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She was just 18 months old when she first stood in front of a movie camera. Elle Fanning (Georgia, USA, 1998) did it hand in hand with her older sister, Dakota. The Fannings played the same character at different ages: Lucy, Sean Penn's daughter in I Am Sam (2001). Later, Elle has combined independent projects (Phoebe in Wonderland or Somewhere, where she met Sofia Coppola) with big box office hits (from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to Super 8, through Maleficent, her latest release on the Spanish billboard). In December 2011, W magazine portrayed the sisters together for the first time for a cover, which was titled The Golden Girls; Bill Gayten was inspired by them for John Galliano's resort collection in 2013 and Louis Vuitton reserves adjoining seats for them in his Paris shows. In her teens, little Fanning seems to have conquered Hollywood.

Unlike other actresses, like Emma Roberts, Mamie Gummer or Eva Amurri, Elle and Dakota Fanning don't come from any legendary industry family. When they arrived in the year 2000 they didn't have a single contact. The acting talent of the eldest encouraged the family to move from their native Conyers (in the State of Georgia) to Hollywood in search of an opportunity. or two. Elle, who started working behind her sister, today leads the list of the 30 best actors under 30 that the Los Angeles Times draws up. This newspaper uses as a reason to include her great performance in Maleficent opposite Angelina Jolie. He shares honors with Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Olsen, Robert Pattinson, Ellen Page and Emma Watson. No sign of Dakota in the enumeration.

The actress arrives on time and smiling for the appointment at the Four Seasons hotel in Los Angeles. He wears black: a Nina Ricci t-shirt and Balenciaga pants. But what really stands out is the back of his hand, where Bob Dylan's name is written.

And that pen note? This? Hobbies! But it goes away [he tries to erase it by sucking his thumb]. I usually write his name every time I'm bored at school. I've been doing it for years.

Why Bob Dylan? He is one of my favourites! Cameron Crowe [who directed her in A Dreaming Place, released in 2011] likes to play music while filming. Pick a singer for each character and mine was Bob Dylan. Although I already knew him before, because I'm from the old school, but thanks to Cameron I became an expert.

Is that the only thing in your music player? No way. I love Lady Gaga. From her music to her dresses. Is incredible. My friends and I spend the day dancing to their songs at parties and birthdays. I also don't miss Rihanna and Beyoncé concerts. They look great to me. My sister, who knew how much I liked her, introduced her to me when I was 13 years old. I was left with my mouth open, like an idiot. Although, to be honest, if you look at my iPod you'll see that my favorite song is Tangled Up in Blue. That and all of Dylan's. They were uploaded to me by my father, who is also from the old school.

With such a passion for music and dance, how did you end up making movies? My sister Dakota and I spent our lives dressing up and putting on numbers that we performed at our home in Georgia. My mother was the one who noticed and listened to those who recommended that she take us to New York or Los Angeles. So here we came.

So, it all started very early. Dakota and my mother led the way, while my father and I stayed in Georgia. When they decided that we would definitely move to the city is when I started, when I was 18 months old. At first, it was just what any baby would do, but I've grown. In any case, I always knew that it was something fun that I would like for life… even now that I am older, it still seems so to me. It's fascinating to put yourself in the shoes of someone you know you're not. It's still a great game.

Elle Fanning: “Cinema is a extracurricular work”

Others call it industry. For me it will always be a game. I think for everyone. A game that I would like to continue playing for the rest of my life.

And technical training? I have never studied acting academically. I express myself how I feel, naturally. My only technique is that I like to prepare my papers while I'm in the bathtub.

Is there jealousy between sisters? Yes. Well, no. I admire her a lot. She is the actress I admire the most. Her transition into more adult roles has been so smooth that I only hope mine is the same. But ours is a normal relationship. With fights included, especially when I put on his clothes. Does not like anything. But I love her a lot.

There was a time when both of you could have the same character in a movie. Her debut in I Am Sam was playing a young Dakota. Now that the age difference is not so noticeable, do they compete for the same roles? It seems to me, too, that we've gotten closer over the years! Now, more than my older sister, she is a friend with whom I can do many things. Well, when he comes back from college in New York. We try to visit each other on our shoots, but we don't talk about scripts or movies.

What other stars inspire you in the profession? Besides Dakota? I love Jodie Foster and Meryl Streep, because I love The Devil Wears Prada. I have to work with her one day and tell her! Also Judy Garland, I love her black and white movies. But of all, Marilyn Monroe is the greatest. I have the room lined with his posters.

Why Marilyn? Because she exuded naturalness. She was so pretty, so… her. There is no bad photo of Marilyn. The first film of his that I saw was Temptation lives upstairs and I loved it. When I was seven years old, I dressed up as her on Halloween. I always say that if Dakota is Meryl Streep, as they say, I am Marilyn.

And yet her career turns more towards dramatic roles, like in Ginger and Rosa (2012) or now Low Down. Don't they change your mood? Not at all, because I know it's a game. It's not me and it doesn't affect me personally. I know they are characters, when I act I change the chip. But as soon as they say “cut!” I'm back in Elle mode, with all that that entails. The same thing happens to me with filming. It is as if time stopped and someone else was there. I feel different. Then when I come home, I feel taller, more mature, like I've grown from this new experience.

Which movies do you prefer as a viewer? E.T. I love it, it's wonderful, and what is cried! But I guess my favorite is The Devil Wears Prada.

No romantic comedy? Definitely Titanic. But for the love story of my parents, who met at the age of seven and are still together. That is true love.

The Fanning family lives in Los Angeles. At home, manners, education and even religion are important. Before arriving from Georgia, the father, Steven Fanning, was a baseball player. His wife Heather had played tennis until she went to college and had the girls. Dakota has moved to New York to study, but Elle continues to live with them. In his room, a wardrobe with sliding doors keeps his uniform on one side and the rest of his clothes on the other. The great treasure of the room (dresses by Prada and Gucci through) is a chest full of dolls. From Madame Alexander models to Barbies. The walls are heavily decorated with posters of Marilyn Monroe and Bob Dylan. In the cork, he hangs his latest fashion discoveries, another of his passions besides cinema. The young actress attends Campbell Hall private school, located in the city's valley.