Elle Fanning wore this Elie Saab gown to walk the red carpet for the London premiere of her new horror film, The Neon Demon. I really wish it had a nude lining as I couldn’t be more tired of the see-through dress, but it is beautiful. Elle always looks great and looks like she is enjoying the hell out of whatever she is doing. The movie, which also stars forever-dreamy Keanu Reeves, is about a group of models that turn on Elle’s character because she is the new, hot girl on the scene. Elle is excited about her new movie but she is equally excited to graduate from high school and really dive into her career. Elle has made 50 movies in 15 years, just to give you perspective on what her not diving in looks like.
Elle Fanning is “excited” to graduate from school and focus on acting.
The 18-year-old actress – who is the youngster sister of Dakota Fanning – shot to fame after starring in the hit sci-fi flick ‘Super 8’ but hasn’t been able to pour her heart and soul into acting completely because she’s been trying to balance her globe-trotting career with school.
Asked how she juggles her schoolwork with acting, the actress exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the premiere of her new movie ‘The Neon Demon’, held at the Picturehouse cinema in London, on Tuesday night (31.05.16): “I had my prom last week… I’ve been doing it for a while, because I go to a regular high school and then I’m graduating in a week, so I’m so excited…”
The blonde beauty plays 16-year-old model Jesse in the Nicolas Winding Refn-directed title, which is set in Los Angeles and revolves around a group of beauty-obsessed models who viciously turn on a younger star (Jesse) after she takes the fashion world by storm.
Fanning related to the character because she also moved from a small town to Los Angeles and she knew what it felt like to be the “fresh meat on the scene”.
She explained: “Being the fresh meat on the scene, I think I can understand that aspect of her… I mean it was a little different for me but at the same time, very not different, because I played a 16 year old girl, who kind of comes from a small town to the big city, which is what I did. I’m from Georgia and I moved to LA and started doing film so we’re similar in a way but we didn’t let that world devour us, I mean my character goes to a much darker place than I have.”
The trailer looks really good. The LA modeling scene is terrifying; it begs to be made into a horror film. I just kind of assumed it would be about cannibalism. Elle does really seem to have survived the shark infested waters of Hollywood unscathed. Her sister Dakota spoke about the culture shock of moving to LA as well. I came here in my 30s with a regular job and a husband; I can’t imagine if I had had to compete for my place in this town.
I am glad Elle’s mother put both girls in regular school, as opposed to private tutoring on set, so they could have that experience. With all this talk of prom of late, I had forgotten how important it was. I wish Elle would follow in Dakota’s footsteps and at least try college but maybe she just doesn’t want to. Both girls have kept their noses pretty clean in a very dirty industry so I guess they know what’s best for them.
Photo credit: WENN Photos and Getty Images
She is really becoming Beautiful as she gets older. I love both she and Dakato. They are both such amazing young women. You don’t hear ugly stories about them. They just seems so normal.. Wishing them both the best. These are the women that should be focused on. But sadly not.
She looks ridiculous in that gown, like a child playing dress up. And I hate the expression “fresh meat.” I like her in general, though.
@GNAT – I generally hate that term to, but I’ve only ever heard it used in relation to college freshman arriving on campus. UGH! But I appreciate the context here because I’m sure when young women first step into that world, it’s feels very predatory and exploitative. That phrase is a good, simple visual, IMO. 🙂
She looks so pretty. It’s hard to believe she’s only 18 considering she’s been in quite a few movies.
And yes the Fanning sisters being enrolled in regular school helps keep them grounded. I also believe that Dakota said they didn’t have access to all their money and that their mom gives them an allowance while in school. Obviously a higher than normal one but still their mom definitely tried to give them some normal boundaries
It’s a beautiful gown and it’s wearing her. She’s too short for it.
Wtf, shes 5’7
Exactly, it’s wearing her. It looks too heavy, too big, too something. Just not right.
That gown makes me so uncomfortable – she may as well be naked – I can see her nipples and her butt and everything – she is way too young for this !
I can’t see either, and believe me, I’m looking.
She is really an exceptional young woman. She’s stunning and unique looking, it’s interesting because she could be just another pale, blonde, blue eyed girl but there’s something very unique about her. Hard to describe.
She’s very talented also. The trailer for the movie looks good, I might go see this one.
I also agree that she always looks like she’s enjoying herself and loving what she’s wearing. She can wear anything.
50 movies by 18? That is a lot!
Their parents seem to have done a very good job with those kids. They both seem well-adjusted and able to handle a career and a normal life.
I think their parents were very present in their lives. I think I read that her parents were always monitoring their well-being, acting like parents instead of managers. But who knows. These girls seem pretty grounded.
Just watched Effie Gray with Dakota Fanning in the leading role- I think it was a love project for Emma Thompson, so I watched it mostly for that. That being said, Dakota is fun to watch on screen, but right now can’t “anchor” a movie. Re the “fresh meat” comment- wasn’t there some minor dust-up regarding her director from Neon Demon (who’s 45) planting a big smooch on Elle at Cannes? Like, it came out of nowhere and she looked pretty uncomfortable( who wouldn’t?). Anyway, who they both manage to stay on what seems to be a pretty sane course.
She looks beautiful in everything here. And I appreciate a young actress who can hold her own. Seems their parents know how to navigate Hollywood and raise great kids, I would like to read that book. I’m sure there were many many vipers about and many opportunities to go the Polanski route.
If you’re implying that Polanski was willfully enabled by his victim’s mother, please reconsider. unless you know all parties involved. I read his victim’s memoir, which he signed off on and which detailed the whole awful event in excruciating detail, and it’s clear that HE and only he was a predator. Her mother fought so hard to protect her as the whole world spread slander about her “showbiz mom”. The reality couldn’t have been further from the foul fiction, and she actually said the lies were eventually more influential and traumatic (meaning they changed and warped her perspective forever) than what happened.
No blame for anyone but the rapist, please.
She’s so beautiful and grown up! I’m sure she’ll go on to have a great career, just like her sister.
Children of the Corn
Maybe you meant Children of the Damned? That was the movie with the zombie-like blonde kids.
If that’s the case…whatever. This girl has more liveliness and expression in her pinky than half of the dead-eyed blondes in Hollywood and beyond.
Nope. I meant the Children of the Corn as in I believe she lives in the fields and will do bad things to teenagers stranded out in the country at the demands of Malachi.
I love these girls and I hope they stay grounded forever. Their parents are impressive with them, too — and in another aspect, it’s impressive that I have no idea what they look like, or what their names are.
That said… after everything I’ve seen and heard about the treatment of children in Hollywood, it’s really difficult for me to believe that a SINGLE child star has escaped unscathed. I would never, ever assume someone’s a victim if they’re not, so I apologize if this comment is crossing the line, but I always remind myself that we know nothing about the traumas that others may have experienced. I wouldn’t assume one way or another about the Fanning girls, and I certainly wouldn’t imply their parents enabled anything to happen… but Hollywood is so toxic that we really have no idea.
I have never seen her movies but she is SMILING & happy looking in every picture I see of her, which is pretty cool. She seems genuine and down to earth in her interviews, which is amazing growing up as a child actor. I just like to see this happy normal looking teens vs. the pouty trying to be moody or sexy ones. I hope she has lots of continued success!
I love the white ruffled thing with the black bow.