Elle Fanning on Marilyn Monroe, Sofia Coppola, and Paris | Screen Tests | W Magazine

In this Screen Tests interview, Elle Fanning talks about her early idolization of Marilyn Monroe, attending a regular school with regular lockers and her latest role in Sofia Coppola's Somewhere. Lynn Hirschberg: Elle, since Somewhere, in which you played the only child of a male movie star, you have been very busy: costarring in Super 8, which was a hit this summer, and in We Bought a Zoo. You’re 13—how has your life changed since Somewhere? Elle Fanning: After Somewhere came out, people started to recognize me more. Whenever I was walking down the street, they’d be like, “Oh, wow—are you Elle Fanning?” Before Somewhere, they asked me if I was Dakota Fanning because we looked alike, and I’d say, “No, I’m her younger sister.” And they’d say, “Oh, okay.” But now I think they are starting to realize I’m my own person. Lynn Hirschberg: Your first part was playing Dakota as an infant in I Am Sam. In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, you played the young Cate Blanchett. Elle Fanning: I was 9 years old during Benjamin Button. I had to wear a long red wig because [Cate] had red hair in the movie. I remember that. I had a great time on set. The director did a lot of takes, and he would say, “Take 50,” and I would just go do it again. I was only 9, so I thought that was fun. Lynn Hirschberg: Super 8 looks like it was exciting to make—the kids were the stars of the movie. Elle Fanning: It was great! I was 12 when I did Super 8, and when Dakota was 12, she did War o