Dakota Fanning

Hannah 'Dakota Fanning' (qv) was born on the 23rd of February 1994, in Conyers, Georgia, USA, to Heather Joy (Arrington) and 'Steven Fanning' (qv). Her mother played professional tennis, and her father, now an electronics salesman, played minor league baseball. She is of German, Irish, English, French, and Channel Islander descent. Before her debut into the cinematic world, Dakota did her own acting around her house. She was very active for her age, and often put a blanket under her shirt and pretended to be having a baby, using her younger sister, 'Elle Fanning' (qv), who is also an actress now, as the baby. Dakota went to a playhouse near her home, where the children that attended put on a play every week to show to their parents. But the people running the playhouse noticed that Dakota stood out, and advised her parents to take her to an agency. They believed that she was extremely talented.The Fanning family were advised to spend six weeks in Los Angeles, a long way from their home in Georgia. But there Dakota managed to get her first work; to star in a national Tide commercial. She was chosen out of many, many other children.The family then decided to move to Los Angeles permanently, for it looked like Dakota's career was looking very good. After they moved, Dakota signed with a professional agency, and soon won a role in the movie _Tomcats (2001)_ (qv). She then went onto a small project called _Father Xmas (2001)_ (qv) as Clairee.But Dakota's big break-through was yet to come. She auditioned for one of the main characters in _I Am Sam (2001)_ (qv), and the director and the rest of the crew were amazed by her extraordinary talent. Dakota was cast, and starred in the movie as Lucy Diamond Dawson, alongside major Hollywood stars 'Sean Penn' (qv) and 'Michelle Pfeiffer' (qv).After _I Am Sam (2001)_ (qv) her talent was immediately recognized around the world. She went straight onto _Trapped (2002)_ (qv) as Abby Jennings, alongside 'Charlize Theron' (qv), then played the younger version of 'Reese Witherspoon' (qv) in 2002's _Sweet Home Alabama (2002)_ (qv) But Dakota still had two more movies to come in 2002. Firstly she got a huge role in 'Steven Spielberg' (qv)'s _Taken (2002)_ (qv), the mini-TV series, and narrated the ten whole episodes, as well as having a part. This was a little more challenging, as she was playing a troubled alien child, but she managed to do brilliantly. Her last movie for 2002 was the children's movie _Hansel & Gretel (2002)_ (qv) as Katie.2003 was also a brilliant year for Dakota, as she starred in a number of exciting projects. Firstly, it was as Sally Walden in _The Cat in the Hat (2003)_ (qv) with 'Mike Myers' (qv), then she played Lorraine "Ray" Schleine, a bratty little girl, in the sweet comedy _Uptown Girls (2003)_ (qv) alongside 'Brittany Murphy' (qv). She then voiced preschool Kim in _Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)_ (qv).In 2004, Dakota appeared in the violent thriller, _Man on Fire (2004)_ (qv), alongside 'Denzel Washington' (qv). Her reviews were excellent.First in 2005 was _Nine Lives (2005)_ (qv), as Maria, then the chilling _Hide and Seek (2005)_ (qv) alongside 'Robert De Niro' (qv). By now, she was the busiest child actress in Hollywood, with a resume to die for. Her younger sister, ('Elle Fanning' (qv)), had also been discovered a few years earlier.After _Hide and Seek (2005)_ (qv) came _War of the Worlds (2005)_ (qv), which was one of her major movies out of everything she'd worked in. Not only did it make her more popular, but she got to play the daughter of A-list Hollywood actor 'Tom Cruise' (qv). They had four very successful premieres; the first in Tokyo, Japan, the second in France, the third in London, England and the fourth in New York, USA. The reviews were outstanding, especially Dakota's. She then voiced Lilo in _Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005)_ (qv).::Rachel Green