Dakota Fanning Says She Was Asked 'Super-Inappropriate Questions' as Child Actor: People Were 'Wanting Me to Fail'

Mar. 15, 2025

Dakota Fanning on June 7, 2024.Photo:Jamie McCarthy/GettyDakota Fanningis opening up about the more strange aspects of child stardom.While speaking withThe Cutfor a new cover story, Fanning, 30, recalled awkward situations she was placed in while doing interviews as a child, after making her television debut at age 6 in 2000.“In interviews at a young age, I remember journalists asking me, ‘How are you avoiding becoming a tabloid girl?’ People would ask super-inappropriate questions,” she said. “I was in an interview as a child and somebody asked, ‘How could you possibly have any friends?’ It’s like, huh?““I have a lot of compassion for people who have been made into examples. If society and the media hadn’t played their part, who knows?” Fanning added, alluding tochild stars of the pastwhose rocky upbringings have changed how people perceive children working in Hollywood. “I don’t think that it’s necessarily connected a hundred percent to being in this business; there are other factors, too. I just didn’t fall into it, and I don’t know the exact reasons except that my family is comprised of very nice, kind, protective people.“Dakota Fanning on Sept. 14, 2024.Leon Bennett/Getty ImagesDuring the interview, Fanning credited her motherHannah Joy Arringtonwith teaching her “how to treat other people and also how to treat myself.““And she was there every second,” she added of her mother. “I was always treated with respect. It was never ‘Bring the kid in! Get her out!’ I wasn’t working with people who treated me that way — I was being respected as an actor and as equal as you can be for that age.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Dakota and her sisterElle, 26, broke out together with roles in the 2001 movieI Am Sam.Both sisters have been mainstays in the film and television industry ever since. Most recently, Dakota appeared in the Netflix miniseriesThe Perfect Couple, the horror movieThe Watchersand Netflix’sRipley.“I’ve definitely felt this kind of vibe from people almost wanting me to fail or something,” she said elsewhere in the interview, while discussing the idea of the “fallen child actor.” “It makes you feel a little bit guarded. I’m just living my life over here.“Fanning told the outlet that she remains primarily more interested in working as an actor than maintaining an image as a celebrity. “I don’t get dressed to walk down the street. That’s just not me,' she said. “I am just an actor. And the other things that come with it are things that you kind of deal with.”

Dakota Fanning on June 7, 2024.Photo:Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Dakota Fanningis opening up about the more strange aspects of child stardom.While speaking withThe Cutfor a new cover story, Fanning, 30, recalled awkward situations she was placed in while doing interviews as a child, after making her television debut at age 6 in 2000.“In interviews at a young age, I remember journalists asking me, ‘How are you avoiding becoming a tabloid girl?’ People would ask super-inappropriate questions,” she said. “I was in an interview as a child and somebody asked, ‘How could you possibly have any friends?’ It’s like, huh?““I have a lot of compassion for people who have been made into examples. If society and the media hadn’t played their part, who knows?” Fanning added, alluding tochild stars of the pastwhose rocky upbringings have changed how people perceive children working in Hollywood. “I don’t think that it’s necessarily connected a hundred percent to being in this business; there are other factors, too. I just didn’t fall into it, and I don’t know the exact reasons except that my family is comprised of very nice, kind, protective people.“Dakota Fanning on Sept. 14, 2024.Leon Bennett/Getty ImagesDuring the interview, Fanning credited her motherHannah Joy Arringtonwith teaching her “how to treat other people and also how to treat myself.““And she was there every second,” she added of her mother. “I was always treated with respect. It was never ‘Bring the kid in! Get her out!’ I wasn’t working with people who treated me that way — I was being respected as an actor and as equal as you can be for that age.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Dakota and her sisterElle, 26, broke out together with roles in the 2001 movieI Am Sam.Both sisters have been mainstays in the film and television industry ever since. Most recently, Dakota appeared in the Netflix miniseriesThe Perfect Couple, the horror movieThe Watchersand Netflix’sRipley.“I’ve definitely felt this kind of vibe from people almost wanting me to fail or something,” she said elsewhere in the interview, while discussing the idea of the “fallen child actor.” “It makes you feel a little bit guarded. I’m just living my life over here.“Fanning told the outlet that she remains primarily more interested in working as an actor than maintaining an image as a celebrity. “I don’t get dressed to walk down the street. That’s just not me,' she said. “I am just an actor. And the other things that come with it are things that you kind of deal with.”

Dakota Fanningis opening up about the more strange aspects of child stardom.

While speaking withThe Cutfor a new cover story, Fanning, 30, recalled awkward situations she was placed in while doing interviews as a child, after making her television debut at age 6 in 2000.

“In interviews at a young age, I remember journalists asking me, ‘How are you avoiding becoming a tabloid girl?’ People would ask super-inappropriate questions,” she said. “I was in an interview as a child and somebody asked, ‘How could you possibly have any friends?’ It’s like, huh?”

“I have a lot of compassion for people who have been made into examples. If society and the media hadn’t played their part, who knows?” Fanning added, alluding tochild stars of the pastwhose rocky upbringings have changed how people perceive children working in Hollywood. “I don’t think that it’s necessarily connected a hundred percent to being in this business; there are other factors, too. I just didn’t fall into it, and I don’t know the exact reasons except that my family is comprised of very nice, kind, protective people.”

Dakota Fanning on Sept. 14, 2024.Leon Bennett/Getty Images

Leon Bennett/Getty Images

During the interview, Fanning credited her motherHannah Joy Arringtonwith teaching her “how to treat other people and also how to treat myself.”

“And she was there every second,” she added of her mother. “I was always treated with respect. It was never ‘Bring the kid in! Get her out!’ I wasn’t working with people who treated me that way — I was being respected as an actor and as equal as you can be for that age.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Dakota and her sisterElle, 26, broke out together with roles in the 2001 movieI Am Sam.Both sisters have been mainstays in the film and television industry ever since. Most recently, Dakota appeared in the Netflix miniseriesThe Perfect Couple, the horror movieThe Watchersand Netflix’sRipley.

“I’ve definitely felt this kind of vibe from people almost wanting me to fail or something,” she said elsewhere in the interview, while discussing the idea of the “fallen child actor.” “It makes you feel a little bit guarded. I’m just living my life over here.”

Fanning told the outlet that she remains primarily more interested in working as an actor than maintaining an image as a celebrity. “I don’t get dressed to walk down the street. That’s just not me,' she said. “I am just an actor. And the other things that come with it are things that you kind of deal with.”

source: people.com