Dakota Fanning

Hannah Dakota Fanning (born February 23, 1994), better known simply as Dakota Fanning, is an American teen actress. Fanning’s breakthrough performance was in I Am Sam in 2001. As a child actress, she appeared in high-profile films such as Man on Fire, War of the Worlds, and Charlotte’s Web. Fanning began transitioning to more adult roles with Hounddog and The Secret Life of Bees. She has won numerous awards and is the youngest person ever to have been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Personal life

Dakota Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia, the daughter of Joy (née Arrington), who played tennis professionally, and Steve Fanning, who played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and now works as an electronics salesman in Los Angeles. Her maternal grandfather was former American football player, Rick Arrington, and her aunt is former ESPN reporter Jill Arrington. Dakota is the older sister of Elle Fanning, also an actress.
Her father had wanted to name her “Dakota” and her mother wanted to name her “Hannah”.
Fanning is of half German descent and her last name is of Irish origin. Fanning and her family are members of the Southern Baptist Convention. Fanning attends Campbell Hall School in North Hollywood, California and is on the varsity spirit cheerleading squad.

Acting career
Early years

Fanning began acting at the age of five after appearing on a Tide commercial.