Elle Fanning Covers ‘i-D’’s Trans Issue & ‘Teen Vogue’’s Young Hollywood Issue
Actors always talk about how they don’t want to be pigeonholed—that they need the audience to believe they’re whoever they play in their next film, to maintain some mystery so they can inhabit very different roles. At the moment, Elle Fanning is winning that game.
The young actress, 17, stars as the title role in this month’s About Ray, in which she plays against Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon, transitioning from Ramona to Ray. The film hits at an opportune time; society has never been more interested in all things transgender. Which is probably why iD chose to put Fanning on its LGBTQ issue. With the tagline, “How ever you identify, tell it to them straight,” the magazine invited a host of people to sound off on their sexuality. Paris Lee interviews Andreja Pejic, and there’s a chat with Robbie Rogers, the only openly gay soccer player in the UK. And then, of course, there’s James Franco, who penned a 3,000 word-conversation between male him and female him. Obviously.
As for Fanning, she’s photographed by Collier Schorr, looking a little rock and roll in a leather jacket with short slicked back hair. She might sport a heart heart necklace, but she looks far from sweet.
Which is the total opposite of her Teen Vogue editorial, in which the younger Fanning wears her long blonde hair down with a smoky eye and plenty of lace. “I never thought about saying no, but I was so afraid to touch it,” she tells the magazine of her latest role. “What if I don’t do it right? I know transgender kids—I am honored to help tell their story.”
If her ability transform herself for these two covers is any indication, it seems safe to say Fanning—who’s also got a growing resume full of varied roles, from a Disney princess to a ghost to a girl who lives on a zoo—will do quite a job of it—and won’t have an issue being pigeonholed anytime soon.
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