The Sunny Side

SHE TAKES BOXING CLASSES WEARING PINK GLOVES, HAS A CRUSH ON JOHNNY CASH AND HER FAVOURITE KARAOKE SONG IS “SUMMER NIGHTS” FROM GREASE. ELLE FANNING IS A PICTURE-PERFECT DISNEY PRINCESS – AND A WHOLE LOT MORE BESIDES.

- Hannah James

YOU COULD FORGIVE ELLE FANNING FOR BEING A TOUCH BLASÉ. This is a woman who had acted in 10 movies, 11 TV shows, two shorts and lent her voice to a cartoon... all before she was 10. By age 12, The New York Times had printed a rapturous profile of her. Most years, she stars in two or three films – some years, even four. The highs and lows of Hollywood could easily have taken their toll on a young actor. But in reality, Fanning is a ray of sunshine.

“In this industry, you have to make things really special,” she says. “I always try to hold on to that – each moment is so amazing, and you never know if it’s going to be taken away from you. It’s important nothing feels like, ‘Done this, done that.’ That’s not a good way to be.” And she isn’t. “I love smiling, I love laughing – I’m a very animated, excited human. There’s this childlike essence to me that I don’t ever want to get rid of.”