How close are Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning?

That was certainly the case between acting sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, who grew up in Studio City, California.

One perfect example of this rivalry was when younger sister Elle was rejected for the role of a character named Mackenzie on Friends. Dakota later got the part and Elle was so furious that she refused to watch the episode.

Almost a decade later, the Maleficent actress can no longer be justified in being jealous of her older sister, given that both have become bona fide superstars in Hollywood. So what is the status of their personal relationships today?

Dakota And Elle Fanning Were Raised By A Supportive Family.

Given their elite chops in the industry, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the acting genes that run in the Fanning family. As it turns out, Dakota and Elle actually come from a line of athletes.

Their mother, Heather Joy Arrington, was a college tennis player, while their father, Steven J. Fanning, was a minor league baseball professional. Heather’s own father played American football.

As many parents often do, Steven J. Fanning and Heather Joy Arrington had a desire for their daughters to become athletes like them. In a podcast two years ago, Dakota and Elle Fanning revealed that their parents didn’t want them to become actors.

Dakota Became Successful Before Elle.

Dakota Fanning is just over four years older than Elle and has also led the way to success. Although both began acting at a young age, the younger sister’s breakthrough role was probably in JJ Abrams’ sci-fi thriller Super 8.

At the time, Dakota was already very well established from her early roles, which received far more recognition than Elle.

As a result, Elle Fanning often felt in the shadow of her sister, she was not always very supportive. She revealed this in an exclusive feature called Supernova that Porter magazine did about her earlier this year.

“I wasn’t recognized, but I was part of the madness. I would say, ‘Dakota! Dakota!’ to try to make it happen,” Elle said. “I was the worst”.