Elle Fanning is an American actress and producer who has been successful enough to develop into one of the most recognizable actresses of her generation. Born Mary Elle Fanning on April 9, 1998, in Conyers, Georgia, she became part of the entertainment world at an early age and created a career that ranges from independent movies, Hollywood blockbusters, TV shows, Broadway performances, and even video games. Although worldwide audiences are particularly familiar with her through her portrayal of Princess Aurora in Disney’s Maleficent movies and Catherine the Great in The Great TV show on Hulu, she has also made her mark in critically acclaimed productions like Somewhere, Super 8, Ginger & Rosa, The Neon Demon, 20th Century Women, A Complete Unknown, and Sentimental Value. In addition to this, her recent roles have marked a new chapter in her career: in 2026, she stars and executive-produces the Apple TV show Margo’s Got Money Troubles, while her role in Sentimental Value led her to her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Who Is Elle Fanning?
Elle Fanning is an American actress whose career began during early childhood and developed through a mixture of commercial movies, auteur-driven films, television and stage work. She is the younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning, and the two sisters have both spent much of their lives working in the entertainment industry. Elle first appeared on screen as a younger version of Dakota’s character in I Am Sam and subsequently began taking roles of her own, eventually moving from child parts into leading dramatic performances. Her international breakthrough came with Maleficent, but projects such as Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere and Sally Potter’s Ginger & Rosa established her as an actress interested in character-driven storytelling rather than relying only on blockbuster roles. In television, her portrayal of Catherine in The Great brought major awards attention, while Margo’s Got Money Troubles has expanded her profile as both an actress and producer.
Biography Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mary Elle Fanning |
| Popular name | Elle Fanning |
| Date of birth | April 9, 1998 |
| Age | 28 years old as of August 27, 2026 |
| Birthplace | Conyers, Georgia, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress, producer, performer |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Sister | Dakota Fanning |
| Major breakthrough | Super 8 and Maleficent |
| Television breakthrough | The Great |
| Broadway debut | Appropriate |
| First Oscar nomination | Best Supporting Actress for Sentimental Value |
| Production company | Lewellen Pictures |
| Current major TV project | Margo’s Got Money Troubles |
Elle Fanning Age
Elle Fanning was born on April 9, 1998, which makes her 28 years old as of August 27, 2026. She began her acting career as a very young child and therefore has spent roughly a quarter of a century working professionally in film and television. Her age is particularly notable because she has already experienced several distinct career stages: child actor, teenage leading performer, mainstream fantasy star, independent-film actress, television lead, Broadway performer, producer and Oscar-nominated adult actress. Her progression is one reason her career is often discussed as an example of a successful transition from child stardom into mature acting.
Early Life and Education
Elle Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia, in a family with strong connections to sports and media. Her mother is Heather Joy Arrington, while her father, Steven J. Fanning, played minor-league baseball for organizations affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals. Her maternal grandfather was former American football player Rick Arrington, and her aunt Jill Arrington became a sports reporter. Elle’s older sister Dakota was already developing an acting career when Elle began appearing professionally, and the family eventually moved from Georgia to Los Angeles. Fanning attended Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles and graduated from the school in 2016. She has also spoken about childhood activities such as dance, which helped her develop physical confidence and discipline that later proved useful in acting.
| Education / Childhood Detail | Information |
| Birthplace | Conyers, Georgia |
| Childhood move | Georgia to Los Angeles |
| School | Campbell Hall School |
| Graduation | 2016 |
| Childhood activities | Dance and other physical activities |
| Sibling | Older sister Dakota Fanning |
| Early career | Began acting as a young child |
Elle Fanning Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Elle Fanning is widely recognized for her tall frame, blonde hair, fair complexion and distinctive red-carpet style. IMDb lists her height at 5 feet 9 inches, or approximately 1.75 metres, although other entertainment databases sometimes list slightly different measurements. A reliable publicly verified current weight is not available, so specific weight figures circulating online should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed facts. Fanning’s appearance has also become part of her public image through her long-running relationship with fashion and luxury-brand events, where she is frequently styled in vintage-inspired gowns and contemporary couture.
| Physical Detail | Information |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 9 in / 1.75 m |
| Weight | Not reliably publicly confirmed |
| Hair | Blonde |
| Eyes | Blue |
| Build | Tall and slender |
| Appearance | Fair complexion and distinctive facial features |
| Style | Elegant, vintage-inspired and fashion-forward |
Elle Fanning Family Background
Elle Fanning comes from a family in which athletics, media and entertainment have all played important roles. Her father Steven J. Fanning had a minor-league baseball background, while her maternal family includes former football player Rick Arrington and sports journalist Jill Arrington. The most famous member of her immediate family is her older sister Dakota Fanning, who also became a successful actress as a child. Elle and Dakota grew up in an environment that exposed them to acting from an early age, although Elle eventually developed her own identity and career rather than remaining known only as Dakota’s younger sister. The sisters later expanded their professional relationship by launching Lewellen Pictures, turning their family connection into a creative partnership and developing projects together.
Elle Fanning Career Journey
Childhood Acting Career
Elle Fanning’s professional journey began when she was approximately three years old. Her first screen appearances were connected to Dakota Fanning, with Elle playing younger versions of Dakota’s characters in I Am Sam and the television miniseries Taken. Her first significant role independent of her sister came in Daddy Day Care, after which she steadily accumulated appearances in television and film. Her early credits included Because of Winn-Dixie, Babel, Déjà Vu, The Lost Room, Reservation Road, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Phoebe in Wonderland. These roles gave her experience working with major directors and established actors while she was still very young.
Breakthrough With Somewhere and Super 8
A major artistic turning point came when Sofia Coppola cast Fanning in Somewhere. The film gave her an opportunity to work in a quieter, more character-focused environment and helped change the perception of her from promising child actor to serious young performer. Soon afterward, she starred as Alice Dainard in J. J. Abrams’ science-fiction thriller Super 8. The film became an important commercial and critical moment in her career, and Fanning received considerable praise for her performance. Her work in Super 8 demonstrated that she could carry emotionally demanding material while still connecting naturally with a young audience.
Ginger & Rosa and More Mature Roles
Fanning continued to move toward more mature material with Sally Potter’s Ginger & Rosa, in which she played Ginger, a teenager living in London during the Cold War era. The role received strong critical attention and showed a different side of her acting range. Instead of relying on fantasy or child-friendly storytelling, the film required her to portray complicated emotions, friendship, political anxiety and adolescence. This period helped establish the foundation for the adult career that followed.
Maleficent and International Stardom
In 2014, Fanning took on the role that introduced her to a massive international audience: Princess Aurora in Disney’s Maleficent. Starring opposite Angelina Jolie, she played a modern version of the Sleeping Beauty character and became closely associated with the franchise. The success of the film helped broaden her mainstream appeal while allowing her to continue taking independent projects outside the Disney universe. She later returned as Aurora in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil in 2019.
Independent Films and Artistic Expansion
After Maleficent, Fanning deliberately continued balancing large studio films with unusual independent projects. She appeared in The Neon Demon, 20th Century Women, Live by Night, The Beguiled, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, Mary Shelley, I Think We’re Alone Now, Galveston and Teen Spirit. These films allowed her to experiment with different genres, directors and character types. Her choices during this period helped reinforce an image of an actress willing to take creative risks instead of staying inside a single commercial category.
Cannes Film Festival Milestone
In 2019, Fanning was selected as a member of the international competition jury at the Cannes Film Festival. She became the youngest juror in the festival’s history at the time. The appointment represented a notable shift in how the film industry viewed her: she was no longer simply a young actress whose work was being evaluated, but a performer trusted to participate in evaluating international cinema herself.
The Great and Television Success
Fanning entered another important phase of her career in 2020 when she began starring as Catherine the Great in Hulu’s The Great. The series combined historical material with satire, dark comedy and deliberately modern dialogue. Fanning not only starred in the series but also served as an executive producer. Her performance earned Golden Globe attention and Primetime Emmy recognition, confirming that her success was not limited to film.
The Girl from Plainville
In 2022, Fanning took on a dramatically different role in Hulu’s The Girl from Plainville, portraying Michelle Carter. The limited series was inspired by the highly publicized case surrounding Carter and Conrad Roy. The performance required Fanning to portray a complicated and controversial real-life figure, demonstrating her willingness to work with darker and more psychologically challenging material.
Broadway Debut
Fanning expanded beyond screen acting in December 2023 when she made her official Broadway debut in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ play Appropriate. She performed alongside Sarah Paulson and Corey Stoll, marking an important stage in her continuing development as a performer. Broadway gave her an opportunity to work within a live theatrical environment, where performances depend more directly on sustained character work and interaction with an audience.
A Complete Unknown
In 2024, Fanning appeared in James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biographical film A Complete Unknown, portraying Sylvie Russo. The project brought her back into a major studio production while maintaining the kind of character-driven storytelling that has become a recurring feature of her career.
Sentimental Value and Oscar Recognition
One of the most important recent milestones in Fanning’s career came with Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value. She played Rachel Kemp, an ambitious American actress who becomes involved with a complicated family and filmmaking project. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix. Fanning’s performance subsequently earned nominations from major awards bodies, including the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, and most significantly, her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She attended the 2026 Oscars as a first-time nominee, making the moment a major landmark in a career that began when she was a child.
Predator: Badlands and Video-Game Work
Fanning also appeared in Predator: Badlands, playing the android sisters Thia and Tessa, demonstrating another move into science-fiction action. Her work has not been limited to film and television: she also performs in Hideo Kojima’s video game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, where she plays Tomorrow. The project also connects her performance work with music through a collaboration involving French artist Woodkid.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles
In 2026, Fanning took on one of her most ambitious roles yet with Apple’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles. She stars as Margo Millet, a young mother who becomes an online creator after facing financial pressure, and she also serves as an executive producer. The series is adapted from Rufi Thorpe’s novel and features Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman. Fanning and her collaborators approached the character’s online persona as a serious part of the story, including research into social-media and subscription-platform culture. The series became an important expansion of her work as both performer and producer.
Lewellen Pictures and Work With Dakota Fanning
Elle and Dakota Fanning have also expanded into production through their company Lewellen Pictures. Their work behind the camera reflects a broader ambition to have greater creative control over the stories they help bring to audiences. Recent projects include producing work for television, while their planned adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale is particularly significant because it is expected to bring the sisters together on screen in a major dramatic project.
Elle Fanning Movies, TV Shows, Web Series and Songs
| Year | Project | Type | Elle Fanning’s Role / Contribution |
| 2001 | I Am Sam | Film | Young version of Lucy |
| 2002 | Taken | Miniseries | Young Allie |
| 2003 | Daddy Day Care | Film | Jamie |
| 2006 | Babel | Film | Debbie |
| 2008 | The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Film | Younger Daisy |
| 2008 | Phoebe in Wonderland | Film | Phoebe |
| 2010 | Somewhere | Film | Cleo |
| 2011 | Super 8 | Film | Alice Dainard |
| 2012 | Ginger & Rosa | Film | Ginger |
| 2014 | Maleficent | Film | Princess Aurora |
| 2016 | The Neon Demon | Film | Jesse |
| 2016 | 20th Century Women | Film | Julie |
| 2017 | The Beguiled | Film | Alicia |
| 2018 | Teen Spirit | Film | Violet |
| 2019 | Maleficent: Mistress of Evil | Film | Aurora |
| 2020–2023 | The Great | TV series | Catherine the Great |
| 2022 | The Girl from Plainville | Miniseries | Michelle Carter |
| 2023 | Appropriate | Broadway | Stage role |
| 2024 | A Complete Unknown | Film | Sylvie Russo |
| 2025 | Sentimental Value | Film | Rachel Kemp |
| 2025 | Predator: Badlands | Film | Thia and Tessa |
| 2025 | Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | Video game | Tomorrow |
| 2026 | Margo’s Got Money Troubles | TV series | Margo Millet; executive producer |
| Upcoming | The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping | Film | Effie Trinket |
| Upcoming | The Nightingale | Film | Planned collaboration with Dakota Fanning |
| Upcoming | Rosebush Pruning | Film | Upcoming project |
Elle Fanning Relationship
Elle Fanning has generally kept her personal life more private than many celebrities, although some of her relationships have received public attention. She was in a relationship with English actor Max Minghella from 2018 until 2023. Following that relationship, Fanning has been publicly linked with Gus Wenner, the chief executive of Rolling Stone, with reports placing the beginning of their relationship in late 2023. They made a public red-carpet appearance together at the Golden Globes in January 2024. Fanning has also spoken more broadly about family and future aspirations rather than presenting her private life as the central focus of her public identity. In a 2025 PEOPLE interview, she said she definitely wanted children someday, while emphasizing that she was not rushing into motherhood.
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Elle Fanning Awards and Recognition
Fanning’s awards history reflects the different stages of her career. Her performance in Super 8 brought early recognition, while The Great earned her multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Her work in Sentimental Value became an especially important awards breakthrough, earning her a first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress as well as nominations from the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. In 2026, the Television Academy also listed her among the nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Margo’s Got Money Troubles and as an executive-producer nominee for Outstanding Comedy Series. IMDb’s awards database currently lists 19 wins and 95 nominations, although award databases can vary depending on what organizations and categories they count.
| Award / Recognition | Year | Work | Result |
| Hollywood Film Festival Spotlight Award | 2011 | Super 8 | Won |
| Golden Globe | 2021 | The Great | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy | 2022 | The Great | Nominated |
| Golden Globe | 2022 | The Great | Nominated |
| Golden Globe | 2024 | The Great | Nominated |
| Golden Globe | 2026 | Sentimental Value | Nominated |
| Critics Choice Award | 2026 | Sentimental Value | Nominated |
| Academy Award | 2026 | Sentimental Value | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy | 2026 | Margo’s Got Money Troubles | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy | 2026 | Margo’s Got Money Troubles — executive producer | Nominated |
| Saturn Award | 2026 | Predator: Badlands | Won |
Favorite Things and Interests
There is no single authoritative public list of every personal favorite belonging to Elle Fanning, so the following table focuses on interests and preferences that have been publicly associated with her career, interviews, fashion appearances and creative work rather than presenting unsupported fan-database claims as facts. Her public interests include fashion, film, acting, creative collaboration, beauty and storytelling, while her recent work also demonstrates a strong interest in producing and developing projects with her sister.
| Interest | Known / Publicly Associated Detail |
| Acting | Her central professional passion since childhood |
| Film | Particularly interested in distinctive directors and character-driven stories |
| Fashion | Regularly attends major fashion and awards events |
| Vintage fashion | Frequently incorporates vintage pieces into red-carpet styling |
| Producing | Co-founded Lewellen Pictures with Dakota |
| Storytelling | Interested in developing complex female characters |
| Beauty | Has discussed skincare, makeup and red-carpet preparation |
| Dance | Participated in dance during childhood |
| Creative collaboration | Especially strong professional partnership with Dakota |
| Theatre | Expanded into Broadway with Appropriate |
Fitness and Lifestyle
Fanning’s public lifestyle appears closely connected to her work, travel, fashion commitments and demanding filming schedule rather than a heavily publicized fitness program. She participated in dance as a child, which she has credited as useful preparation for acting, and her career has occasionally required physical or demanding performance work. She has also spoken about beauty and skincare in interviews, describing a relatively practical approach to preparation rather than promoting an extreme routine. At the 2026 awards season, her public appearances showed a polished but generally classic aesthetic, with vintage clothing, couture and understated beauty looks forming a recurring part of her style.
Elle Fanning Net Worth and Income Sources
Elle Fanning’s exact net worth is not publicly verified through audited financial records, so online figures should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed wealth. Celebrity Net Worth currently estimates her net worth at approximately $8 million, but this is a third-party estimate and should not be interpreted as an official disclosure. Her income sources include acting in films and television, executive producing, stage work, voice and performance projects, and commercial or brand-related opportunities. Her increasing involvement in production is particularly important because Lewellen Pictures gives Fanning and her sister a greater role in developing and producing entertainment projects.
| Income Source | Details |
| Film acting | Major source through theatrical and streaming films |
| Television | Lead roles in projects such as The Great and Margo’s Got Money Troubles |
| Producing | Executive-producer work and Lewellen Pictures |
| Broadway | Stage performance through Appropriate |
| Voice / performance work | Animation and video-game performance |
| Brand collaborations | Fashion and beauty-related public work |
| Estimated net worth | About $8 million according to one third-party estimate; not officially verified |
Elle Fanning Controversies
Elle Fanning has not been defined by a long list of major personal controversies, but several of her professional projects have attracted discussion because of their subject matter. Her portrayal of Michelle Carter in The Girl from Plainville involved a real-life case that generated strong public debate, making the role inherently sensitive. More recently, Margo’s Got Money Troubles attracted attention because the central character creates an OnlyFans persona, and Fanning revealed that she researched the platform to understand the digital environment required for the role. Importantly, this was preparation for a fictional character rather than evidence that Fanning herself operates an adult-content business. The project generated conversation about online sexuality, motherhood, money, identity and the boundary between performance and internet culture.
Another area that has occasionally generated discussion is the use of real-life-inspired material in projects such as The Girl from Plainville. However, these discussions concern the productions and subject matter rather than establishing misconduct by Fanning herself. Her public career remains primarily associated with acting, producing and creative work.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Elle Fanning
- Elle Fanning was born Mary Elle Fanning but is professionally known by her middle name.
- She started her acting career when she was very young.
- Her first roles were portraying younger versions of Dakota Fanning’s characters.
- Elle is the sister of actress Dakota Fanning.
- She graduated from Campbell Hall School in 2016.
- She portrayed Princess Aurora in both Maleficent and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
- Elle became the youngest member of the Cannes Film Festival jury ever in 2019.
- In The Great, she portrayed Catherine the Great.
- Her Broadway debut took place in Appropriate in 2023.
- Lewellen Pictures was co-founded by Elle Fanning with Dakota Fanning.
- The role that got Elle Fanning nominated for the first time for the Academy Awards was in Sentimental Value.
- Elle plays Thia and Tessa, two androids in Predator: Badlands.
- Elle portrays Tomorrow in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
- Elle Fanning became both the star and executive producer of Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
- Elle and Dakota will work together on The Nightingale. This is especially interesting because it is the sisters’ first big on-screen collaboration.
Social Media Accounts
Elle Fanning’s Instagram presence is the most clearly documented of the social platforms listed below. Public social-media directories associate her with the Instagram handle @ellefanning and list other accounts, but social-media handles can change and fan or impersonator accounts are common, so readers should verify an account’s authenticity before following or interacting with it.
| Platform | Account / Handle | Status |
| @ellefanning | 7.6M followers | |
| YouTube | Elle Fanning channel | 1.96K subscribers |
Conclusion
It should be noted that Elle Fanning’s career is characterized by slow development rather than one huge achievement. At the start, Elle was known as a child actress who starred along with the achievements of her elder sister, Dakota. However, in time, she managed to create her own identity through various types of work, from popular blockbusters to independent films, TV series, theatre plays and even production. Super 8 proved Elle’s abilities as a film lead, Maleficent made her a worldwide star, The Great made her a lead TV actress, Appropriate opened for her new doors in Broadway, and Sentimental Value earned her first Oscar nomination. As for 2026, work on Margo’s Got Money Troubles proves her increasing interest not just in acting but also in production of her stories. Future projects like The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, The Nightingale and Rosebush Pruning show how her career develops further.
FAQs
Who is Elle Fanning?
Elle Fanning is an American actress and producer known for films including Maleficent, Super 8, The Neon Demon, A Complete Unknown and Sentimental Value, as well as television series such as The Great and Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
How old is Elle Fanning?
Elle Fanning was born on April 9, 1998, making her 28 years old as of August 27, 2026.
What is Elle Fanning’s real name?
Her birth name is Mary Elle Fanning. She professionally uses her middle name, Elle.
How tall is Elle Fanning?
IMDb lists Elle Fanning at approximately 5 feet 9 inches, or 1.75 metres.
Is Elle Fanning Dakota Fanning’s sister?
Yes. Elle Fanning is the younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning, and the sisters have also worked together professionally through their production company Lewellen Pictures.
What is Elle Fanning’s most famous role?
One of her most internationally recognized roles is Princess Aurora in Disney’s Maleficent films. Her television role as Catherine the Great in The Great is another major part of her career.
Has Elle Fanning been nominated for an Oscar?
Yes. She received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Rachel Kemp in Sentimental Value at the 2026 Oscars.
Is Elle Fanning in Margo’s Got Money Troubles?
Yes. She stars as Margo Millet and also serves as an executive producer on the Apple TV series. Her work on the series earned her 2026 Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Comedy Series as an executive producer.
Who is Elle Fanning’s boyfriend?
Elle Fanning has been publicly linked to Gus Wenner since late 2023. She was previously in a relationship with actor Max Minghella from 2018 to 2023.
What is Elle Fanning’s net worth?
There is no officially verified public figure for her net worth. Celebrity Net Worth currently estimates it at about $8 million, but this should be regarded as an unofficial estimate rather than a confirmed financial statement.
What are Elle Fanning’s upcoming projects?
Her upcoming or reported projects include The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, The Nightingale with Dakota Fanning and Rosebush Pruning.
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