Dakota Fanning on her career, style and nightly beauty ritual

When Dakota Fanning first showed up on the Hollywood scene 20-something years ago, beauty wasn’t on her mind. The former child star — who made her film debut on the set of “I Am Sam” as the clever daughter of Sam (played by Sean Penn) — wasn’t yet acquainted with the painstakingly long makeup sessions that come with the territory of being a female actor. But it was there that Fanning was first introduced to Clé de Peau, the Japanese beauty brand she now fronts alongside actors Ella Balinska and Diana Silvers.

“I discovered the brand a long time ago. I was six years old, so I wasn’t wearing a full face of makeup on set — thankfully!” she tells us via Zoom. “But for those years where I wasn’t really wearing a lot of makeup because I was younger, or the part didn’t require it, the makeup artist would always have Clé de Peau Beauté concealer for a dark circle or a blemish.” Since then, the 27-year old star has always considered the multi-tasking stick a staple in her beauty routine.

But Fanning is more than a fan of the luxury brand’s skin-first products. The Japanese beauty house, which is now celebrating its 40th anniversary, has been advocating for young girls’ education since 2019 with the launch of a STEM-focused program intended to spark excitement for learning in young girls. “I’m excited that Clé de Peau is focusing on fostering that love in young girls before it gets potentially taken away from them, or their interest goes somewhere else because of a comment that someone said,” she says. “We’re all here now, but the world gets left to the generations that come behind us, so it’s important to give them tools and education.”

Here, Fanning talks about her latest projects (including reuniting with her “I Am Sam” co-star Michelle Pfeiffer), her new-found love for uniform dressing and the nightly ritual she swears by.

You’re playing Marge Sherwood in “Ripley” alongside Andrew Scott. Is there anything you can tease about the show?

Eek! I don’t know, I haven’t even broached it. I haven’t even asked “What can I say?” We’re still in the middle (of production). But I’m super excited to be part of it. I’m loving the actors and the director, and it’s been a great experience so far.

You’re also playing Susan Ford in “The First Lady.” What’s it like being part of a show that spotlights female historical figures?

It’s great! It’s so wonderful to get to make a show where the first lady is the protagonist and the president is her sidekick. It’s not how you see it most of the time. It was really an amazing experience and it was really exciting to be a small part of it. I loved getting to work with Michelle Pfeiffer again. I worked with her on my first movie (“I Am Sam”), literally 20 years to the day of working with her on “The First Lady.” Susanne Bier directed it and I can’t say better things about her. We’ve become great friends. I’m very excited to see it.

You’ve worked from a very young age, with some of the biggest names in the business. Looking back on your childhood, what’s an on-set memory that stands out to you?

Wow, there’s so many. I really have been fortunate. I was working on the set of “War of the Worlds” on my 11th birthday, and that was one of my most memorable birthdays. I mean, it felt like a birthday every day, getting to make a movie with Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise on the same set, doing a pretty iconic story. That was already enough. But then my birthday was so special and so fun. Cold Stone Creamery had just come out, you know, like where they mix the ice cream on the marble slab? It was just starting to become a popular thing. It came to the set and everyone got ice cream. It was so fun! It’s something I’ll never forget.

Last year, you and your sister started your own production company, Lewellen Pictures. What’s the best part about working with Elle?

The best part is that we know each other like the back of our hands. Just being sisters, we know what we’re going to think, say or feel before it happens. We’re very different in a lot of ways but similar in our core values. We’re excited to make our own things under the umbrella of our production company and work on projects together. There’s no one more that I would want to set off on a creative endeavour with than my sister and we’re loving it.

Who are some women you admire and what do you admire about them?

I admire Frances McDormand a lot. I worked with her a few years back. She was the producer of a film that I did (“Every Secret Thing”) and so I got to know her a bit in that capacity. I think she’s an amazing actor and I’m very inspired by her.

Style-wise, I’ve always loved Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn and those very classic icons. I try to have fewer looks that I look back on and I’m like, “Ah! That’s so … of that time period.” You want to kind of be like, “I could be in any time period in what I’m wearing.” So I definitely look up to them.”

What sort of things do you tend to gravitate to in your own style?

As I’m getting older, I kind of want to become one of those people that just has 12 of the same shirts in a few different colours and the same trousers. I’m starting to curate more of a uniform: I like really simple, classic things that always look good for any occasion. I’m very into button-downs and trousers; a little menswear androgynous vibe is what I’m doing these days.

What’s your number one beauty secret?

I take a bath every night. It doesn’t have to be long or luxurious, but it’s just one thing that I do that helps me feel good. One consistent thing every night. I think finding consistency, it can be something super small, just finding something that you do every day no matter what provides me with a lot of peace. There’s so many things we can’t control. So finding one thing that makes you feel good that you do every day is so important.

Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 25, $95, cledepeaubeaute.ca SHOP HERE

When you make a purchase through the links in this article, we may earn a small commission. Our journalism is independent and not influenced by advertising. Learn more

Melissa Perdigao is an associate editor at The Kit, writing about beauty and lifestyle. Follow her on Instagram: @itsmelissaliliana