Dakota Fanning Shares Throwback Photo of Herself at 2001 Premiere: 'Always Thinking of This Tiny Girl'

Mar. 15, 2025

Dakota Fanning attends the 2001 premiere of ‘I Am Sam.'.Photo:Bei/Shutterstock

Dakota Fanning

Bei/Shutterstock

Dakota Fanninghas some kind words for her younger self.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, thePerfect Couplestar, 30, shared asweet throwback photoof herself from when she was a 7-year-old child actor, attending the premiere of her first feature film, the2001 dramaI Am Sam,in which she starred alongsideSean PennandMichelle Pfeiffer.

“i am sam premiere 2001. always thinking of this tiny girl, and keeping her close,” Fanning wrote in the caption of her Instagram post, alongside a photo of her younger self wearing a yellow dress with a bow at the waist, white tights and black Mary Jane shoes.

Dakota Fanning at the 2001 premiere of ‘I Am Sam’.Bei/Shutterstock

Dakota Fanning

Fanning has previously been candid about her experience being a Hollywood star at such a young age. Back in June, sheopened up to PEOPLEabout what her advice for child actors might be.

“As long as you love it, you’re in the right place,” she said at the premiere ofThe Watchers, her thrillerset in the forests of Ireland. “Sometimes you’re working in a cold, wet forest, and if you can still have fun there, then you’re on the right track.”

Also in June, the actress spoke to PEOPLE about one of thestrangest fan encountersshe had as a child — and revealed how her mom,Hannah Joy Arrington, stepped in to help her avoid an uncomfortable situation.

“When I was young, somebody asked me to sign their chest or stomach,” she recalled. “My mom was like, ‘Oh, how about just a piece of paper?’ "

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Fanning’s time as a young star also came with some nice perks. In April, she toldEllethat the “best wrap gift” she had ever received was from one of her most famous costars,Kurt Russell.

“Kurt Russell gave me a horse,” she said with a laugh, before opening up about the making of their 2005 movieDreamer,about a father-daughter duo who bond over helping an injured race horse.

Dakota Fanning in February 2024.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Dakota Fanning attends the Marc Jacobs Runway 2024 Show

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

“We made a movie about horses. Kurt is one of the loveliest, most amazing people,” she continued. “You go through an experience together, and I loved working with him so much, and we made a movie about horses, and he gave me a horse.”

She added at the time that working with other major stars — includingTom Cruise,Denzel WashingtonandRobert De Niro— was never intimidating for her as a kid.

“Because I grew up familiar with being around people who would be considered ‘intimidating’ kind of, I think it might’ve numbed that side of me a little,” Fanning told PEOPLE. “When you’re 8 years old you’re sort of just getting to know a person as a person and not thinking about all of the other stuff, you know?”

source: people.com