Elle Fanning has grown a lot since her days as a child star. Reflecting on her career, she told Marie Claire in October 2021, “I look at photos, and I looked the same when I was 11… I probably will be 35 and people will still go, ‘Awww!’” Despite her youthful image, Elle has experienced all the highs and lows of adolescence, including first love, which she describes as “intense” and “dramatic.”
Now, Elle has moved beyond her early roles, starring in and executive producing Hulu‘s The Great, where she plays the complex character of Catherine the Great. “She makes mistakes, she’s messy, and she’s not always right,” Elle said of her character in a 2022 interview with Harper’s Bazaar.
Together with her sister Dakota, Elle has also launched a production company, Lewellen Pictures, to create projects that tell their own stories.
Scroll through our gallery to see how Elle has transformed over the years!
#1. 2004
Elle Fanning made a memorable appearance in The Door in the Floor, showcasing her talent at a young age. This film marked one of her early roles, helping to establish her as a promising child actor in Hollywood.
#2. 2007
Elle Fanning continued her journey to stardom with a role in Reservation Road. In this film, she demonstrated her ability to handle more mature and complex material, further proving her versatility and depth as a young actress.
#3. 2009
Elle Fanning lent her voice to the character in the animated movie Astro Boy. Her role in this film allowed her to explore the world of voice acting, showcasing her talent in bringing animated characters to life with her expressive vocal performance.
#4. 2010
The Nutcracker in 3D and Somewhere both premiered, marking another milestone in Elle Fanning’s early acting career.
In The Nutcracker in 3D, she took on a magical journey through a reimagined version of the classic holiday tale, while in Somewhere, she portrayed the daughter of a Hollywood actor, showcasing her range and depth as a young actress.
#5. 2011
Elle Fanning appeared in Super 8 and We Bought a Zoo. In Super 8, she played a key role in the sci-fi thriller directed by J.J. Abrams, which followed a group of kids who witness mysterious events in their small town.
In We Bought a Zoo, she starred alongside Matt Damon in a heartwarming drama about a family that buys a struggling zoo and works to bring it back to life.
#6. 2012
Elle Fanning had a role in Ginger & Rosa, a film set in 1960s London that explores the lives of two teenage girls navigating their changing world and friendship amid personal and political upheaval.
#7. 2014
Elle Fanning made her debut as Princess Aurora in Maleficent, a reimagining of the classic Disney tale from the perspective of the iconic villain, Maleficent.
#8. 2015
Elle Fanning starred in Trumbo, a biographical film about blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, and in 3 Generations, a drama about a transgender teenager navigating his identity and family dynamics.
#9. 2016
Elle Fanning had a busy year with several film releases, including The Neon Demon, a psychological horror film by Nicolas Winding Refn, and Live by Night, a crime drama directed by Ben Affleck.
#10. 2017
Elle Fanning starred in The Vanishing of Sidney Hall, a drama about a mysterious disappearance; The Beguiled, a historical drama set during the Civil War; and Mary Shelley, a biographical film about the author of Frankenstein.
#11. 2019
Elle Fanning appeared in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, reprising her role as Princess Aurora in this sequel to the 2014 fantasy film.
#12. 2021
Her role in The Great was in full swing, where she portrayed Catherine the Great and also took on the role of executive producer for the series.
#13. 2022
The actress starred in the series The Girl from Plainville.
#14. 2023
Elle Fanning returned for the third season of The Great, continuing her acclaimed role as Catherine the Great.
In this season, she further explores the complexities of her character’s reign and personal struggles, delivering another powerful performance as the ambitious and enigmatic Russian empress.
#15. 2024
Elle Fanning is preparing for her upcoming role in A Complete Unknown, where she is set to showcase her versatility and talent in a new and exciting project. Fans are eagerly anticipating how she will bring this new character to life.
