Elle Fanning

A screen actress since early childhood, Elle Fanning made her recording debut as a young adult for the 2018 musical film Teen Spirit. Proving she had a warm, engaging voice, Fanning performed several dance-pop tunes for the film's soundtrack, including an original song penned by Carly Rae Jepsen. Born Mary Elle Fanning in Conyers, Georgia, Fanning began her acting career as a toddler in the early 2000s, appearing in projects such as the film I Am Sam (2001) and the TV mini-series Taken (2002) as younger versions of her real-life older sister, actress Dakota Fanning. This led to eventual supporting roles in films such as the family film Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) and Alejandro González Iñárritu's Babel (2006). Co-produced by Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams, 2011's Super 8 featured Fanning in a prominent role that won her early critical praise. She followed it with parts including Ginger in Sally Potter's Ginger & Rosa (2012), Aurora in Disney's Maleficent (2014), and Julie in the ensemble indie film 20th Century Women (2016). After co-starring in Sofia Coppola's The Beguiled (2017), she appeared in the title role of the bio-pic Mary Shelley (2017). In 2018's Teen Spirit, Fanning portrayed Violet Valenski, a shy teenager who pursues her dreams of pop stardom by entering an international singing competition. She performed a half-dozen songs for the film's soundtrack, alongside acts including Grimes, No Doubt, and Major Lazer, among others. Included among Fanning's performances were a cover of Robyn's "Dancing on My Own" and the original song "Wildflowers," which was written by Carly Rae Jepsen and produced by Jack Antonoff.
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