Elle Fanning (born April 9, 1998) has grown from a prolific child performer into a modern lead known for mixing studio-scale visibility with riskier, director-driven projects. Many viewers first recognized her as Princess Aurora in Maleficent, but her career also includes indie standouts, prestige TV, and stage work, with roles that lean into character detail more than celebrity gloss.
In recent years, Fanning became closely associated with the sharp, funny period series The Great, where her take on Catherine helped redefine her as an adult performer. Her 2025 to 2026 momentum includes high-profile releases and awards attention, including an Academy Award nomination for her supporting work in Sentimental Value, plus ongoing projects that keep her in both mainstream franchises and auteur-led films.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Mary Elle Fanning |
| Profession: | Actress, producer |
| Born: | April 9, 1998 |
| Age: | 27 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Conyers, Georgia, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Catherine in The Great, Princess Aurora in Maleficent, leading roles in prestige film and TV |
| Notable Films: | Super 8; Maleficent; 20th Century Women; The Beguiled; A Complete Unknown; Sentimental Value |
| Awards: | Academy Award nominee (Best Supporting Actress), Primetime Emmy nominee, multiple Golden Globe nominations |
| Zodiac Sign: | Aries |
| Relationship: | Keeps personal life mostly private; relationship reporting varies by outlet |
| Years Active: | 2001 to present |
Early Life & Education
Elle Fanning was born in Conyers, Georgia, and grew up in a close-knit family where performance and discipline were part of daily life. She is the younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning, and she began appearing on screen as a small child, first playing younger versions of Dakota’s characters before building an identity that was clearly her own.
She later attended Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles, balancing education with a schedule that already looked like a working actor’s career. By her teens, she was taking on leading roles in both studio films and more demanding independent projects, setting up the adult run that followed.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Fanning’s early credits arrived quickly, but her real breakthrough years came with a string of performances that showed range well beyond her age. Films like Somewhere (2010) and Super 8 (2011) positioned her as a serious young actor, and Maleficent (2014) brought global visibility through a major Disney franchise.
As an adult performer, she built credibility through director-led films such as 20th Century Women (2016) and The Beguiled (2017), then expanded into prestige television with The Great (2020 to 2023). Her recent slate ties together festival attention and mainstream reach, including A Complete Unknown, Sentimental Value, and franchise-scale work, while award recognition has followed her shift into more complex, adult roles.
Selected film and TV highlights
- I Am Sam (2001)
- Somewhere (2010)
- Super 8 (2011)
- Maleficent (2014)
- 20th Century Women (2016)
- The Beguiled (2017)
- The Great (2020 to 2023)
- The Girl from Plainville (2022)
- Appropriate (Broadway, 2023)
- A Complete Unknown (2024)
- Sentimental Value (2025)
Major recognition
- Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress (Sentimental Value)
- Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (The Great)
- Multiple Golden Globe nominations (including The Great and later film work)
- Youngest Cannes Film Festival jury member (2019)
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Sentimental Value | Nominated |
| 2021 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress (Comedy Series) | The Great | Nominated |
| 2021 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress (TV Series, Musical or Comedy) | The Great | Nominated |
| 2026 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Motion Picture) | Sentimental Value | Nominated |
| 2026 | Critics’ Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Sentimental Value | Nominated |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | I Am Sam | Film | Film debut as the younger version of Dakota Fanning’s character. |
| 2010 | Somewhere | Film | Breakthrough lead role in Sofia Coppola’s drama. |
| 2011 | Super 8 | Film | Mainstream breakout as Alice Dainard. |
| 2014 | Maleficent | Film | Global visibility as Princess Aurora. |
| 2016 | 20th Century Women | Film | Critically acclaimed ensemble performance. |
| 2017 | The Beguiled | Film | Lead role in Sofia Coppola’s period drama. |
| 2020 to 2023 | The Great | TV | Starred as Catherine in the Hulu period satire. |
| 2022 | The Girl from Plainville | TV miniseries | Played Michelle Carter in the Hulu limited series. |
| 2023 | Appropriate | Stage | Broadway debut. |
| 2024 | A Complete Unknown | Film | Featured role in the Bob Dylan biopic. |
| 2025 | Sentimental Value | Film | Supporting performance that earned major awards attention. |
| 2025 | Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | Video game | Performance role as “Tomorrow.” |
| 2026 | The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping | Film | Cast as Effie Trinket (reported). |
| 2027 | The Nightingale | Film | Planned theatrical release; starring with sister Dakota Fanning. |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | Public estimates vary widely. Elle Fanning has not published a verified net worth figure, and reliable documentation is limited. |
| Income Sources | Film and television acting, producing, brand work, and occasional stage and voice or performance projects. |
| Properties & Assets | Specific financial details are not consistently documented in reliable public records. Most coverage focuses on projects and awards activity. |
| Lifestyle | Often described as fashion-forward and work-focused, with a public profile shaped by premieres, festivals, and long-running creative collaborations. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Official account: @ellefanning (audience size changes over time). View profile. | |
| X (Twitter) | No reliably confirmed personal account. Multiple accounts exist, including impersonators and fan pages. Confirm before treating any handle as official. |
| She has said she never had a personal Facebook account. Fan pages exist and are typically not official. | |
| IMDb | Verified credits: IMDb. |
| Production | Lewellen Pictures (with Dakota Fanning) is frequently referenced in press for producing activity. |
| Fan Updates | Coming soon, subscribe to follow Elle Fanning updates. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: Many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Elle Fanning. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- She was appointed to the Cannes Film Festival jury in 2019, widely reported as the youngest juror in the festival’s history.
- Her film debut came at age three in I Am Sam, playing a younger version of her sister Dakota’s character.
- She uses her middle name, Elle, as her professional name.
- She graduated from Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles in 2016.
- She made her Broadway debut in Appropriate in 2023.
- She has talked publicly about preferring limited social media, and she has said she never had a Facebook account.
Quotes
“I never had a Facebook account.”
— Elle Fanning, in a reported interview about social media and privacy
“I’ve never created a Twitter account.”
— Elle Fanning, on avoiding the platform
“I can’t catch my breath.”
— Elle Fanning, reacting publicly to awards news
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Elle Fanning’s age?
A: Elle Fanning is 27 years old (born April 9, 1998).
Q: What is Elle Fanning best known for?
A: She is widely known for playing Princess Aurora in Maleficent and for starring as Catherine in The Great. She is also recognized for films like Super 8, 20th Century Women, and The Beguiled.
Q: Is Elle Fanning related to Dakota Fanning?
A: Yes. Dakota Fanning is her older sister.
Q: Has Elle Fanning been nominated for an Oscar?
A: Yes. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Sentimental Value.
Q: Does Elle Fanning have official social media accounts?
A: Her Instagram is widely treated as official. Other platforms have many fan or unofficial accounts, so confirm before relying on a handle.
Upcoming Projects
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026) – Reported to star as Effie Trinket in the next Hunger Games film.
- The Nightingale (Feb 12, 2027) – Scheduled theatrical release, starring with sister Dakota Fanning in the adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s novel.
- Rosebush Pruning (TBA) – Reported feature project in development or production, with release timing not consistently confirmed across outlets.
Interviews & Features
- Teen Vogue, “Elle Fanning Says She Never Had a Facebook Account” (Nov 29, 2016), a short feature on her approach to privacy and why she has kept some platforms off-limits.
- People, “Dakota and Elle Fanning’s First-Ever Movie Together… Sets 2027 Release Date” (2025), coverage of their first on-screen pairing and the planned release window.
- The Academy, 2026 Oscars Ceremony Page, official listings and context for nominees and ceremony details.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- Oscar Nominees Luncheon (Feb 10, 2026): Attended the Academy’s nominees luncheon in Los Angeles during the 2026 awards season run-up.
- Cannes Film Festival (May 2025): Appeared at Cannes during the festival where Sentimental Value premiered and earned major attention.
- Berlin International Film Festival (2020): Attended Berlinale events, with widely circulated press and photo coverage from the festival.
- Cannes Film Festival Jury (2019): Served as a jury member in the international competition, a high-profile festival appointment early in her adult career.
