Dakota Fanning, Vol. II

22:35Dakota Fanning:And definitely Jake did not care for the sun never setting. I'm sure he was quiet about it. Yeah, he was super quiet about it. No one really knew. But I loved it. But I was like, I just thought it was so neat. And Alaska was a place I never knew if I would get to. And I didn't really know exactly what it was like. And yeah, like you said, you step off the plane. And how beautiful it is, is next level. I mean, you see mountains and green and snow and clear water and whales and moose. I never saw a bear, I did want to, but I didn't see a bear. And yeah, we were filming in Anchorage, but we also kind of went to other places too.

23:27Dakota Fanning:We filmed in this place, Whittier, that sort of opens the movie filming in Whittier, which is a town that you get to through this tunnel that you can only go through the tunnel at certain times, and then once you're through the tunnel in Whittier, you can only get out of Whittier at a certain time when the tunnel allows. So yeah, it was just like, it was really amazing to film in Alaska. And I think what was also really fun was the people there were so willing to help and be a part of it and were so generous and really excited that we were there. And so that made it really special too. Spoils you a little bit.

24:10Dakota Fanning:Really, we were really spoiled. They're like, you can film here all night. We're like, no, no, no, it's okay. We don't need to, you know what I mean? You're used to like LA or New York where it's like, you have 30 minutes. You have to leave right now. And like, they were just like so willing and helpful. And it was, it was really nice. Yeah. Okay. So we do have the luxury of time. I promise we're not going to do every single, you have too many credits to talk through and we have a long way to go back. We talked a little bit already about I Am Sam. I Am Sam. Yeah. Which, I mean, how fortuitous is it that that kind of experience with Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer is the first film experience?

24:42Dakota Fanning:Pretty amazing. Yeah. Like by then, I guess this applies to a lot of the early experiences. Like, you know, you're six, seven, eight, nine. You're working with these insane actors. Like, did you have a lot of awareness of who these people were at the time? Like, did your parents like say, by the way, the Sean Penn guys of Ray McGill? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I hadn't seen the full extent of Sean's work at six. A lot of it's not. Not a lot of Pixar on there. Not a lot. But I did know. It's like casualties of war. Yeah, exactly. I did know that he was a super respected, serious, like, you know, movie star.

25:23Dakota Fanning:And same with Michelle, you know, same with Michelle. And so that sort of started me off. And then, yeah, then you would kind of watch. Like, I remember when I was young, I loved the movie One Fine Day. Oh, yeah. With Michelle. Like, I just, you know, so then you start seeing things and you're like, oh, my God. And then now you fully realize who Michelle was. And just like, oh, my God, being in that first movie with those two people is kind of amazing. Are the early memories conflated with the actual films? Because my memories of being a kid get a little fuzzy sometimes. I think that because the experiences were so specific, it's solidified my memories so much.

26:05Dakota Fanning:And it's all – it's like it is in chapters. Like I know on I Am Sam, I was six and I turned seven. And then I know the next thing that I did. And then I know like that by the next birthday, I was then going to do Man on Fire. You know, like different. It's like sort of in these chunks. It's like equivalent to like a summer camp for me. Like I went to and then I met this kid at this camp. Yes. And you know that that would have been before that other experience. So it's kind of like broken down in that way in my mind. But yeah, people will say to me like, I mean, do you even remember working with Denzel Washington?

26:37Dakota Fanning:I'm like, uh-huh, yeah, I do, of course. Like, what are you talking about? You don't forget that. Where do you rank, again, in your pantheon of performances really buckling down and delivering that amazing acceptance speech while being clutched by Orlando Bloom in 2002? Honestly, that may be my peak achievement. Here's the photo. This is what you suffer for being around for all these years. At least you're not going to make me watch it. No, I'm not. Which people make me watch it all the time. Because it happened. I was just with my sister's boyfriend's family this past weekend. It's their favorite thing.

27:17Dakota Fanning:Someone came over, a friend. They were like, have you seen it? You have to see it. They start playing it. I'm literally running down the hall of the house to get away from this video. I'm like hiding in the room. I come out. Still not over. Still talking. Orlando Bloom's shaking like a leaf. Trying to hold me up. I had so many agents. I had Bob Shea from New Line. I mean, I was like, I was, I thank God and my agents. God, then my agents. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. And by the way, remember it like it was yesterday. Remember it like it was yesterday. Was like, I have a lot of people to thank. And then at the end, my mom, dad, and my little sister, Elle.

27:58Dakota Fanning:I mean, it's so funny. And I love it. I don't not like it, but like listening to it sometimes, I'm like, oh my God. Oh my God, it's still going. When you get your inevitable Emmy, you should just do the exact same speech and ask Orlando to come up. And when I when when I've run into Orlando over the years, I've seen him a few times actually recently. And we always talk about it. And he's like, all right, come on, let's do it. And I'm like, the Critics Choice Warriors is they're missing an amazing bit. I'm a part of that group. I'm going to. OK, you need to put this up. They're missing an amazing bit.

28:32Dakota Fanning:It would break the Internet. Okay, let's make this happen. Come on. Do you remember being at the MTV Movie Awards and receiving... That was a major year. Yes. That was the Gosling Notebook Kiss year. Yes, yes, yes. Yes, I do remember. I was there... Was I just there once or was I just there... I was there with Tom. Okay. I was there with Tom. I'm thinking about... You won for, I think, Best Frightened Performance. Best Frightened Performance. That would have been that year. That was the first year. Yes, but you came for War of the Worlds as well, you're saying. I did, yeah. I think maybe we presented or we won something.

29:05Dakota Fanning:I do remember it though. It was like Lindsay Lohan, Hillary Duff, Paris Hilton. I was like, my mind is exploding. Everyone's here. I was just like, it was peak. Peak all of that. Never forget it. Speaking of Tom, there's a recent photo I want to talk about. Can we look at this photo? So a little reunion. You, Tom, Colin crashing the party. Yes, yes. It was so fun. And you got to be near Steven Spielberg's disembodied head. Yes, yes, he was a popcorn holder of Steven's head. Yeah, it was a screening that Tom hosted for Disclosure Day at Steven's Theater, Universal. Right. And I was invited and I was like, oh, dying to see Disclosure Day.

29:48Dakota Fanning:And then getting to see Tom. My mom came with me because she was there when we were doing War of the Worlds. She hadn't seen Tom in a long time. And Tom, my mom and I, we jumped up and down. We were so excited to see each other. It was amazing. And then we got this picture and Colin, who I didn't really know, but El's worked with on the Beguiled. All right. Nicest man on the planet, on planet Earth. Like an angel on Earth. Like nicest man on the planet. I know. And he was with his son who was the nicest kid I've ever met. I was like struck by how nice he was. It was just like. I know. Unbelievable.

30:22Dakota Fanning:I know. I was like, oh, I need to remember that and like try and be that way for somebody else. I mean, literally, I was like, my mom and I were like, the nicest man we've ever met. It was crazy. I want you to know, on the other end of that, I got a chance to do a Q &A with Spielberg here in New York when he saw this photo. I was literally with him when he was looking at this photo. Really? What did he say? He was very touched by the whole thing. Oh, good. Very sweet. Good, good, good, good. Yeah, it's so sweet. So are you still on, so obviously you work with Tom, War of the Worlds. Famously, he would send you shoes every year.

30:53Still happening.

30:54Dakota Fanning:How many, what? I don't know. We talk about it. We talked about it then. He was like, I'm going to keep doing this. He was like, I love this tradition. I love the check-in that we have once a year about it. He was like, it's going to keep happening. And I was like, I'll take him. Every kind of shoe at this point? Like, do you have? Yeah, new, you know, whatever the new vibe is. Do we think that he's doing the research himself? Does he have a whole team? According to Tom, he is involved. So he's involved. So I don't know. I don't know. I don't know the specifics. I don't ask. It's the same thing like the cruise cake list.

31:34You don't want to know the particulars. You don't know, like you imagine he's delivering them himself. Yeah, right.

31:41Dakota Fanning:Everyone's like, do you get the Tom Cruise cake? I'm like, you're OG. I'm OG. Come on. I get the cake, plus a little something extra. Yeah. A couple months later, my birthday's in February. I've heard other things Guillermo's told me he gets like a gingerbread house there are different tiers oh fun oh fun there's all these secret lists well I'm happy with the cake I'm happy I'm happy with the cake I'm happy with the cake well you reunited with Denzel professionally yes it would be nice to reunite with both Stephen and Tom oh my god at some point it absolutely would it would absolutely but it's also you don't even know if you're gonna get to work with Stephen or Tom no once I mean you know so having the experience of both of them together like Like that, I'll carry it for a lifetime, but it would be amazing.

32:26More Happy Say Confused coming up.

32:33Dakota Fanning:Hey, Chicago. Class it up with Crocs. You know back to school is coming in fast. So why wait to find your new fave footwear? Step into a local Crocs store and step into your new look. Try it. Style it. Make it yours. because the right pair doesn't just show up, it shows off. First day fits, handled. Walk out ready for whatever's next. Visit your nearest Croc store today. Get business done with the new American Express Graphite Business Cash Unlimited card with unlimited 2 % cash back on all eligible purchases, unlimited 5 % cash back on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel Online, and a flexible spending capacity that can grow with your business.

33:18You'll have the confidence to keep building. Apply today and earn a welcome offer of$1 ,500 cash back after you spend$50 ,000 in qualifying purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership. Terms apply. Learn more at go.amex.com.

33:35Especially the early stuff, like you were like the kid getting like every major role, it felt like at that time. Like, were you experiencing rejection? Like, when I talked to a lot of like former, you know, actors that were acting really young, it was a lot of like auditions and dealing with rejections. Did you have to deal with that too? Or was it?

33:52Dakota Fanning:Yeah, for sure. I mean, there was when I first when I first came to L.A. and, you know, maybe doing some commercials and whatever. And you're going to these auditions for commercials or like little parts on a TV show or something. I mean, there are plenty of things that I wouldn't get all the time. And I would say, I think that why I've been able to maybe sustain and like handle the rejection or the disappointment that inevitably comes, you know. I would say to my mom, if I knew I didn't get something or whatever, I'd be like, oh, you know, they must have wanted somebody with brown hair. Like, you know.

34:34Something out of your control. Something out of my control.

34:35Dakota Fanning:Like I was like born with that thing of like just not absorbing it too much. And then of course, listen, there's been times over the course of the whole deal where you're disappointed or, you know, you feel like, oh, I really wanted to do that. That happens. But I've always been really good about like there must be something else around the corner. There must be a reason. Right. You know, there must be a reason. And even if it's not obvious right in that moment, things become obvious later. And you're like, man, if I hadn't done that, I wouldn't have done that and whatever. So I've always been pretty I've always been pretty able for whatever reason to not absorb it into how I feel about myself.

35:28Dakota Fanning:And I'm grateful for that. It can be tough though because like especially when you're doing the callbacks and stuff and it's like you start to imagine a future, right? Like you kind of go down the road like on the franchise side and sometimes we're like this is the next five, ten years of my life. Totally. And then it's like, nope. So was there, again, not to catch up bad memories, but was there anything that you came down the line for that was like, oh, this feels like meant for me and then it just it wasn't for whatever reason. Yep.

36:01Dakota Fanning:I could think of one it's okay time has passed Dakota get it out therapy no no I can't say this one I cannot say this one wow but yes and by the way it's fine it's okay it's fine it's okay yes it really is it really is it really is but there's an element of being an actor and like it's a little bit of like it's inherent that like you're going to get a little heartbroken. You know, like it's kind of it's kind of a part of it. But I also because of certain things that have happened, like a couple disappointments, like I do not rely on anything that I'm doing until I am there. Like I'm like, well, I think I'm going to be working on this.

36:54Dakota Fanning:my language around it is very specific because it's just healthier for me well even you and l i mean the nightingale like oh well i mean yeah long journey yeah long journey yeah to to make that happen for sure and asked about it all the time that's the other thing then people find out about something then you're asked about it all the time and you're like i don't know like you know i don't know if it's gonna happen i don't know i'm not sure if it's gonna happen but then And it's exciting because then it's like, oh, wow, people really do want this to happen, you know. But yeah, making The Nightingale, we finished that earlier this year.

37:31So, so much anticipation. Not you, for us. We all have anticipation. For you guys. For us. Like, you must have built it up so much. Like, what was the first day like? Did it feel like nerves? Like, in a weird way? Like, obviously, you couldn't be closer and this is meant to be. But put me in your head that first couple days. Yeah.

37:52Dakota Fanning:I think Ellen and I were nervous. Like we didn't want to admit how nervous about it we were because it was like the little intrusive thought of like, is this going to be okay? Like, are we going to be able to do this? Or is it going to be weird? Are we going to be laughing? Like, what is it going to be like? But I don't think we wanted to talk about it too much because it was sort of that thing of like, well, I think it'll be fine.

38:16and we really wanted to start scheduling wise things were really complicated but it was really

38:24Dakota Fanning:important to us that we started together started the movie together doing scenes together to just like see yes right away and the first day couldn't have been more normal couldn't have been like that part of it couldn't have been easier. And I was like, oh, it's because we spent our whole childhoods playing together and making up these scenarios. And like, that's how we learned how to act was like with each other in our playroom, making up the craziest stuff. I was going to say, whatever you're doing in the Nightingale can't compare to. It doesn't compare to me giving birth to Elle. Yeah, exactly.

39:08Dakota Fanning:No, it doesn't. Like every time she tells that, I'm like, you have got to stop telling people about that. It sounds so weird, but like it wasn't. We just had we had this. I'm not going to go into too much detail, but literally it like we we that's how that was our favorite thing to do. So it was just that on a bigger scale. So no, you didn't have to like set any kind of ground rules of like, yes, we're sisters, but we're we're actors together. in the way that we were gonna kind of carry ourselves? It's just kind of like, you found like the way organically. We would joke, I mean we would joke about like, oh, Dakota can't boss me, or you know, Elle would joke like Dakota can't boss me around, and like, you know, blah, blah, blah.

39:51Dakota Fanning:And it was like a bit that we were doing, and like of course I wasn't gonna do that, you know. But then there were times where I was like, you're talking too loud. Like, you need to be quiet. And that was a bit, or that was real? No, that was real. i'm just using it i'm just like saying but there were there were some times where i was like oh i need to keep my mouth shut are you really going to deliver the line like that is that that's yeah no there was nothing there was nothing performance like there was nothing performance wise i think that boundary was like very clear and there was nothing that i had to say she was incredible um but yeah there were a couple of times where i definitely was like Shh.

40:34Shh. Big sister, can't stop.

40:37Dakota Fanning:Can't stop, can't be stopped. I mean, when I spoke to her on one of the recent podcasts, like she was saying, again, so much was built up about you guys finally working together. And then she was saying like, you guys are like, maybe we should just do a bunch of these. Like, you know, like, and I don't know how serious. Yes, serious. Oh yeah, we're serious. Now the band-aid's been ripped. Band-aid's ripped. It's like, why would we not like. Play every permutation of sister. Yeah, exactly. Like keep collaborating at like every age and every experience. Greg Barden's here you come. Yeah, exactly.

41:07Dakota Fanning:Like it's, we, I think, I think for so long it was like this sacred thing and it is a sacred thing. And like the first experience will always be the one that we just had. It will always be the Nightingale. And like that was so important. But now, now that we've done it, we're like, let's do another one. Like totally, you know? Do you have one in, she mentioned something that she wanted Tony McNamara to write. Is that something that ever got off the ground? No, but I still like that's still that's still percolating. There's another one that's still percolate. Like there's there's a couple. But I'm like, it's endless.

41:38Like, because it would.

41:39Dakota Fanning:I also. We need to play sisters that hate each other and have a terrible relationship. Like, that would be amazing. Like, because, again, you're too excited about this. You're a little bit. Because whether people believe us or not, I said people because we're working so much together and producing so much together, people really ask, like, Like, do you guys really get along that well? And you feel like you're lying. Elle and I could not be closer. I mean, like, our relationship could not be better, truly. So I'm like, let's do the opposite. Like, jealous, like, you know, totally, like, jealous, mean sisters.

42:20Dakota Fanning:That would be so fun. We're ready. Yeah. How many times have you talked or texted her today? Oh, all morning long. All morning long. I was asking her what I needed to wear. I was sending her pictures. I was like, should I wear this or that or that? Yeah, I mean, we are so close. Saw her last night. Okay, let me run a few other random credits for the filmography. Yeah. We'll talk Twilight. I think I probably maybe even met you on the Twilight movies. Oh, for sure. For sure. Was that a big deal for you to get New Moon to get Jane? Yeah, it was a huge deal. It was like all anyone was talking about.

42:53Dakota Fanning:I was in high school at the time. I was homeschooled until I went to high school, and then I went to a regular high school and it was like everyone was obsessed. So it was a huge deal. You hadn't gone up for Bella prior. No. I assume, no. Okay. No, I think I was just a bit young for it. But yeah, getting to play Jane was amazing and that's where I met Kristen who is one of my closest friends. Did you see that Rob recently compared his Odyssey character to Jacob in Twilight? I did see the clip where he was like, no one's team Jacob. I was like, thank God. Poor Taylor after all these years. No, I know, I know.

43:39Dakota Fanning:People are team, some people are team Jacob. I mean, no one I want to hang out with, but yeah. Rob's not team Jacob. That was clear. That's clear. But, but no, I mean, it was just such a specific like thing, you know, it was. To be in the center of that. Cause like I covered those movies so much. I've never seen anything like it. They just had no clue it was gonna be that. They thought they did some little vampire movie. And then going to that Comic-Con and being hit with the wave of the fans was super intense. So getting to be a part of that for me, and I got kind of just all the good parts of it.

44:20Because I was just a little character that was popped in, popped out, popped in, popped out.

44:25Dakota Fanning:so I didn't have really any of the pressure. I just got the kind of fun experience so it was like ideal, you know. And then you mentioned Kristen. You got to work with her again for a movie that I feel like more people should see. I really like The Runaways. Same. You guys did a great job with that one. Thank you. Same. And that must have been a meaningful experience. I mean, it's like playing real life figures, singing, the whole vibe of that. Great Michael Shannon, come on. I know. I know. Yeah, it was really special. Filmed during the summer. I was 15. it was right after I'd done New Moon so Kristen and I had met and then we were going to do you know this movie it was like really fun to immerse yourself in that world of the runaways Joan was there a lot Cherie was there a lot getting to know them that was my that was a summer camp for me was the runaways you know it really was and I really liked movie yeah i really liked movie was it a big decision you came you came here nyu yeah like where were you at in terms of like career personal life like yeah i need to kind of like stake a different i don't know like recalibrate try something else out i mean where were you i just wanted to move to new york and my mom wouldn't have let me move to new york if i wasn't going to college um and then also at the same time it just was like a given that i would go to i never imagined that I wouldn't go to college.

45:56Dakota Fanning:And I just really wanted the experience of living in New York. So that's sort of how it came about. I felt it was I was working and I was I was working, but it was like it felt like a bit of a quieter time career wise for me because I was really focused on being 18, 19 in New York and having those experiences. So, um, and I learned a lot during that time and really happy that I got that time to be a student and be, you know, going out with friends and like all that. It was, it's wouldn't trade that for anything. It does. Again, let's go back to my earlier point of kind of like, you know, looking at the macro career and like looking at the evolution, like maybe this is a little bit later, but like it does feel like 2013 to 2018 or 19.

46:53It's kind of like you're working consistently. Yes, yes. But it also feels like maybe you're trying to figure out like, you know, you're kind of in a transitional age.

47:02Dakota Fanning:Yeah, I think it was also like figuring like everyone else figuring out where to put me even more importantly. I think that – I think the reason in the last few years that you probably – or people probably feel like, oh, there's like a group – I think because everybody is very comfortable that I'm an adult now. And I think that the – We can't keep pretending she's 12. Right. So and that – like I really feel like that chapter is closed. Yeah. And so when I'm talking about things that I did as a young person, it's deeply in retrospect. Do you know what I mean? It's probably easier for you now because like there's a separation.

47:38Yeah, I think it was always easy for me.

47:42Dakota Fanning:It wasn't always easy for other people who perceived me as a certain age and whatever. So I think that is the reason why now it feels like groovier because I just think it's now like I'm 32 years old. We can't deny it anymore. Can't deny it anymore. And so I think that I've found a place as an adult, as an actor, and everyone else has found that place for me also. Totally. And so I feel like, yeah, those years were kind of that transition time where everyone was sort of catching up. Do you see an evolution point in terms of like, you know, a lot of especially for younger actors, it's behavior more than like technique.

48:33Yeah. Like where you can see a transition and remember even a transition of like how you approached roles and kind of and I mean, it seems like you are the anomaly actually. I'm thinking about your role too. I'm like… You kind of always had technique.

48:49Dakota Fanning:Yeah, I guess, but I also, like, I still approach things the same way, which is, I don't do that much. Like, unless there's something that I need to learn, like, I kind of am over familiar with, like, I know everything that's happening in the script and, like, I learn my lines and then I can be there. and then I can be in the moment. And that's sort of what I've always done. And I think that it does come from starting when you're young. Like, there's only, I just approached it as make-believe. And I still kind of approach it as make-believe. And haven't really changed that. I think for me, like, the technique is more of, like, how it's proper to behave, what, on set behavior.

49:42Dakota Fanning:And, like, that professional thing I learned from so many people the importance of being on time. I don't want people to wait for me. Like those sorts of things I'm very like rigorous about. And I mean, they also haven't changed. But like that's where I feel like my, like the professionalism that I hope to inhabit. I'm like that. I've learned so much from people that I've worked with. Good and bad, I guess. Everybody has their own style. But yeah, but in terms of like the technique as an actor, I'm like, I just kind of try to behave how I think a normal person would behave given their circumstances.

50:31Dakota Fanning:Like I just try and be as natural as possible. Easier said than done, but yes, yes. I would imagine when you talk about like professionalism on sets, like special experiences, we haven't even talked about Tarantino. So let's talk a little bit about, because that's a marker. That's a huge, huge moment. You kind of manifested it from what I gather. I did. I did. I did. I don't know how often you do this. Is this something you've done a lot where you've like sent a letter to a director or kind of said... No, no, no. But that's what happened, right? That's what happened. Yeah, I did. I knew that he was doing this movie, didn't know a lot about what the movie would be, but had heard from my agent that like there would be a role that would make sense for me.

51:11Dakota Fanning:but you know Quentin has his process with how he cast and who he wants to see and who he whatever and I was like I'm just gonna write him a note I'm just gonna write him a note and like see what happens if it if it isn't for this maybe it'll be for something else um and so yes I wrote him a note and he wanted me to to come in after reading the note and I had dreamed of being in one of his movies but I had never told anyone like I just it was something in my own mind that I just was like oh that'll be like the best and um me saying how I like don't really prepare for anything now for this audition i prepared so intensely for this audition like i it was written what i was supposed to be wearing i was like i'm gonna wear that it wasn't like a dramatic cost it was like you know cutoffs and a tank top but i was like well might as well wear cutoffs on the tank top like i remember like i was like listening to like certain music from that time period like before I went to the audition.

52:25Dakota Fanning:I have never been more nervous in my whole entire life. I was shaking, like knees knocking together, like I didn't know how I was going to do it. And then when I went in there, Quentin reads the scenes with you. Famously, I know. I didn't know that going in, so that was a surprise. and weirdly that put me so at ease because it then became like it wasn't like he's sitting in a chair like judging your performance he's like in the performance with you yeah and so i was like because that's my comfort zone is on a set and like doing a rehearsal and acting that i can do that but sometimes auditions feel so sterile and And they feel like nobody's giving you any feedback.

53:17Dakota Fanning:And you just like walk in and walk out. And you're like, well, I don't know how that went. So I expected it to be like that. And it was the exact opposite. It felt like being on set, like rehearsing the scene.

53:33Dakota Fanning:And it put me totally at ease. And then, yeah, I got a phone. I'll never forget getting the phone call that I got the part. I was so excited. and it's yeah one of the most special experiences I've had to this day really I mean really electric on that said like I mean the stuff you get to do is pretty it's like yeah it was I could have I would have stayed if they were like you have to keep coming back every day and do the same scene over and over again I was I would have been like done like I it was the epitome of what what making a movie can be like. Really, everyone is there to bring the best version of themselves, every cast member, every crew member works with the same people a lot, so there's a camaraderie that you can't just create out of nowhere.

54:25I'm so curious about this Fincher-Tarantino movie.

54:28Dakota Fanning:Oh, me too, I can't wait, I'll be first in line to see that. I know, I know. Okay, a couple other random things. You guys still working on the Paris Hilton series? Still in development. That's another people ask all the time. I'm like, I wish I had a better answer for people, like something more concrete. But it's, you know, in development and still being worked on. Still don't know who, if either of you or someone else is going to play her? Still don't know. Still don't know. It's like, I feel like it's all kind of, it'll depend. It'll just depend on like lots of different factors. What's the reality obsession today?

55:05Reality TV obsession.

55:09Dakota Fanning:I am watching. I weirdly hit this phase of my life, which I'm concerned about. I'm getting in the bed, closing my eyes, and going to sleep. And not watching my shows. At least you're not reading or something. What? It's honestly freaking me out. Getting in bed at night and being like, I don't think I can turn my show on. I'm like forcing my, I'm like, no, that is who you are. Like that is who you are. You can't lose that. I have, no, this is actually the most concerning thing that's happened of late. I have not started Big Brother yet. And you are a devotee. It is so disturbing that I have not started Big Brother yet.

55:56Dakota Fanning:Like it's upsetting me that I haven't started it yet. I can't even believe I'm admitting it. Like Julie Chen. Shameful. Julie Chen, don't worry. You'll be there. I'll be there. I will catch up. Like I will catch up. I'm not watching any clips, any TikToks, any nothing. I am like scrolling. I don't know anything that's going on because I have to watch it. You'll be there when you're ready for it. There's so many episodes. But yeah, I will. But I will. I can't not watch. I can't become a person who doesn't watch Big Brother. No, it's a defining characteristic. It's a part of my identity. So I will.

56:36Dakota Fanning:But so that I'm watching Real Housewives of Orange County, The Valley. So you're still you. But I'm still me. I'm still me. My favorite thing I've watched lately, it's not reality, but docuseries is The Dark Wizard. I don't know. Tell me. Educate me. Oh. I love the title. My God. You gotta watch The Dark Wizard. I hesitate to even say anything about it. It's about a climber. Like a kind of free solo climber. I don't want to say anymore. It's life changing. It really is. It's my favorite thing. It's my favorite thing I've seen. And I told Elle to watch it. Elle told people. It's incredible. It's incredible.

57:17Kirsten has been working, I believe, with Jack Black.

57:20Dakota Fanning:She has. Yes. Has she relayed the... I mean, he probably knows by now. the internet has told him the obsession. He totally does. Elle and I were at the airport in a lounge and this woman came up who's like, best friends I think with his wife. And Elle was like, I'm so sorry. Like this has gotten out of hand. And she was like, no, we love it. Like she wanted to take a picture. She was like, no, no, no, we love it. We think it's so funny. But Elle's like gotten embarrassed about it, I think. Like she revealed like too much of her true feelings about Jack. It's too real. She's nervous that it's made him uncomfortable.

57:53Dakota Fanning:I see. But I don't think it has. I'm sure you guys have been in his presence before. Only Elle. Elle met him at the Golden Globes. Oh, I see. And took those selfies. I haven't met him yet. You're going to play it cool. You'll be chill. I'll be chill. Yeah, I'll be chill. Cut to. Cut to your mic. Okay, we end every happy second fuse with these profoundly random questions. Dakota, you ready? I'm ready. Dogs or cats? Dogs. Yeah. Your production company is. Llewellyn. Our family dog, the best dog in the whole world. Yeah, Llewellyn Pictures, named after her. What do you collect?

58:35Dakota Fanning:Shot glasses. Nice. Favorite video game of all time? Never played a video game. What? Never played a video game. Like? Like, I mean, phone games, does that count? Yeah. But not like with a controller. Okay. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Okay. What about a phone game? Anything. Give us something. I'm really into right now. It's so hard to describe. It's like the dark wizard of games. It is a game where something comes up. Let's say it's a clown face. Sure. But the clown face is made of yarn. Yeah, I'm with you. And you have to unspool each color of the yarn. I'm seeing nods. Do you play this? Okay. Yarn fever.

59:32Dakota Fanning:It's called yarn fever. Yeah, that's what I play.

59:38Dakota Fanning:And I can't even tell you the level that I'm on. It's like really bad. It's like really bad. But I will say I only allow myself to buy the extra baskets for the – because you run out of space eventually in the yarn basket. The spools of yarn can't fit in there anymore. And to unlock other ones, you need the coins and you need stuff. I don't allow myself to buy them. I mean, it has to be like, it has to be a situation where I feel like the game will not let me pass until I buy the extra basket because I do think that they do that sometimes. So it's a really last resort. I will get it on my own without buying the stuff.

1:00:23Dakota Fanning:But yeah, I play Yarn Fever. I've had an experience where there's a crazy person talking to you in a Starbucks and you're just trying to survive. I just had that experience. Just like weather the storm. Just let her say what she needs to say. I also play a game named Marble Sort, where you sort marbles. I'm sorry I asked. I'm sick. Yeah, I know. I know. It's really fun though. another Dakota asked me this Dakota Johnson asked me would you rather have a mouthful of bees or one bee in your butt I've seen it and I was thinking about it I was like I wonder if he's gonna ask me this um it's gotta and I know this is what everybody but it has to be bee in butt yeah it has to be bee in butt yeah like it's pretty clear cut for me yeah agreed yeah a wallpaper on your phone uh my dog bunny yeah yeah last actor you were mistaken for Elle Fanning how often is that a daily thing is that you know most people most people get it right but it'll be l and and also amanda seyfried i and i we we she gets it i get it oh this is a really great story when i was in high school the guy that i was dating his mom said to him oh tell Dakota I can't wait to see her in Dear John because there was like a big big posters for Dear John all over the place with Amanda Seyfried and so she knew me well and still thought I was in Dear John so but by the way great couldn't be a better person to be mistaken for she's awesome worst note a director has ever given you

1:02:03Dakota Fanning:can you do it more like the kid in the sixth sense that's an all-timer i love i hope this was like in the last like month i wish no i was young yeah i was young and i think at the time i said i don't think so or what does that mean like i said i didn't just say yes i was like I don't know more Haley Joel that's what they always say Haley Joel more Haley Joel yeah yeah and finally in the spirit of happy second fuse an actor who always makes you happy um I am having the privilege right now of working with Stellan Skarsgård and it is filling me with immense joy to be in his presence uh every day and get to have the experience of working with him after hearing of Elle's experience and being the biggest fan in the world, so I'm gonna say Stellan.

1:03:00Having covered that amazing film sentimental value last year and going through it with him and having him, like when I would see him at shows, like even know, like say like, happy, sad, confused, like in his accent, make me so happy. It made me so happy.

1:03:14Dakota Fanning:He's just the nicest, like most wonderful man. Yeah, yeah. Sons 2, Alexander's a good gem. I know, I know. Movie that makes you sad? Oh God, there's so many. I mean, I'm like a sucker for when the dog dies, you know, like a Marley and me. I'm gonna freak out every time. Or I've never, I've thought about watching this movie again and I'm like, I actually don't know if I can. I don't know if I can take it, babe. Yeah. I don't know if I can ever watch babe again. It's so sad to me, but it's so good, but it's really sad. Go right to babe pig in the city, go to the sequel. Yeah, exactly. And finally, a food that makes you confused.

1:04:03Dakota Fanning:I guess I see these clips when you ask people this question and they always say the same thing. Yeah. They go, well, it doesn't make me confused. Right. Why do you think they say that? Can I just ask? I just wanted to understand. Obviously, it's not. I'm not. Yeah, because I think they're misinterpreting that. They're misinterpreting. I know you intellectually understand what the food. Exactly. Every time they go, well, I'm not confused by it necessarily, but it's like, well, obviously not. I don't think you're an idiot. Yeah, we know, but it's like, so the way I interpret it, a food that makes you confused, is I'm interpreting like, why would someone ever eat that?

1:04:39Dakota Fanning:Correct. You win. Egg salad. Million percent. What the hell? Why are people eating this? All the things on a menu, all wonderful sandwiches, meats, cheeses, prosciutto, mozzarella, you know, even chicken salad. I can't even do that, but yes. But that's... Choosing, actively choosing. Chicken salad is like totally fine compared. Actively choosing egg salad? Yeah. Are you okay? You know who has a great bit on this? Who? You know the comedian Todd Barry? Yes. He's very deadpan. Yeah, is he passionate about this? He literally has a bit. Oh, I'm gonna look it up. he has this bit of going to the diner and going to the entire menu and saying, give me some eggs.

1:05:29Yeah.

1:05:31Dakota Fanning:Like, what? Yeah. What? Million percent. Don't eat it in public at least, for God's sake. Keep it behind closed doors if you do like it. I'm just like, I don't get it at all. Come at me. Egg salad eaters, try me, okay? I'm not gonna change my opinion on that. You won't change, Dakota. I won't. Congratulations on everything, including the sun never sets. Honestly, one of your best, which is saying a lot. Everybody should check it out. Thank you. And I appreciate you. The fannings have been very good to me. You guys - Oh, Josh, you're the best. Our fans of Happy Second. This is easy. We are. You guys have always been very good to me.

1:06:13You're always welcome. It's always good to see you. Thank you.

1:06:16Dakota Fanning:Good to see you too. Thank you. And so ends another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused. Remember to review, rate, and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley, and I definitely wasn't sure to do this by Josh.

1:06:37The right window treatments change everything. Your sleep, your privacy, the way every room looks and feels. At Blinds.com, we've spent 30 years making it surprisingly simple to get exactly what your home needs.

1:06:49Dakota Fanning:We've covered over 25 million windows and have 50 ,000 five-star reviews to prove we deliver. Whether you're DIY it or want a pro to handle everything from measure to install, we have you covered. Real design professionals, free samples, zero pressure. Save up to 40 % when you buy two or more. Rules and restrictions apply.