Elle Fanning on Marilyn Monroe, Sofia Coppola, and Paris | Screen Tests | W Magazine

In this Screen Tests interview, Elle Fanning talks about her early idolization of Marilyn Monroe, attending a regular school with regular lockers and her latest role in Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere. Lynn Hirschberg: Elle, since Somewhere, in which you played the only child of a male movie star, you have been very busy: costarring in Super 8, which was a hit this summer, and in We Bought a Zoo. You’re 13—how has your life changed since Somewhere? Elle Fanning: After Somewhere came out, people started to recognize me more. Whenever I was walking down the street, they’d be like, “Oh, wow—are you Elle Fanning?” Before Somewhere, they asked me if I was Dakota Fanning because we looked alike, and I’d say, “No, I’m her younger sister.” And they’d say, “Oh, okay.” But now I think they are starting to realize I’m my own person. Lynn Hirschberg: Your first part was playing Dakota as an infant in I Am Sam. In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, you played the young Cate Blanchett. Elle Fanning: I was 9 years old during Benjamin Button. I had to wear a long red wig because [Cate] had red hair in the movie. I remember that. I had a great time on set. The director did a lot of takes, and he would say, “Take 50,” and I would just go do it again. I was only 9, so I thought that was fun. Lynn Hirschberg: Super 8 looks like it was exciting to make—the kids were the stars of the movie. Elle Fanning: It was great! I was 12 when I did Super 8, and when Dakota was 12, she did War of the Worlds. Steven Spielberg was involved with both movies, so we both worked with Steven when we were 12. Lynn Hirschberg: You have kind of a love scene in Super 8. Were you nervous? Elle Fanning: I didn’t have to kiss him. But it was a boy-girl scene, and we had to like each other in the movie. All the other boys made fun of us because we had to like each other. Did you have trouble pretending there was a monster about to attack you? When we were filming, J.J. [Abrams, the director] would say, “The monster is right there,” and we’d be looking at a little dot on a pole. That’s it, that’s the monster—and we’d have to be afraid of it. We didn’t know what the monster was going to look like. J.J. kept that a secret from us throughout the movie. We were all probably imagining something different. It was fun going to the first screening and finally seeing the monster. That was the first time I saw what I was screaming at. Lynn Hirschberg: Do you watch Dancing With the Stars? That’s my guilty pleasure. Elle Fanning: Sometimes. We watch a lot of reality TV. My sister and I record Big Brother. We’re obsessed! And we love old game shows like Password and the original Family Feud. Also, me and my sister watch Criminal Minds. We record every episode, and we watch it every single night. Lynn Hirschberg: Why? Elle Fanning: My sister likes psychology, and they really get into the mind of the killers. Lynn Hirschberg: Maybe you should do a guest spot. Elle Fanning: I’ve been on Criminal Minds twice! On the first show, a boy brought kids out to the woods and was beating them with a baseball bat, but I got away. Then they brought Tracy, my character, back—as a kidnapped girl. They saved me two times! Tracy lived! Read the full story here - Still haven’t subscribed to W on YouTube? ►► ABOUT W The Who, What, Where, When, and Why in the world of fashion and style. W provides the ultimate insider experience with an original, provocative approach to art, culture, videos, travel, fashion, and beauty. Elle Fanning on Marilyn Monroe, Sofia Coppola, and Paris | Screen Tests | W Magazine