Elle Fanning Reflects on Working with Sister Dakota Fanning in ‘Nightingale’
Elle Fanning shared her experience of working alongside her sister Dakota Fanning on the set of The Nightingale. Dakota started acting at the age of five with a role in ER, but gained widespread recognition at seven for her role in I Am Sam. Elle made her debut in the same film at age two, playing the younger version of Dakota’s character.
Years later, the sisters reunited on screen for the first time. In an interview with Vogue, Elle explained how they chose to star together in this film adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s bestselling novel.
"Kristin Hannah's bestselling book is a force of nature. It is the perfect film to be in together for the first time because it is the ultimate sister story about two women fighting in different ways."
Elle described their characters’ contrasting personalities:
"One is resisting loudly. One quietly, but both just as strong."
She expressed their excitement about finally working together:
"It has been a goal of Dakota and I for a very long time, and we are both over the moon it is finally happening next year!"
When the film was first announced, the sisters issued a joint statement to Entertainment Weekly:
"The Nightingale will be the first time we act on screen together. We have played the same character at different ages but have never spoken to each other in front of a camera."
Summary
Elle and Dakota Fanning eagerly reunite on screen in The Nightingale, fulfilling a long-standing desire to act together in a deeply personal sister story.