Additional Coverage:
- Dakota Fanning, 31, knows what she wants from this ‘next decade’ (businessinsider.com)
Dakota Fanning Embraces Her 30s with a Fresh Perspective and Hopes for Motherhood
Hollywood veteran Dakota Fanning, who has graced the silver screen since childhood, is entering her 30s with a newfound clarity on personal goals and the meaning of fulfillment.
In a recent interview with Byrdie, Fanning shared that reaching this new decade has brought about a significant mental “shift,” allowing her to better understand herself and her aspirations. “Every year that goes by, you’re more in tune with who you are and with what you want and don’t want,” she explained.
For Fanning, this clarity extends to her personal life, particularly her long-held desire for a family. “I’ve always wanted to have kids – that’s something I’ve never questioned and has always been really important to me,” she revealed, adding, “So, hopefully, dating will end soon, and this next decade will bring that into my life.”
Fanning’s career began at a remarkably young age, earning her a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her breakthrough role in 2001’s “I Am Sam.” She continued to build an impressive filmography with notable performances in films like “War of the Worlds” and, more recently, the Peacock thriller “All Her Fault” alongside Sarah Snook.
The actor emphasized that her shift in perspective involves focusing on future possibilities rather than dwelling on what she hasn’t achieved yet. “Instead of focusing on the things that I don’t have yet, I switched it to, ‘Oh my god, how exciting.
There’s so much that’s yet to come.’ I want to continue to tell myself to be excited instead of worrying.
I want to focus on possibility. It’s all yet to come,” she stated.
Fanning credits the strong women in her family for helping her navigate the pressures of fame and the media’s often restrictive labels. “I feel very deeply known by the people in my life, by my family, friends, and the people I work with,” she said. “And because I feel very known by them, I don’t feel this pressure for everyone [else] to know me exactly.”
Despite her years in the spotlight, Fanning acknowledges that self-discovery is an ongoing journey. “I’m still learning about myself, and I’m not going to be perfect all the time.
I’m not going to make the ‘wise beyond your years’ choice at every step,” she admitted. “But very fortunately, I’ve always had a strong sense of myself and a healthy ability to block out what feels untrue or too heavy.”
Fanning joins a growing list of celebrities who have openly discussed the profound sense of clarity and self-awareness that often accompanies entering their 30s. Ryan Reynolds, for example, shared at a TIME100 summit that his “greatest superpower” – knowing who he was – didn’t fully materialize until his 30s, contrasting it with his younger years spent “trying on personalities like they’re shirts.” Similarly, country star Kelsea Ballerini noted a shift in her fitness goals after turning 30, moving from purely aesthetic motivations to prioritizing health and energy for her demanding career and personal relationships.
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- Dakota Fanning, 31, knows what she wants from this ‘next decade’ (businessinsider.com)