Dakota Fanning Through The Years: Photos Of The Star From Her Child Actor Days To Now

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Dakota Fanning: Then & Now

Dakota Fanning: Then & Now — Let’s talk about Dakota Fanning, the pint-sized Georgia peach who’s been melting hearts on the big and small screen since she was a tot! This girl’s been acting since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, and we’ve had the pleasure of watching her grow into a stunning young woman right before our very eyes.

Dakota made her acting debut on E.R. and went on to appear in other ’90s shows like The Practice, Spin City, Ally McBeal, and The Ellen Show. But it was her breakthrough role in I Am Sam (2001) that really put her on the map. She wowed audiences with her performance and became the youngest actor ever to earn a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her work. Talk about talent!

From there, Dakota’s career took off like a rocket, and she starred in a string of hit films including Uptown Girls (2003), The Cat in the Hat (2003), War of the Worlds (2005), Charlotte’s Web (2006), and Coraline (2009). She even got her rocker on as Cherie Currie in The Runaways (2010) and as Jane in The Twilight Saga (2009–2012). This girl can do it all!

Dakota’s talent has only grown with time, and she’s taken on more mature roles as she’s gotten older. Who could forget her sass as Squeaky Fromme in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood? Plus, she’s been killing it as Sara Howard in The Alienist since 2018.

If you want to see Dakota’s journey from pint-sized prodigy to stunning starlet, click through the gallery here. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!

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Dakota Fanning At The Premiere of ‘I Am Sam’

Dakota Fanning At The Premiere of ‘I Am Sam’ — Dakota Fanning was too cute at the premiere of ‘I Am Sam’ in Beverly Hills in 2001. The little star had on a butter yellow dress, white tights, and black Mary Janes.

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Dakota Fanning At The Premiere Of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’

Dakota Fanning At The Premiere Of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ — A red carpet regular already! Dakota Fanning is adorable in a pleated skirt, pale blue cardigan and red clogs during the Dec. 2002 premiere of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ in LA.

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Dakota Fanning At The Premiere Of ‘Wild Thornberrys’

Dakota Fanning At The Premiere Of ‘Wild Thornberrys’ — Dakota Fanning is darling in pigtails during the Dec. 2002 premiere of ‘Wild Thornberrys’. She was all smiles.

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‘Uptown Girls’

‘Uptown Girls’ — Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning appear in a scene from 2003’s ‘Uptown Girls’. The movie was about a wild 20-something who starts working as the nanny for an 8-year-old girl who acts more grown than her years.

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Dakota Fanning Promotes ‘Hide And Seek’

Dakota Fanning Promotes ‘Hide And Seek’ — Dakota Fanning poses at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Fanning stars opposite Robert De Niro in the thriller ‘Hide and Seek’.

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Dakota Fanning In France

Dakota Fanning In France — Dakota Fanning, then 11, waved to well-wishers as she accompanied Tom Cruise during a visit to the old port of Marseille in southern France. Cruise and company were in France to promote the Steven Spielberg film ‘The War of the Worlds’.

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Dakota Fanning In 2007

Dakota Fanning In 2007 — Dakota Fanning attends the 4th Annual First Star Celebration for Children’s Rights in LA on Jun. 2, 2007. She wore a white sundress peppered with red and blue hearts. Crimson flats completed the look.

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Dakota Fanning In ‘The Secret Life of Bees’

Dakota Fanning In ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ — Dakota Fanning smiles during a press conference for her film ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ on Sep. 8, 2008. ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ is set in South Carolina in 1964 and is the moving tale of 14-year-old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning), who lives with her abusive father and is haunted by the memory of a mother that died when she was a toddler.

To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with caregiver Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past.

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Dakota Fanning At The 2009 People’s Choice Awards

Dakota Fanning At The 2009 People’s Choice Awards — Dakota Fanning glows in blue during the 35th Annual People’s Choice Awards on Jan. 7, 2009. The satin minidress went perfectly with her black, ankle-strap, peep-toe pumps.

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Dakota Fanning At The 2009 Critics Choice Awards

Dakota Fanning At The 2009 Critics Choice Awards — Dakota Fanning arrives for the 14th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards on Jan. 8, 2009. She wore a gold necklace with her long blonde hair down straight and loose.

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Dakota Fanning Signs Autographs At The Premiere Of ‘The Runaways’

Dakota Fanning Signs Autographs At The Premiere Of ‘The Runaways’ — Dakota Fanning smiles and signs autographs at the premiere of her film ‘The Runaways’ on Mar. 11, 2010. The movie, which also starred Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett, was the story of the 70s all-girl rock band.

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Dakota Fanning At A Photocall For ‘The Runaways’

Dakota Fanning At A Photocall For ‘The Runaways’ — Dakota Fanning looks cute in a little military-style jacket at a photocall for ‘The Runaways’ in Mar. of 2010. Adding a fun touch, she teamed the jacket with a leopard-print tank top.

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Dakota Fanning At Tribeca Film Festival In 2012

Dakota Fanning At Tribeca Film Festival In 2012 — Dakota Fanning stuns in pink during the 11th Annual Tribeca Film Festival on Apr. 17, 2012. She was attending a party hosted by Vanity Fair.

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Dakota Fanning At Sundance 2013

Dakota Fanning At Sundance 2013 — Dakota Fanning poses for a portriat during the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. She was there promoting her project ‘Very Good Girls’.

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Dakota Fanning Strikes A Pose In 2013

Dakota Fanning Strikes A Pose In 2013 — Cozy and cute. Dakota Fanning looks cute in a tan color-block sweater during the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

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Dakota Fanning At The Premiere Of ‘Night Moves’

Dakota Fanning At The Premiere Of ‘Night Moves’ — Dakota Fanning stuns in sparkling Elie Saab during the premiere of ‘Night Moves’ at the 70th Venice International Film Festival in Italy on Aug. 31, 2013. She was clearly coming into her own.

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Dakota Fanning At TIFF 2013

Dakota Fanning At TIFF 2013 — Dakota Fanning is sassy in a royal blue silk number during Toronto International Film Festival on Sep. 6, 2013. She was there promoting her flick ‘The Last Of Robin Hood’.

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Dakota Fanning During Tribeca Film Festival 2015

Dakota Fanning During Tribeca Film Festival 2015 — Dakota Fanning is radiant at IWC Schaffhausen’s ‘For the Love of Cinema’ gala during Tribeca Film Festival. The Apr. 16, 2015 event was held at Spring Street Studios in New York.

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Dakota Fanning At Christian Dior In 2015

Dakota Fanning At Christian Dior In 2015 — Dakota Fanning stuns in black and white Christian Dior while attending the French fashion house’s presentation of their Cruise 2016 Resort Collection on May 11, 2015. The event happened ahead of Cannes Film Festival

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Dakota Fanning In Paris In 2016

Dakota Fanning In Paris In 2016 — Dakota Fanning wows in a sheer dress with celestial embroidery during a Paris Fashion Week outing on Mar. 8, 2016. The frock featured a dragon and planets embroidered upon it.

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Dakota Fanning At Valentino

Dakota Fanning At Valentino — Dakota Fanning stuns in black Valentino during the house’s Spring Summer 2017 show at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 2, 2016. The lace was sheer, showing off her legs and midriff below.

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Dakota Fanning At 2017 Upfronts

Dakota Fanning At 2017 Upfronts — Dakota Fanning looks pretty in pink Proenza Schuler during the Turner Upfront Presentation in New York on May 17, 2017. She teamed the dress with silver peep-toe platforms.

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Dakota Fanning In 2017

Dakota Fanning In 2017 — Dakota Fanning beams during a 2017 Upfronts event. She complemented her pink dress with rosy eyeshadow.

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Dakota Fanning At The 2019 Golden Globes

Dakota Fanning At The 2019 Golden Globes — Dakota Fanning wows in silver Armani Prive as she arrives at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 6, 2019. Amping up the glamour, she donned a stunning Beladora necklace, a Neil Lane ring and earrings, Jimmy Choo heels, and a Christian Louboutin bag.

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Dakota Fanning At Rodarte

Dakota Fanning At Rodarte — Dakota Fanning stuns in black ruffles during Rodarte’s Fall Winter 2019 fashion show at The Huntington Library in the designer’s native Pasadena, California. Her dress was by the beloved brand, which is helmed by the Mulleavy sisters.

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Dakota Fanning At 2019 Cannes

Dakota Fanning At 2019 Cannes — Dakota Fanning at the screening of ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ during the 72nd Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2019. Her cream Armani Prive gown was cinched together with a gold sash.

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Dakota Fanning At The 2020 Golden Globes

Dakota Fanning At The 2020 Golden Globes — Dakota Fanning glows in purple during the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 5, 2020. She looked like a princess in the gauzy, puff-sleeved gown.

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Dakota Fanning At The Premiere Of ‘The First Lady’

Dakota Fanning At The Premiere Of ‘The First Lady’ — Dakota Fanning stuns in a black Rodarte slip dress during the premiere of her TV show ‘The First Lady’ on Apr. 14, 2022. She plays First Daughter Susan Ford in the show, which explores the three US Presidential administrations from the eyes of the presidential wives.

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