Dakota Fanning has opened up about the awkward positions she was put in while growing up in the spotlight, including being asked ‘inappropriate questions’.
The now 31-year-old has been in the public eye for pretty much the majority of her life at this point.
First appearing on our televisions at the age of six, the star has continued in the industry well into her adult life. Fanning, of course, quickly gained recognition after appearing in I Am Sam, going on to star in the likes of Uptown Girls, Charlotte’s Web and the miniseries Taken.
As she grew up, she went on to appear in The Twilight Saga franchise before later going on to star in Ocean’s 8, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Perfect Couple.
With so much Hollywood experience, Fanning knows how unique her life has been, and particularly how uniquely she may have been treated as a child compared to others.
Fanning at the premiere of I Am Sam in 2001. (SGranitz/WireImage)
Speaking to The Cut, the star looked back on the awkward positions she was put in as a child.
“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.
Fanning explained that during one interview as a child, she was asked: “How could you possibly have any friends?”
Alluding to other former child stars whose upbringings were particularly rocky, the actor added: “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 also credited her mum for teaching her ‘how to treat other people’ as well as how to treat herself.
“And she was there every second. I was always treated with respect,” she added. “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.”
Fanning has a pretty impressive list of credits after over two decades in the industry. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SCAD)
And looking back, while her career is such a present part of her life, Fanning also puts great emphasis on her ‘childhood memories’ as well.
“My life doesn’t feel disproportionate with work, and I’m so grateful for that. I’m there doing work that matters,” she explained.
Fanning went on to say that she has felt a ‘kind of vibe’ from people for her being a child actor and ‘almost wanting me to fail or something’.
“It makes you feel a little bit guarded. I’m just living my life over here,” she added, believing she was ‘just a little too young’ for the ‘Hollywood fame machine’ to totally hit her.
“So that was good,” Fanning said. “People couldn’t get away with that kind of thing so much anymore. By the time I got to that age, it was sort of being recognised as probably not the best way to treat people.”
