Dakota Fanning Biography

Dakota Fanning, Actress

Date of Birth: February 23, 1994

Birthplace: Conyers, Georgia

Sign: Pisces

Dakota Fanning was born on February 23, 1994 in Conyers, Georgia to Steve and Joy Fanning. Fanning first appeared on television at the age of 5, starring with Ray Charles in a television commercial for the state lottery. The actress moved on to a number of guest roles on shows like "ER," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Friends," and "The Practice."

Fanning's breakout performance came when she played opposite Sean Penn in "I Am Sam." For her role, Fanning became the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2002 Fanning also starred in "Trapped," "Sweet Home Alabama," and "Hansel and Gretel." The next year, the actress starred in "Uptown Girls" and "The Cat in the Hat." Fanning has also starred in "War of the Worlds," opposite Tom Cruise.

Most recently Fanning began filming "The Secret Life of Bees," adapted from the novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. Two of Fanning's other movies, "Winged Creatures" and "Coraline," will also be released sometime in the next year.

In 2005, while promoting the movie "Dreamer," Fanning became a member of the Girl Scouts of the USA. The actress is not a member of a troop but a Juliette, the name for a girl who is independently registered.