box office.
October 8, 2016: World premiere of 20th Century Women
The film 20th Century Women, featuring Elle Fanning alongside Greta Gerwig and Annette Bening, held its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on October 8, 2016.
December 25, 2016: Release of Live by Night
On December 25, 2016, the Prohibition-era drama Live by Night, starring Elle Fanning and directed by Ben Affleck, was released to the public.
December 28, 2016: Limited release of 20th Century Women
On December 28, 2016, the film 20th Century Women officially began its limited theatrical release.
2016: Acclaimed Independent Film Performances
In 2016, Elle Fanning demonstrated her growth as an adult actor by delivering notable performances in the independent films The Neon Demon, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, and 20th Century Women, directed by Mike Mills.
2016: High School Graduation
In 2016, Elle Fanning successfully completed her secondary education and graduated from the Campbell Hall School.
2017: Role in The Beguiled
During 2017, Elle Fanning continued her work in independent cinema by starring in the film The Beguiled, directed by Sofia Coppola.
2017: Elle Fanning's Active Film and Music Video Appearances in 2017
Throughout 2017, Elle Fanning maintained a prolific career by appearing in several notable projects, including the drama 'The Vanishing of Sidney Hall', the sci-fi comedy 'How to Talk to Girls at Parties', the period drama 'The Beguiled', the biographical film 'Mary Shelley', and the music video for the song 'Good Morning' by the band Grouplove.
January 21, 2018: World Premiere of I Think We're Alone Now
On January 21, 2018, the film I Think We're Alone Now, featuring Elle Fanning and Peter Dinklage, held its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
March 10, 2018: World Premiere of Galveston
The film Galveston, starring Elle Fanning and Ben Foster, made its world premiere at the South by Southwest festival on March 10, 2018.
September 14, 2018: Theatrical Release of I Think We're Alone Now
Momentum Pictures released the film I Think We're Alone Now, starring Elle Fanning, to the public on September 14, 2018.
September 2018: World Premiere of Teen Spirit
In September 2018, the movie Teen Spirit, featuring Elle Fanning, celebrated its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
April 5, 2019: Release of Teen Spirit
On April 5, 2019, the film Teen Spirit, which stars Elle Fanning and was directed by Max Minghella, was officially released.
May 2019: Cannes Film Festival Jury Appointment
In May 2019, Elle Fanning made history by becoming the youngest person ever to serve as a jury member for the international competition at the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival.
October 2019: Release of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
In October 2019, Elle Fanning returned to the big screen to reprise her iconic role as Princess Aurora in the fantasy film Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
2019: Return to Mainstream Cinema
In 2019, Elle Fanning returned to mainstream film roles by starring in the fantasy sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
May 2020: Premiere of The Great
In May 2020, the historical comedy series The Great premiered on Hulu, featuring Elle Fanning in the starring role as Catherine the Great alongside Nicholas Hoult.
2020: Starring role in The Great
In 2020, Elle Fanning began her starring role as Catherine the Great in the period satire television series The Great, a performance for which she eventually received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
2021: Award Recognitions for The Great
In 2021, Elle Fanning received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy and her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in The Great.
2022: Starring Role in The Girl from Plainville
During 2022, Elle Fanning starred in the Hulu miniseries 'The Girl from Plainville', portraying the character Michelle Carter in a production based on the death of Conrad Roy.
December 2023: Broadway Acting Debut in Appropriate
In December 2023, Elle Fanning made her professional debut on the Broadway stage, starring in the play 'Appropriate' by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins alongside fellow actors Sarah Paulson and Corey Stoll.
2023: Broadway debut in Appropriate
During 2023, Elle Fanning marked a significant milestone in her career by making her Broadway stage debut in the play Appropriate, written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
2024: Production of Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer and Upcoming Film Projects
In 2024, Elle Fanning and her sister Dakota established their production company, Lewellen Pictures, with a first-look deal at MRC, and served as executive producers for the 2024 release Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer on Hulu. Furthermore, in 2024, Fanning began production on the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown as Sylvie Russo, and commenced filming for the movie Rosebush Pruning, directed by Karim Ainouz, in September of 2024.
2024: Appearing in A Complete Unknown
In 2024, Elle Fanning took part in James Mangold's mainstream film production A Complete Unknown.
2025: Role in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
In 2025, Elle Fanning starred in Hideo Kojima's video game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, portraying the character Tomorrow, and contributed to the game's official soundtrack.
2025: Critical Acclaim and Mainstream Returns
In 2025, Fanning received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value, while also appearing in the mainstream film Predator: Badlands directed by Dan Trachtenberg.
2026: Production and starring role in Margo's Got Money Troubles
Starting in 2026, Elle Fanning took on roles as both a producer and lead actress for the Apple TV comedy series Margo's Got Money Troubles, earning Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work.
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