Often with interviews, I’m so hyper focused on one particular movie or show that it can be easy to overlook how much variety someone has in their filmography, likeDakota Fanning. Since jump starting her career at just seven-years-old withI Am Sam, Fanning’s amassed an impressive amount of credits ranging from big budget fare likeWar of the Worldsto hot franchises like theTwilightfilms, and also some independent gems likeKelly Reichardt’sNight Moves. But even after spending nearly two decades accumulating credits non-stop, there was one thing Fanning had yet to do until recently - star in a live-action TV show.
Fanning stars oppositeLuke EvansandDaniel Brühlin TNT’sThe Alienistas Sara Howard, a young woman who’d rather work for the NYPD in the 1890s than submit to societal exceptions to forego a career and find a husband. InThe Alienist, we do see Sara go toe-to-toe with her male counterparts often, but inAngel of Darkness, Sara is embracing her potential to the fullest by setting up the Howard Detective Agency and working as a private detective.
On an episode of Collider Connected tied to the big debut ofThe Alienist: Angel of Darkness, Fanning took the time to revisit the beginning of her career and reflect on how all of the steps she took over the years led her to the show. With so much variety in her filmography, during the conversation I had to ask what project she’s approach about most. Here’s the first thing that came to mind:
“I get a lot ofMan on Fire. A lot ofMan on Fire. A lot of people are fans of that. I don’t know if I’ve ever met someone who’s not a fan of Denzel Washington in movies, you know? [Laughs] As an actor, he’s kind of one of the greatest there will ever be.”
Fanning also notedWar of the Worlds’ popularity and the big fandom behind theTwilightfranchise, but she also highlighted the wide-ranging viewershipThe Alienistamassed:
“Being on a television show withThe Alienist, I was astounded. When the show was airing, I was living in New York and all the different types of people from all walks of life who were watching the show was so exciting. It was thrilling! The super of my building to my waxer were watching the show! [Laughs] This is wild! But this is great. This is what movies and TV are supposed to be about, bringing everybody together.”
If you’d like to hear even more from Fanning on her experience growing up in the industry, fulfilling her dream of working withQuentin Tarantino, her directing ambitions and so much more, you can catch her full episode of Collider Connected at the top of this article!
The Alienist: Angel of Darknessdebuts tonight on TNT at 9pm ET.
