Elle Fanning
Biography
Mary Elle Fanning is an American actress born on April 9, 1998, in Conyers, Georgia. Throughout a career spanning over two decades, she has transitioned from a child performer to an internationally recognized actress. Fanning has received critical recognition for her work in both film and television, earning nominations for an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and four Golden Globe Awards. Known early in her career as the younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning, she has established a distinct professional identity through a diverse range of roles. She continues to work steadily in the entertainment industry, maintaining a significant presence in high-profile projects and independent cinema alike.
Career overview
Fanning made her film debut in 2001, portraying the younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning's character in the drama I Am Sam. As a child actress, she appeared in several notable projects, including the films Daddy Day Care in 2003, Babel in 2006, and both The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Phoebe in Wonderland in 2008. Her television work during this period included an appearance in the 2006 miniseries The Lost Room. She later transitioned into leading roles, appearing in Sofia Coppola's 2010 drama Somewhere and J. J. Abrams' 2011 science fiction film Super 8.
In subsequent years, Fanning gained prominence for her portrayal of Princess Aurora in the fantasy films Maleficent, released in 2014, and its 2019 sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Beyond these major studio productions, she has maintained a consistent presence in independent cinema. She is also recognized for her starring role as the Russian empress Catherine II in a streaming television series. With 98 known acting credits, Fanning has demonstrated a sustained commitment to her craft, evolving from child prodigy roles to complex leading performances across various genres.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Nightingale (2027) as Isabelle
- The Nightingale (2027) Producer
- Margo's Got Money Troubles (2026) as Margo
- Margo's Got Money Troubles (2026) Executive Producer
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026) as Effie Trinket
- Rosebush Pruning (2026) as Martha
- Predator: Badlands (2025) as Thia / Tessa
- Sentimental Value (2025) as Rachel Kemp
- Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg? (2025) Executive Producer
- On the Red Carpet Presents: "A Complete Unknown" (2025) as Self
- A Complete Unknown (2024) as Sylvie Russo
- Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer (2024) Executive Producer
- The Girl from Plainville (2022) as Michelle Carter
- The Girl from Plainville (2022) Executive Producer
- Paris in Love (2021) as Self
- The Great (2020) as Catherine II of Russia
- The Great (2020) Executive Producer
- All the Bright Places (2020) as Violet
- All the Bright Places (2020) Producer
- The Disney Family Singalong (2020) as Self
- The Roads Not Taken (2020) as Molly
- Penn & Teller: Try This at Home (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self - Guest
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) as Princess Aurora
- Teen Spirit (2019) as Violet Valenski
- Teen Spirit (2019) Songs
- Camp! The Movie (2019) as Self
- That Click (2019) as Self
- A Rainy Day in New York (2019) as Ashleigh Enright
- I Think We're Alone Now (2018) as Grace
- The Vanishing of Sidney Hall (2018) as Melody
- Galveston (2018) as Rocky
- No Activity (2017) as Madison
- The Beguiled (2017) as Alicia
- Mary Shelley (2017) as Mary Shelley
- Mary Shelley (2017) Songs
- How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017) as Zan
- How to Talk to Girls at Parties (2017) Songs
- Elle Fanning's Fan Fantasy (2017) as Self
- Ballerina (2016) as Felicie (voice)
- The Neon Demon (2016) as Jesse
- 20th Century Women (2016) as Julie
- Live by Night (2016) as Loretta Figgis
- 3 Generations (2016) as Ray
- 3 Generations (2016) Songs
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Trumbo (2015) as Niki Trumbo
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014) as Self
- Maleficent (2014) as Princess Aurora
- The Boxtrolls (2014) as Winnie Portley-Rind (voice)
- Young Ones (2014) as Mary Holm
- Low Down (2014) as Amy Albany
- First Stars I See Tonight (2014) as Girl
- Sigur Rós: Valtari Film Experiment (2013) as Sara (Leaning Towards Solace)
- Likeness (2013) as Mia
- Twixt: A Documentary (2013) as Self
- Wide-Awake (2012) as The Rainmaker
- Ginger & Rosa (2012) as Ginger
- Super 8 (2011) as Alice Dainard
- We Bought a Zoo (2011) as Lily Miska
- Twixt (2011) as V.
- The Rosie Show (2011) as Self - Guest
- Making Somewhere (2011) as Self
- The Curve of Forgotten Things (2011) as Girl
- Conan (2010) as Self
- The Nutcracker (2010) as Mary
- The Nutcracker (2010) Songs
- Somewhere (2010) as Cleo
- Astro Boy (2009) as Grace (voice)
- First the Egg (2009)
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) as Daisy Age 7
- Phoebe in Wonderland (2008) as Phoebe Lichten
- Phoebe in Wonderland (2008) Songs
- Dirty Sexy Money (2007)
- The Nines (2007) as Noelle
- Reservation Road (2007) as Emma Learner
- Reservation Road (2007) Songs
- Day 73 with Sarah (2007) as Sarah
- Common Ground: Under Construction Notes (2007) as Self
- A Very Brave Witch (2007)
- Déjà Vu (2006) as Abbey
- Babel (2006) as Debbie Jones
- The Lost Room (2006) as Anna Miller
- I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006) as Penelope
- Criminal Minds (2005) as Tracy Belle
- Robot Chicken (2005) as Sarah Williams / Logan's Friend #2 / Nerd's Wife (voice)
- Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) as Sweety Pie Thomas
- Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) Songs
- P.N.O.K. (2005) as Rebecca Bullard
- House (2004) as Stella Dalton
- CSI: NY (2004) as Jenny Como
- The Door in the Floor (2004) as Ruth Cole
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Daddy Day Care (2003) as Jamie
- CSI: Miami (2002) as Molly Walker
- Taken (2002) as Allie at 3 yrs
- I Am Sam (2001) as Lucy (2 Years Old)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Eden
- Judging Amy (1999) as Rochelle Cobbs
- MTV Movie & TV Awards (1992) as Self / Presenter
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- The Oscars (1953) as Self - Presenter
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Untitled Dakota Fanning Thriller Series Executive Producer
- Discretion as Lenny
- Discretion Executive Producer
- Moonsong: A Life In Seven Verses
- I Am Sybil as Shirley Mason