Fanning's star dimming?
There was a time not too long ago that 13-year-old Dakota Fanning was the go-to-girl for little girl roles in movies. She’s had at least nine notable movie roles since 2001 and appeared in a bunch of popular TV shows, “Friends” and “CSI” included.
But in the past two days, I’ve seen two roles that I’m sort of surprised Dakota didn’t get.
First, there’s the part of Zoe, Catherine Zeta-Jones’ character’s niece in “No Reservations.” IMDB.com says the movie is about the change in lifestyle a top chef (Zeta-Jones) has when she becomes the guardian of her niece. A young girl in a cheesy chick flick? That’s prime Dakota territory (see “Uptown Girls,” “Dreamer”). The part went to 12-year-old Abigail Breslin of “Little Miss Sunshine” fame.
Second is the just announced casting of a virtual unknown, 13-year-old Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, as Susie Salmon in the movie version of Alice Sebold’s bestseller “The Lovely Bones.” She’s joining already cast Rachel Weisz and Ryan Gosling. Lead in a movie adaptation of a book? That’s also prime Dakota territory (see “Cat in the Hat,” “Charlotte’s Web”).
So what’s the deal? Are directors trading out Dakota for the younger (Breslin), foreign (Ronan) model? Is the child actor pool just expanding? Or did smiley, annoyingly excitable Dakota just wear out her welcome?
Any way you look at it, I certainly welcome the change.
NOTE: “No Reservations” hits theaters July 27. And keep your eyes open, “The Lovely Bones” is slated to begin filming in Pennsylvania and New Zealand in October.
otto · July 12, 2007 3:05 PM
Or could it simply be that Dakota is presently attached to about a zillion projects? The girl can't do every movie that's offered to her. There's no "change" for you to welcome, dipshit.
Marie Elena · July 12, 2007 4:00 PM
There actually has been a change. In 2002 she was in two movies and six episodes of a TV show. In 2003 it was two films and a made-for-TV movie. 2004 was one movie and two TV roles. And in 2005 she had the lead role in two movies, second billing in one and smaller roles in two others, plus she did the voice for a TV cartoon movie. In 2006 she was in one movie. She's only scheduled for one this year, too.
Do you know if the roles in "No Reservations" and "The Lovely Bones" were offered to her?
denny · July 12, 2007 10:32 PM
otto, you are the dipshit. maybe next time you comment you should do some homework of your own on the subject.
Laura · July 16, 2007 9:23 AM
Instead of name-calling, we should probably just look at the facts. Clearly, everyone is welcome to their own opinion. It's nice to see a new face or two on the silver screen now and then.
Darwin · July 27, 2007 5:08 PM
I do believe that there may actually be room for more than one young female star in Hollywood today. The fact of this being the case by no means should translate into career demise for Dakota or any of the others. ;)
defan · October 18, 2007 12:11 PM
Dakota was putting off other roles for 9 months so she could be ready for Hounddog when it got funded. So, yes, 2006 was a bit of a drop-off for Dakota in terms of number of roles in released films. Still, she's only averaged 2 major films per year, so having only 1 (Charlotte's Web) is not that much of a drop off.
Abigail Breslin is 2 years younger than Dakota, so they are not in competition for roles. Lo and behold, Saoirse Ronan got a role that would have been appropriate for Fanning...had she not already played a girl who gets raped in Hounddog!
What Otto so harshly stated is in fact true. Dakota has multiple roles in 2007 and beyond.
1) Hounddog - indie film seen at Sundance, 2007
2) Cutlass- indie film, just released online.
3) A voice role in Coraline, a major animated film currently in production, to be released Halloween 2008
4) Winged Creatures, a major film to be released possibly in late 2007.
5) Hurricane Mary, a voice role in a major film, not yet in production.
6) Push, currently filming, a starring role in a major film, possible release in 2008
7) The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, starring as the title character.
So you can see I've done my hoemwork, and Dakota is as busy as ever. Her star is not exactly dimming just yet.
defan · October 18, 2007 3:25 PM
Oh, and she is also attached to star in The Secret Life Of Bees, a major film.
defan · October 25, 2007 11:33 AM
She just got the role in My Sister's Keeper, which begins production in March 2008.
lasvegasberly · February 21, 2008 3:37 PM
How sad, that the person reporting this story, feels that Dakota Fanning has worn out her welcome. She is a very talented young actress. But insted of appluding that, someone wants to start bashing her, the way they do all the other young actresses.
It's not just Hollywood, that "EAT THEIR YOUNG," apparently some of you do too!