Elle Fanning

Elle Fanning is an American actress who began performing as a child and developed into a leading film and television performer known for her work in both independent cinema and studio productions. The younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning, she has worked with a range of acclaimed directors and earned recognition for roles spanning drama, fantasy and comedy.

Early life

Fanning was born Mary Elle Fanning on April 9, 1998, in Conyers, Georgia. She entered acting at a very young age, frequently appearing in roles that depicted the younger version of characters played by her older sister, Dakota. The family later moved to the Los Angeles area to support the sisters' acting careers, and Elle steadily accumulated film credits throughout her childhood.

Career

Fanning's profile rose with a leading role in J. J. Abrams's science-fiction film Super 8, and she went on to work with directors such as Sofia Coppola, Nicolas Winding Refn and others on films including Somewhere, The Neon Demon and The Beguiled. She reached wide audiences playing Princess Aurora in Disney's Maleficent and its sequel, opposite Angelina Jolie. Across her filmography she has alternated between mainstream features and smaller, director-driven projects, building a reputation for taking on varied and often unconventional roles. Her performances earned her festival recognition and award nominations as she moved from child roles into adult parts.

Recent work

Fanning expanded into television and streaming with a leading role in the historical comedy-drama series The Great, in which she portrayed Catherine the Great across multiple seasons; the part earned her award nominations and showcased her range in a satirical, anachronistic period setting that combined comedy with drama. The role marked a significant step in her transition from acclaimed child and teenage performer to leading adult actress.

She has continued to take on film roles in dramas and biographical projects, including portrayals of real and historical figures, and has remained active across both film and prestige television. She has worked with a broad range of filmmakers and has served in producing capacities on some of her projects, signalling an interest in shaping the material she appears in. Recognized for her willingness to embrace eclectic and sometimes unconventional material rather than conventional star vehicles, she is regarded as one of the prominent actresses of her generation. Together with her sister Dakota, she is often discussed as part of a notable acting family, and she continues to balance commercial projects with auteur-driven, independent work.