"Elle Fanning"

Summary of "Elle Fanning"

by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

1h 0m•March 30, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of Elle Fanning (SmartLess episode)

This SmartLess episode (hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett) features actress Elle Fanning in an informal, wide-ranging conversation. They cover her upbringing and early start in film, relationships with sister Dakota and their family dynamic, major career turning points and favorite roles, her move into producing (and interest in directing), current and upcoming projects, and a bit about life off-set (hobbies, partner, routines). The tone is relaxed, anecdotal, and frequently nostalgic.

Key topics discussed

  • Early life and family
    • Born near Atlanta (moved to LA at age 3); strong Southern roots.
    • Sister Dakota Fanning’s early career catalyzed Elle’s entrance into acting; often visited sets and sometimes filled in as young Dakota.
    • Homeschooled for several years (grandmother as teacher), later attended private school in LA.
  • Child-actor beginnings
    • Early credits included commercials, TV (Law & Order), and roles in films like Phoebe in Wonderland (lead role, Tourette’s portrayal), Criminal Minds guest arcs, I Am Sam (flashback/younger-role work).
    • Discussed how acting as a child influenced social skills, travel and life experiences.
  • Career highlights and artistic choices
    • Key projects mentioned: The Great (Catherine the Great), The Neon Demon (Nicolas Winding Refn), Super 8, Maleficent, Sentimental Value (recent award attention).
    • The Great was formative: long-running role across seasons, helped shape her voice and approach; Catherine remains one of her most-identifiable characters.
    • Pushed for challenging/edgy parts (e.g., Neon Demon) and values projects that aren’t “middle of the road.”
  • Producing, creative control and future ambitions
    • Co-runs production company (Llewellyn Pictures) with Dakota; has experience shepherding projects from pitch through post-production.
    • Currently producing and heavily involved in a project titled (in the conversation) “Margot’s Got Money Troubles” — a TV adaptation based on a book about a young mom who joins OnlyFans — with A24/Apple, and a high-profile cast (Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Greg Kinnear mentioned).
    • Producing The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah adaptation) with Dakota — they're set to play sisters in a WWII French Resistance story.
    • Expressed interest in directing one day and enjoys post-production/editing work, but doesn’t see directing as immediate next step.
  • Personal life, routines and hobbies
    • Partner (lives in New York) described as an “anchor”; they travel and carve out time away from work.
    • Enjoys painting/drawing, cooking, Pilates, reading, and reality shows (e.g., Traitors).
    • Likes structure and rituals; reflected on chores/discipline from childhood (folding towels, shoveling snow stories).
  • Reflections on acting and identity
    • Acting was cathartic and expansive rather than confusing; she’s a big daydreamer and found acting a healthy outlet for imagination.
    • Discussed typecasting and the desire to show different sides of herself (naivety vs. calculating roles like Catherine).
    • Values having a “seat at the table” as a producer and the legitimacy that comes with it.

Notable anecdotes & moments

  • Elle was born during a tornado warning; her older sister famously woke up and announced “it’s a baby sister” (family video anecdote).
  • Early on she often filled in as a younger version of Dakota in flashbacks and was handed to established actors on set (e.g., swinging on a swing in front of Sean Penn).
  • Phoebe in Wonderland (age 9) was her first lead role with a sensitive, researched portrayal (Tourette’s).
  • The Great spanned her early adult years (19–25) and had a direct influence on the character writing and her own development.
  • Behind-the-scenes enthusiasm for producing: she read the source book for her new series before publication and was hands-on in assembling the creative team.

Career & project highlights (from episode)

  • The Great — long-running, formative role as Catherine the Great.
  • The Neon Demon — a film she fought for; polarizing but creatively satisfying.
  • Phoebe in Wonderland — early lead role.
  • Sentimental Value — discussed with award attention in the episode.
  • Upcoming/announced projects:
    • Margot’s Got Money Troubles (A24/Apple adaptation) — ensemble cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Greg Kinnear; based on a novel (Elle as producer/star).
    • The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah adaptation) — Elle and Dakota to play sisters in WWII-era story.

Memorable quotes (paraphrased)

  • On producing: “I like the power. Being at the table, having legitimacy after growing up on sets since age two.”
  • On acting as a child: “It wasn’t confusing — it was cathartic. I live in my head a lot; acting is an outlet.”
  • On The Great: “She [Catherine] was messy and complicated — the most like me.”

Main takeaways

  • Elle Fanning’s career has evolved from child actor to multi-hyphenate: actor, producer, and future director-in-waiting.
  • Family (especially sister Dakota) played a central role in her entry into acting and continues to be a creative and personal anchor.
  • She values challenging, non-mainstream work, and has begun shaping projects from inception through post-production.
  • Personal life includes a grounded partner who provides balance; she actively seeks creative outlets (painting, cooking) but sometimes needs external structure to follow through.

Practical info for listeners

  • If interested in her recent work, look up Sentimental Value, The Great, The Neon Demon, and Maleficent.
  • Keep an eye out for:
    • The A24/Apple series (referred to in-episode as “Margot’s … Money Troubles”), based on a contemporary novel and dealing with modern themes.
    • The Nightingale adaptation featuring Elle and Dakota as sisters in a WWII story.
  • Elle’s production company: Llewellyn Pictures (co-run with Dakota Fanning).

Episode structure & sponsors (brief)

  • Conversation interwoven with multiple sponsor reads: LinkedIn, Hilton, Allstate, electric vehicle/EV info, Ashley Furniture, Saatchi Art, Claude.ai, Cliff Bar, BetterHelp, and others.
  • Tone of the episode: conversational, warm, frequently humorous and nostalgic.

If you want a one-line summary: Elle Fanning discusses growing up in a showbiz family, her evolution from child actor to producer, her most formative roles (The Great, Neon Demon), and upcoming projects with a grounded, reflective tone.