Dakota Fanning talks about being nominated at the 2026 Emmys, starring in a movie with her sister Elle Fanning and filming her new movie The Sun Never Sets.
Dakota Fanning is having quite the moment. The actress earned two Emmy nominations this year one for her performance in All Her Fault and another as a producer on Margo’s Got Money Troubles. And the family celebration got even sweeter when her younger sister, Elle Fanning, also landed two Emmy nominations for her work as both an actress and producer on the series.
The sisters had a hilariously complicated celebration. Dakota was in France when the nominations were announced, while Elle was attending Wimbledon and sitting in the royal box directly behind the Queen—meaning she couldn’t exactly pull out her phone to celebrate.
Dakota eventually received a frantic text from her sister saying she was incredibly excited but couldn’t be on her phone. Between Wimbledon, a royal-box appearance and two Emmy nominations, it was certainly a memorable day for the Fanning sisters.
The Fanning Sisters Finally Share the Screen
Although Dakota and Elle have always been incredibly close, they had never actually acted alongside each other—until now. The sisters recently wrapped their first film together, The Nightingale, which is based on the bestselling novel and is scheduled to hit theaters March 19, 2027.
Dakota admitted that both sisters were quietly nervous about working together. After all, acting opposite the person who knows you better than anyone can come with its own set of challenges.
They grew up performing together in their playroom, which Dakota says is essentially where they both learned to act. But once they got to set, Elle made one thing very clear: Dakota was not allowed to slip into big-sister mode.
For the most part, Dakota followed the rules until one particularly hot day on set when the sisters had a very relatable sibling squabble over personal space on a couch. The crew couldn’t help but laugh, especially because the two had managed to stay completely professional throughout filming.
It was, according to Dakota, their one and only “fight” and a perfect reminder that no matter how professional the set, sisters will always be sisters.
Dakota Fanning Takes Us to Alaska
Dakota is also receiving rave reviews for her latest film, The Sun Never Sets, which transports audiences to Alaska during the summer, when the sun seemingly never disappears.
The actress embraced the unusual setting and loved experiencing the endless daylight. She recalled walking outside around 11:30 p.m. and seeing children still playing on playgrounds with their parents. While the experience didn’t interfere with her sleep, it certainly left an impression.
And despite admitting she’s not exactly an outdoorsy girl, Alaska managed to bring out her adventurous side. Dakota went whale watching, visited a glacier and saw pods of orcas, describing the experience as one of the best parts of filming.
Naturally, she still managed to make the adventure feel very much like her own vibe. At the end of the glacier excursion, she enjoyed a drink served with ice from the glacier.
An outdoorsy adventure with a cocktail at the finish line? Dakota considers that a win.
From Red Carpets to Bulldozers
Dakota also revealed that one of her most unexpected experiences while filming was learning to operate a bulldozer.
Apparently, her guy friends were particularly impressed by the accomplishment, calling the footage she sent them “sick.” Dakota even received hands-on training from Brian, who also appears in the movie, and actually operates the bulldozer in the film.
She joked that her biggest rule while learning was to make sure everyone stayed far, far away while she figured out how to maneuver the massive machine.
A Modern Love Triangle
The Sun Never Sets centers on a complicated love triangle between Dakota, Jake Johnson and Cory Michael Smith. The film explores modern relationships, dating and the messy realities of love in today’s world.
Written and directed by Joe Swanberg, the movie was created using his signature collaborative and improvisational filmmaking process. Rather than relying on a traditional script, the actors worked from an outline and brought much of their own personalities and instincts into each scene.
Dakota admitted the process was initially nerve-racking because she wasn’t memorizing traditional dialogue. Instead, she would go home knowing what was planned for the following day and essentially prepare to discover the scene in the moment.
Her trust in Swanberg, along with her chemistry with Johnson and Smith, helped her embrace the unconventional approach.
One of her favorite scenes takes place in a men’s bathroom during an argument with Johnson. The absurdity of the setting caused both actors to break into laughter, and rather than cutting the moment, Swanberg encouraged them to keep going.
That spontaneous laughter ultimately became part of the scene—and perfectly captured the film’s messy, unpredictable take on relationships.
The Sun Never Sets arrives in theaters September 4.
And Dakota brought a little sisterly fashion history to the late-night couch as well: she revealed that she borrowed Elle’s yellow satin slip dress by Mugler, accessorizing the look with a Cartier watch and Aquazzura sandals. A little sister, a little couture and a whole lot of Hollywood glamour.
Dakota wearing Mugler borrowed from her sister Elle, Cartier watch, shoes by Aquazzura
