Elle Fanning has opened up about her excitement to star alongside her sister Dakota in the upcoming adaptation of Kristin Hannah's novel 'The Nightingale'. The sisters, who are also co-producing the project, will portray siblings on screen for the first time. Fanning shared insights into balancing their professional and familial dynamics during filming.
Elle Fanning recently spoke with PEOPLE magazine about preparing for her role in 'The Nightingale', an adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s bestselling novel. In the film, set for release in the near future, Fanning and her sister Dakota will appear together on screen for the first time, playing sisters themselves. This collaboration marks a milestone, as the duo is also co-producing the project.
Reflecting on their on-set dynamic, Elle explained the need to maintain professionalism while drawing on their real-life bond. “I think we’re going to have to be fellow actors on set, but of course we are playing sisters in the film that we’re going to be working on together, so we have to bring a little bit of that,” she said.
Dakota Fanning has similarly addressed their decision to team up after years of independent careers. In a prior interview with Byrdie, she noted their past efforts to establish separate paths. “For a while, [Elle and I] were very conscious of carving our own paths and being really selective about the things that we did together,” Dakota said. “We don’t feel that pressure anymore. We’ve established that we’re two different people with two different journeys,” she added.
This project represents a shift for the Fannings, who have long navigated Hollywood as siblings while pursuing distinct trajectories. Elle, known for roles in films like 'Maleficent', and Dakota, featured in projects such as 'All Her Fault', now embrace this joint venture without the earlier reservations about overlapping professionally.