Elle Fanning is an American actress who began working as a child and has built a career spanning blockbuster franchises, independent dramas, and prestige television. Born in 1998, she first appeared on screen at age two or three and has since starred in films including Super 8, Maleficent, The Neon Demon, and A Complete Unknown, as well as the Hulu series The Great. In 2026 she received her first Academy Award nomination for Sentimental Value and earned Emmy nominations for the Apple TV+ series Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
Quick Answer
Elle Fanning is a 28-year-old American actress known for transitioning from child roles to adult leading parts across film and television. She gained early attention in Somewhere (2010) and Super 8 (2011), reached a wide audience as Princess Aurora in the Maleficent films, and earned critical praise for The Great (2020–2023). In 2025–2026 she appeared in Predator: Badlands and Sentimental Value (earning an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress) and starred in and produced Margo’s Got Money Troubles. She is next set to play a younger Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (November 2026) and will star with her sister Dakota Fanning in The Nightingale.
Elle Fanning Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mary Elle Fanning |
| Date of birth | April 9, 1998 |
| Age | 28 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Conyers, Georgia |
| Profession | Actress, producer |
| Known for | The Great, Maleficent, Super 8, Sentimental Value, Margo’s Got Money Troubles |
| Sister | Dakota Fanning |
| Partner | Gus Wenner (since late 2023) |
| Active since | 2001 |
What Is Elle Fanning Best Known For?
Elle Fanning is best known for her long screen career that began in early childhood and for successfully moving between commercial studio projects and independent films. Many audiences first recognized her as Princess Aurora opposite Angelina Jolie in Disney’s Maleficent (2014) and its sequel. Critics and awards voters have highlighted her work in Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere, J.J. Abrams’s Super 8, the Hulu series The Great (in which she played Catherine the Great), and Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, which brought her first Oscar nomination.
She is also frequently associated with her older sister, Dakota Fanning. The two began their careers around the same time and later founded the production company Lewellen Pictures together.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Mary Elle Fanning was born on April 9, 1998, in Conyers, Georgia, to Heather Joy Arrington (a former tennis player) and Steven J. Fanning (a former minor-league baseball player). Her maternal grandfather was NFL player Rick Arrington, and her aunt is sportscaster Jill Arrington. She is the younger sister of actress Dakota Fanning.
The family moved between Georgia and Los Angeles so Dakota could pursue acting. Elle made her film debut in I Am Sam (2001), playing the younger version of Dakota’s character. She continued with small roles in Daddy Day Care (2003), Babel (2006), and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008).
Breakthrough Roles
Elle Fanning’s first major critical notice came with Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere (2010), in which she played the daughter of a movie star. The following year she starred as Alice in J.J. Abrams’s science-fiction film Super 8, which introduced her to a broader audience and earned her several young-actor awards and nominations.
In 2014 she took on the dual role of Princess Aurora / Sleeping Beauty in Disney’s live-action fantasy Maleficent, opposite Angelina Jolie. The film was a major commercial success and led to the 2019 sequel Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Around the same period she balanced studio work with independent films such as Ginger & Rosa (2012), The Neon Demon (2016), 20th Century Women (2016), and Coppola’s The Beguiled (2017).
Television Breakthrough: The Great
From 2020 to 2023 Fanning starred as Catherine the Great in the Hulu satirical period series The Great, created by Tony McNamara. The role showcased her comedic timing and earned her nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and multiple Golden Globe Awards. The series marked a significant expansion of her profile beyond film.
She also starred in the Hulu limited series The Girl from Plainville (2022) as Michelle Carter and made her Broadway debut in the play Appropriate in 2023.
Recent Films and Awards Recognition
In 2024 Fanning appeared as Sylvie Russo (a character based on Suze Rotolo) opposite Timothée Chalamet in James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. The ensemble received recognition including a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast.
In 2025 she starred in two very different releases: Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands, a science-fiction action film, and Joachim Trier’s Norwegian drama Sentimental Value. In the latter she played Rachel Kemp, an American actress seeking more serious work. The performance earned Fanning her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, along with Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and other nominations in the 2026 awards season.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles and Producing Work
In 2025–2026 Fanning starred in the Apple TV+ comedy series Margo’s Got Money Troubles, adapted from Rufi Thorpe’s novel. She plays the title character and also serves as an executive producer. The series received multiple Emmy nominations in 2026, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Fanning and Outstanding Comedy Series. This marked her second Emmy acting nomination (after The Great).
With her sister Dakota, Fanning co-founded Lewellen Pictures. The company has produced projects including The Great and Margo’s Got Money Troubles. The sisters are also producing and starring together for the first time in The Nightingale, an adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s World War II novel scheduled for 2027.
Upcoming Projects
Fanning is set to appear as a younger version of Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, directed by Francis Lawrence and scheduled for theatrical release on November 20, 2026. The role was originated by Elizabeth Banks in the earlier films. The cast also includes Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, and others.
She continues work on The Nightingale with Dakota Fanning and has additional projects in development through Lewellen Pictures, including the legal drama series Discretion.
Personal Life
Elle Fanning was previously in a relationship with actor Max Minghella from 2018 to 2023. Since late 2023 she has been in a relationship with Gus Wenner, CEO of Rolling Stone. The couple has appeared together at events including the Golden Globes and the Met Gala. She has not publicly confirmed any marriage or children.
Fanning maintains a close relationship with her sister Dakota. The two have spoken about the value of their sibling bond and their decision to produce and act together on The Nightingale.
Elle Fanning’s Notable Movies and TV Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | I Am Sam | Young Lucy | Screen debut (younger version of Dakota Fanning’s character) |
| 2010 | Somewhere | Cleo | Critical breakthrough with Sofia Coppola |
| 2011 | Super 8 | Alice | Mainstream breakout role |
| 2014 / 2019 | Maleficent / Mistress of Evil | Aurora | Major franchise success |
| 2016 | The Neon Demon / 20th Century Women | Jesse / Julie | Key independent films |
| 2020–2023 | The Great | Catherine the Great | Emmy and Golden Globe nominations |
| 2024 | A Complete Unknown | Sylvie Russo | Dylan biopic opposite Timothée Chalamet |
| 2025 | Predator: Badlands | Thia / Tessa | Franchise action role |
| 2025 | Sentimental Value | Rachel Kemp | First Oscar nomination (Best Supporting Actress) |
| 2025– | Margo’s Got Money Troubles | Margo | Emmy-nominated lead role and producing credit |
| 2026 | The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping | Young Effie Trinket | Upcoming franchise prequel |
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Elle Fanning?
Elle Fanning was born on April 9, 1998. She is 28 years old as of 2026.
What is Elle Fanning famous for?
She is known for her long acting career that began in childhood, her roles in Super 8, the Maleficent films, and The Great, and more recently for her Oscar-nominated performance in Sentimental Value and the series Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
Is Elle Fanning related to Dakota Fanning?
Yes. Dakota Fanning is her older sister. They made their joint screen debut in I Am Sam (2001) and later founded the production company Lewellen Pictures together. They will star opposite each other for the first time in The Nightingale (2027).
Is Elle Fanning married?
No. She has been in a relationship with Rolling Stone CEO Gus Wenner since late 2023. She previously dated actor Max Minghella from 2018 to 2023.
What movies is Elle Fanning in right now?
Recent releases include Predator: Badlands (2025) and Sentimental Value (2025). She stars in the Apple TV+ series Margo’s Got Money Troubles. Her next major theatrical role is as young Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, due November 20, 2026.
Did Elle Fanning get an Oscar nomination?
Yes. In 2026 she received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Rachel Kemp in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value.
What is Elle Fanning’s next project?
She is set to appear in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (November 2026) and will star with her sister Dakota in The Nightingale (2027), which they are also producing.
