THIS WEEK, 15 YEAR-OLD DAKOTA FANNING joins the vampires and werewolves populating the Twilight franchise. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON opens this Friday, Nov. 20. (She is already working on another installment which opens next year, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE.)
Four years ago, on Oct. 12, 2005, it was 11 year-old Dakota who was in Kansas City as part of a cross country trek promoting her newest movie, Dreamer. During the hour-long interview, she told me (and a handful of other film critics) about working with Kurt Russell on Dreamer, as well as her just completed film, The War of the Worlds. And did she talk–and gush–about acting with Tom Cruise!
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Pictured is yours truly with Dakota, following the interview, in a photo taken by Dakota’s mother. After the other critics had left the suite and headed home, I was still with Dakota (and her mom), since she was signing autographs for me. She then walked over to a nearby piano, and played a tune, expertly so. Later I bragged to the other critics that had they stayed around, they would have been treated to a private piano concert by Dakota Fanning. As it turned out, I was the only one so honored. She was–and probably still is–a very sweet, well spoken (great diction), and intelligent young lady. [from Steve Crum’s showbiz memorabilia collection]
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