In November 2014, Dakota Fanning flashed her hot legs in a captivating dress at the Save the Children Illumination Gala in New York City.
Dakota Fanning keeps it elegant in a midnight blue strapless dress, highlighting her natural beauty at the Save the Children Illumination Gala on November 19, 2014, in New York City (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN / PNP / DA5)
The then-20-year-old actress wore a midnight blue strapless dress from the Zac Posen Resort 2015 collection and carried a Roger Vivier bag.
At the gala benefiting the leading humanitarian organization for children, the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actress completed the outfit with nude Christian Louboutin pumps.
Dakota Fanning shines in a midnight blue Zac Posen strapless dress, paired with nude peep-toe pumps, at the Save the Children Illumination Gala (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN / PNP / DA5)
Dakota Fanning’s ability to captivate audiences isn’t limited to the red carpet. From a young age, she has taken on complex and mature roles that have solidified her place as one of Hollywood’s most talented actresses. One of her most memorable performances was in the 2007 film Hounddog.
In the American coming-of-age drama film, she starred as Lewellen, a troubled 12-year-old from the 1960s South who finds solace from an abusive life through Elvis Presley’s music.
Containing a controversial scene in which Dakota’s character is raped, the film caused a stir when opening at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
Dakota Fanning portrays the troubled character Lewellen in a powerful scene from the 2007 film Hounddog (Credit: Empire Film Group)
“When it gets to the point of attacking my mother, my agent … my teacher, who were all on the set that day, that started to make me mad,” Fanning said in an interview about the criticism.
“I can let other things go, but when people start to talk about my mother, like, that’s really bad in my opinion … that’s an attack, and that’s not fair. They hadn’t seen the movie,” the young actress added.
The controversial rape scene is not graphic and contains no nudity. Only her face and hand are shown in the darkly lit scene that lasts a few minutes.
Sisters Elle and Dakota Fanning at the premiere of Hounddog at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN / PNP / DA5)
“I loved the Elvis Presley storyline. I loved the fact she’s born of hard circumstances and is trying to survive those,” Fanning said about agreeing to do the film. “I like so many things about it that had nothing to do with being abused, or sexually abused.”
“I’m going to be a freshman in high school in September, and I think it would be irresponsible of my parents not to let me know of things that happen and to try not to get yourself in uncomfortable situations,” Dakota added about the coming-of-age drama film. “It’s educational.”
Dakota Fanning beams in a satin dress at the “Hounddog” premiere at the Village East Cinemas on September 16, 2008 in New York City (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN / PNP / DA5)
“It’s not really happening,” Fanning said of the rape scene. “It’s a movie, and it’s called acting. I’m not going through anything. Cody and Isabelle aren’t going through anything, their characters are. And for me, when it’s done it’s done,” she said. “I don’t even think about it anymore.”
Director Deborah Kampmeier, whose life the film is based on, also defended the movie in an interview.
“She should be applauded to the voice she has given to so many silenced women,” Kampmeier said about Fanning’s performance.
Dakota Fanning poses with director Deborah Kampmeier at the premiere of Hounddog (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN / PNP / DA5)
The movie was filmed in the summer of 2006 near Wilmington, North Carolina. Dakota was born on February 23, 1994, in Conyers, Georgia, and turned 13 on February 23, 2007. She was 12 years old when the shooting took place.