Dakota Fanning has dished on the “super inappropriate questions” she was asked as a rising star in Hollywood.
The “Perfect Couple” actress pointed out disturbing interactions she had as a child star growing up in Tinseltown during an interview with The Cut.
“In interviews at a young age, I remember journalists asking me, ‘How are you avoiding becoming a tabloid girl?’” Fanning shared.
The Emmy nominee admitted that she was always a “mature child” but was shocked when journalists would ask personal questions about her life.
“I was in an interview as a child and somebody asked, ‘How could you possibly have any friends?’ It’s like, huh?”
Fanning got her start at only five years old when she acted in small roles for shows like “ER” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
Her big break came in the early 2000s when she scored roles in movies including “I Am Sam” and “War of the Worlds” alongside Tom Cruise.
She scored a Critics Choice Award for acting in both of those films with the first win taking place at the young age of 7.
The 30-year-old hints that she dodged a bullet from the tabloids obsessed with younger stars in the industry.
Instead of being homeschooled like other stars, Fanning was enrolled at a high school and credits her family for protecting her from the dark side of Hollywood.
“I think also I was just a little too young for it to fully hit me. So that was good. People couldn’t get away with that kind of thing so much anymore. By the time I got to that age, it was sort of being recognized as probably not the best way to treat people,” the actress told the outlet.
Fanning also credited her mother, Hannah Joy Arrington, for being with her “every second” to make sure she was treated with respect and equal as a working actress, despite her age.
But despite being protected by loved ones, the “Twilight” alum felt a “vibe” of people wanting her to fail.
“For so much of my life, it felt like people were just waiting for me to make a massive mistake. Finally, I think, everybody sees that I’ve grown up, so I don’t have to worry about those things anymore,” she said, adding that it “makes you feel a little bit guarded. I’m just living my life over here.”
Still, the actress said she doesn’t look back at her early years with any regrets.
Fanning wasn’t the only kid in her family in the spotlight.
Her younger sister, Elle Fanning, started at an earlier age than her.
Elle appeared alongside Dakota in the 2001 film “I Am Sam” at age 3, and went on to act in movies and TV shows, including her most recent role as Catherine in the “The Great.”