"Elle Fanning"

Summary

SmartLess Podcast: Elle Fanning

Hosts: Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
Guest: Elle Fanning
Date: March 30, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This lively episode of "SmartLess" welcomes acclaimed actress Elle Fanning, known for versatile roles from child star to powerhouse producer. The hosts dig into Elle’s unique upbringing, her storied career alongside sister Dakota, and her journey into producing and (possibly) directing. The conversation is peppered with warmth, curiosity, and the SmartLess trademark wit, offering listeners a charming and surprisingly deep look at life as a young Hollywood creative.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Banter & Household Skills

• Hosts reminisce about chores and life lessons: The trio share stories about doing laundry and shoveling snow, segueing into how their childhood responsibilities influenced adulthood.
  • “I like folding towels… it’s, like, OCD, you know what I mean?” — Jason Bateman (03:01)
• The discussion sets a tone about family, responsibility, and nurture, perfect to introduce a guest who grew up in the limelight.

Elle’s Early Life & Family

• Origin Story: Born in Georgia during a tornado warning. Raised in LA from age 3, but with “very Southern” roots, especially through her grandmother who lived with them and accompanied her and Dakota on sets (13:42–14:49).
• Family of Athletes: Dad was a pro baseball player; mom and grandfather were seasoned athletes (17:00–17:39).
• Transition to Acting:
  • Elle’s entry into acting followed Dakota’s lead—describes herself as a “Nepo sister,” light-heartedly embracing her copycat role (21:33–22:21).
  • Mom’s approach: “At any point, if this is, like, not fun for you, like, we won’t do it. Go home.” — Elle Fanning (21:48)

Early Career & Sibling Dynamic

• Playing Dakota’s Younger Self: Often cast as young Dakota in films and TV (“just got handed to Sean Penn, and we’re swinging on the swing” –16:13).
• Age Gap: Dakota is four years older; just the two sisters (16:29–16:34).
• Healthy Normalcy: Despite work, both had “a very normal childhood” (27:13), including time in public and private schools, home-schooling by their grandmother, and proms and parties (27:28–29:14).

On Education and Skipping College

• Educational Choices: Dakota attended NYU; Elle was “so done with school” and dove directly into her career (29:39–30:06).
• Home-Schooling Realities: A full curriculum was sent home, and a studio teacher kept them honest, but it felt advanced—“cursive first” (30:49–31:09).

Milestones: Finding Her Own Voice as an Actress

• Notable Roles:
  • Early independence: “Law & Order” arsonist, “Criminal Minds” kidnap victim—rites of passage for child actors (32:41–33:47).
  • First lead: “Phoebe in Wonderland” at age 9 was formative—“I realized… I have to transform into this person and… it was a very specific experience that I don’t know, that I have to learn about.” (34:25–35:16)
  • Recognition in “Somewhere” (Sofia Coppola) and “Super 8,” finally not just “Dakota Fanning’s sister” (36:13).
  • Her first truly chosen, transformative adult role: “The Neon Demon” at 17 with Nicholas Winding Refn, a controversial but empowering choice (37:17–38:29).

On Acting’s Psychological Impact

• Identity & Acting as Catharsis: Elle reflects on the psychological experience of acting while growing up.
  • “I live in my head a lot, and I'm a big daydreamer... For me, it’s added so much to my life and... expanded my life of getting to also know how to handle yourself... it wasn’t confusing, it was more like cathartic.” — Elle Fanning (39:21–40:43)

“The Great” and Absorbing Characters

• Embodiment of Catherine the Great: Elle’s favorite role; she saw her own personality merge with the character over three seasons. “Katherine was—I was absorbing her. And to this day, I feel like she's the most like me. Which could be better or worse...” (41:00–42:56)

Sisterhood: Collaboration and First On-Screen Partnership

• Upcoming Sister Project: For the first time as adults, Elle and Dakota will share major screen time in “The Nightingale,” a WWII French Resistance story. “We have never read a line together. Never. … We are unbelievably close.” (48:52–50:24)
• Production Company: Their joint company, Llewellyn Pictures (named after their late dog), is a new venture (45:49).

New Projects: “Margo’s Got Money Troubles”

• Lead & Producer: Elle stars and produces in this A24/Apple TV+ series about a young mom who joins OnlyFans—based on a book Elle read pre-publication and championed for screen (45:34–52:30).
• “I kind of got a taste for it now. I feel like I like the power.” — Elle Fanning on producing (53:32)

Growth Into Producing & Directing

• Elle discusses how growing up on set taught her every aspect of the craft, fueling her evolution into a producer. She expresses interest in directing in the future: “I know that’s in my future, but I don’t think it’s in my near future.” (55:47–56:03)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On working with Dakota for the first time as adults:
  “We have never read a line together. Never. ... And we're doing The Nightingale... we're playing sisters, and that is a sister story in World War II.” — Elle Fanning (48:52)

• On Producing:
  “I kind of got a taste for it now. I feel like I like the power.” — Elle Fanning (53:32)

• On the transformative impact of acting:
  “For me, it’s added so much to my life and, like, expanded my life... it was more like cathartic, I guess, to have an outlet like that.” — Elle Fanning (40:43)

• On her favorite number:
  “I love the number five. And I just felt like 2025 was always… I planned, like, I did certain things when I was 15, like, because the number five, like, I planned a lot of stuff.” (56:22)

• Hosts’ Playful Dynamics:

  • “How many times a day do you say, did I meet you?” — Will Arnett teasing Jason’s memory (22:53)
  • “Jay, what about you getting behind the snow, you know, like, so...” — Sean making a “Coke joke” early in the episode and the crew’s reaction (04:51)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |--------------|----------------------------------------------| | 03:01 | Household chores & childhood lessons | | 09:14 | Elle Fanning introduced as guest | | 13:42 | Born in Georgia / Southern roots | | 17:00 | Athletic family history | | 21:33 | Acting origins, sibling dynamic | | 27:13 | Schooling: normalcy & homeschooling | | 29:39 | Higher education choices | | 32:41 | First independent acting gigs | | 34:25 | “Phoebe in Wonderland”; first big lead | | 37:17 | “The Neon Demon” & first chosen adult role | | 39:21 | Psychological effects of child acting | | 41:00 | “The Great” & merging with characters | | 48:52 | Upcoming “The Nightingale” with Dakota | | 45:34 | “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” details | | 53:32 | Producing and power in the industry | | 56:22 | Favorite number, self-reflection |

---

Structure & Flow

• The episode is playful yet sincere, moving organically through Elle’s childhood, family, formative roles, and her growth into mature, empowered creative work.
• The hosts balance humor with thoughtful questions, drawing genuine revelations and plenty of endearing laughter.
• Elle’s warmth and poise shine as she handles questions about childhood fame, ambition, and personal growth with equal parts candor and humility.
• The show ends with Elle’s real-life fangirling of SmartLess, mutual expressions of admiration, and an upbeat outro.

---

In Summary

This episode gives listeners a heartfelt, funny, and intimate portrait of Elle Fanning: her roots, her rise, and her ambitions. She comes across as grounded, bright, and infectiously enthusiastic about her craft and future—and the hosts’ camaraderie makes for a truly engaging listen, full of revelations and relatable moments, whether about family, pillows, or the thrill of chasing your passion.

Transcript

[Jason Bateman]

Here's the thing about most AI you ask it something, it gives you an answer. Conversation over Claude's different. You bring in a problem, and it actually stays in the conversation. Asks questions, pokes at your assumptions. And it's not just for chat. Claude can also work through your files, organize messy folders, and build documents from your notes. Try Claude for free at Claude AI Smartless and see why the world's best problem solvers choose Claude as their thinking partner. Hey, guys, remember spring break? As a kid, it was just simply the best sun and zero responsibilities. Sign me up. Spring break used to be a time to disconnect from work and reconnect with family. And with Hilton, it still can be. With over 9,000 locations worldwide, Hilton puts you in the best destinations with service you can always count on. It's like they know what you want and need before you even do. Hilton makes spring break easy to enjoy, turning every trip into something memorable. When you want spring break to actually feel like a break, it matters where you stay. Hilton for the stay. Book [e-mail]. This episode of Smartless is sponsored by Allstate. Checking Allstate first could save you hundreds on car insurance. That's smart. Not checking the day's weather forecast before breaking out. New suede shoes. Big oops. Confidence started high, but that fashion optimism dissolved fast into a wet reality. Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings vary subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, my God.

[Jason Bateman]

We made it.

[Will Arnett]

We made it.

[Sean Hayes]

I thought we were going to be late, but here we are.

[Jason Bateman]

I didn't have a chance to stop and pod y. Oh, you didn't potty yet. I mean, we could potty today.

[Sean Hayes]

You want to call this pottying?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

You made us run in here for that?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, we're going to call it pottying. We're going to potty.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, man.

[Sean Hayes]

Welcome to Smartless.

[Will Arnett]

Smart.

[Sean Hayes]

Less.

[Will Arnett]

Smart less. Smart less. Yes.

[Sean Hayes]

Don't you think we should go on another trip?

[Will Arnett]

I do.

[Jason Bateman]

Why don't we? We always talk about it.

[Sean Hayes]

By the way, do you guys.

[Jason Bateman]

Do you guys like doing laundry? I just did a bunch of laundry. I like. You know what? Scotty and I were talking about this.

[Will Arnett]

I need a neck brace, a couple things. Wait a second. What do you.

[Sean Hayes]

Why are you looking to think that we've made a weird edit?

[Jason Bateman]

Because I just finished. No, no, no. I just Finished a ton of laundry. And I don't usually like folding laundry, but I like folding towels. I like folding towels because it's, like, ocd, you know what I mean?

[Sean Hayes]

Are you trying to tell us that you do laundry when you're back home in la?

[Jason Bateman]

No, sir. I do it here.

[Will Arnett]

I'll tell you what. You're a fascinating dinner date. Tell us more about the folding of the towels, man.

[Jason Bateman]

Do you guys go deeper, though?

[Sean Hayes]

I will tell you that. You know, did you guys have a lot of discipline growing up as far as, like, having chores and learning how to do everything? Yeah, that. Like, I know how to wash windows without streaks. I know how to. I know how to fold laundry. I know how to load a dishwasher. I know how to sweep in a way that you're not re. Sweeping certain areas. Like, my dad taught me how to do everything. Right.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, same.

[Sean Hayes]

Like, before, I. Before I could, like, push back and say, I don't want to learn. I have not done that with my kids. I mean, they get by. But I did. I just.

[Jason Bateman]

No, but your kids are very responsive.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, no, they're incredible. I love them to death and they're.

[Jason Bateman]

Turns out they.

[Sean Hayes]

They do great. But I have. I've. I. I wasn't diligent about, like, teaching them how to do the things that you're going to need to do the rest of your life. Like folding a towel, how to do it properly.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, I remember my mom teaching me how to do it.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, yeah?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. We had to because we didn't have any money, you know, that whole story. And. And we didn't have a washer and dryer. It always broke down. So my. Me and my mom took garbage bags of clothes and put them in the car and drove to the laundromat.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

And I was the only kid that did that.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Out of the five kids, by the way, they're all listening. Yeah, they're gonna. We're gonna argue about that later.

[Will Arnett]

This la. I started last night getting ahead of the snow outside of my stoop here. And so I was out every couple hours knowing.

[Sean Hayes]

And you knew how to shovel?

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, of course. Because the. And. And it did bring me back. It made me feel like I was a young Canadian.

[Jason Bateman]

It's the best, right? Yeah. I love it.

[Will Arnett]

So good.

[Jason Bateman]

Jay, what about you getting behind the

[Sean Hayes]

snow, you know, like, so. So I would. I. That's a Coke joke. It's a Coke joke. Early or in minute eight.

[Jason Bateman]

I know.

[Sean Hayes]

Sorry, J.B. but, like, I like. So there's. There's something that my dad never did teach me because by the time we left the Snow, I was 4, so I didn't have to shovel it, but so I would struggle with snow. There's. There's probably a real. You need.

[Jason Bateman]

You need a pair elbow grease.

[Sean Hayes]

You don't start at the bottom, right. You don't dig that shovel all the way to the bottom and try to lift it up. You gotta. You taken off the top, right?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Well, it depends on how much snow you got. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But that's why also, like, if you go out and you get it early enough, like, I did it a couple times last night so that by this morning.

[Jason Bateman]

Was it too insane that night? Yeah, I used to do that. What do you think my dad taught me?

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, wait, can I come back to this? Because I'd love to fill out a. A joke list of 10 to 20.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

I mean, and then I'd like to, you know, rank them and really just give you the.

[Will Arnett]

I think ultimately had a. Lower expectations, I guess, in people. In people. Keep your expectations super low.

[Sean Hayes]

Also, how to keep your emotional knees bent, you know, always. You're always ready for disappointment.

[Will Arnett]

Right. Emotionally Bend. Bend from the knees, I guess.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. Ready position.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes. And now look at me.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Anyway.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, you're doing great. I will say no. You know, Shawnee, for all the joking. For all the joking that we do about it, stuff like that, you're one of the most caring, thoughtful people I have ever had in my life. It's a. It's. That's a true story. You really, really. I was saying to somebody the other day.

[Sean Hayes]

Incredible.

[Will Arnett]

I was saying. I was saying that Sean is the first guy. Anything's going on in your life, something's happened. He's the first person to check in, send you something, help like he's.

[Jason Bateman]

Thank you.

[Will Arnett]

That's very much.

[Sean Hayes]

Sean, you are a perfect example of nature versus nurture. So there's no. There's no even question about the nurture part because we all know the story. Your father had something to do in some other place as from staying with you. And you have been able to become this incredible person. Yes, your mother was incredible to you as well, but you have. You have natured yourself all the way to the incredible sh.

[Jason Bateman]

That's very nice.

[Will Arnett]

Cured yourself.

[Jason Bateman]

Natured myself.

[Will Arnett]

There's a few things in there that I. That I really enjoyed. Your father had something else to do elsewhere.

[Sean Hayes]

He was laid for something.

[Will Arnett]

Natured yourself, I would say.

[Jason Bateman]

I would. I would accept that compliment as I'm Trying to learn as I get older. So thank you for that and I will return it to both of you. I think we all come from backgrounds that challenged us to become better people.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. Amen.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Which teased up our guest perfectly, I guess.

[Will Arnett]

It does. I was gonna say. I mean, the warning signs were there. I mean, your dad had five kids and he bought a two seater. So it's not. It's like this guy, he built an escape pod. He was sending you guys signs.

[Jason Bateman]

It's so true.

[Sean Hayes]

A little MG convertible. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

I mean, just for him, in a bag. Like an overnight bag.

[Sean Hayes]

By the way, he had that too.

[Will Arnett]

It's so true. Anyway, I'll tell you something about our guest. She is really no stranger to awards. SAG Awards, any kind of. You know, it's insane. I mean, nominated for like, like 122 various awards around the world. 19 wins. And you know, we're. We're talking about. What are we talking about? We're talking about SAGs, Critics Choice, recently an Academy Award. I can't say what yet because you're going to know exactly who it is. And I want you to guess. Emmys. Everything she has and her. For pieces of work that we all really, really adore. And she. Stuff that we've all seen a million times and we're like, oh, yeah, the greatest stuff, like breaking out in I Am Sam Daddy Daycare. Okay. All the way to the new Predator Badlands. And then this year's sentiment value, for which she is nominated for an Academy Award for best Supporting Actress. You guys, it's none other than Elle Fanning.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, my. Whoa. God. You had me spinning. I didn't know where you were going.

[Will Arnett]

I know, I know. I took you on a weird route just to go into credits, you know.

[Elle Fanning]

Did you take it off at the right time?

[Will Arnett]

You did. Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Hello. Good morning.

[Sean Hayes]

We usually have a. Have a guess in there. We didn't even get to it, but

[Jason Bateman]

I just saw at first, you.

[Elle Fanning]

You go, I am Sam. I'm like, oh, God, they're going to think it's Dakota.

[Will Arnett]

No, I just wanted to thr. Throw them off the scent. Elle. I wanted them to be thrown.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, Elle. I just watched Badlands. It was so good. Yes. I bugged Jason Forever and Jason's schedule and my schedule never got together. I was like, fuck it, I'm just gonna watch.

[Sean Hayes]

I hear that's incredible.

[Elle Fanning]

Thank you so much. I am a real listener to this and my sister and I and our friend Chloe, we absolutely love your show and your documentary. So this is a big deal. I'm like, sitting here like my heart is pounding.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, we're so happy for to be here.

[Elle Fanning]

I do know, Will. We've been seeing each other around.

[Will Arnett]

Yes.

[Sean Hayes]

Congrats. How long you guys been dating?

[Elle Fanning]

Puck convention.

[Sean Hayes]

Puck the website or. Or Puck a hockey thing or Puck the website thing.

[Elle Fanning]

No, Puck is a real. That's a. For Tracy. I wanted to get that in.

[Jason Bateman]

Tell tra. Cuz I don't know what it is either.

[Will Arnett]

Now that's a real listener.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

Puck is what? What is it, Will?

[Will Arnett]

It's that guy Matt. Matt. Is it? What's his name? Matt. Matt Baloney Belloni.

[Elle Fanning]

Oh, yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Baloney Boy, I'm gonna get crushed for that. He's a great.

[Sean Hayes]

Who's also Heilman and. Right. Yeah. There's a lot. A lot of great.

[Will Arnett]

Am I right about that? Is that the same. Is that the same crew? Is. It is.

[Jason Bateman]

I still don't know what.

[Elle Fanning]

It's like an entertainment email thing too, right? People get, like. In the industry, you have to sign up for it, and it's like you get little inside scoops and things.

[Sean Hayes]

Yes. Yeah. There's a bunch of stuff in there. It's very, very.

[Will Arnett]

You must. You must subscribe to it.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, you know it, girl.

[Jason Bateman]

But wait a minute. For me and my sister. I still don't understand. So Puck is a thing, like.

[Will Arnett]

It's like a newsletter. It's like a newsletter. So you sign up, they send you an email, then you sign up for things. Yeah, it's like a website. How are you and how you have access?

[Jason Bateman]

It's like, how does that.

[Will Arnett]

Well, they did a. They did a. What was it, like a Q and a panel. Q and a panel together.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay, got it.

[Will Arnett]

Got it.

[Elle Fanning]

And he was there for this thing on. And I was there for Sentimental Value. And Jesse played. Clemens was with us, and Tessa Thompson.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, right, right. I've only heard amazing things about Sentimental. I can't.

[Will Arnett]

Can I tell you, Sentimental Value is so good. And I don't know if I told. Maybe I talked to you about it, but I talked. I think I talked to you about it and your wonderful director, Joaquin. And Joaquin Trier, and also with Stellan and Renata. How amazing that film is. It's such a beautiful film. It's such a. I mean, just the level of filmmaking in every department, from the direction to the acting to the production to all of it is so complete. I mean, that is truly the height of great filmmaking, I think.

[Elle Fanning]

Thank you. Yeah, it was an unreal experience with Joakim. And it was just really something.

[Will Arnett]

Joachim. I said his name.

[Sean Hayes]

How do you pronounce his last name too? Is it Trier or Trier? Trier.

[Elle Fanning]

Trier. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

How embarrassing. I'm sure there's gonna be a headline how we've just besmirched the guy.

[Elle Fanning]

A lot of people say walking Joaquim, but it's. Or Joachim or something.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, Joachim.

[Elle Fanning]

If you were. If you had a Norwegian accent, they would say it different. It would be like, Joachim.

[Will Arnett]

Joachim.

[Elle Fanning]

Joachim. Yeah, yeah, Joachim.

[Will Arnett]

Now I'm saying Joachim.

[Elle Fanning]

Joachim.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, Al. Where are you right now? Are you in New York?

[Elle Fanning]

I am in la. I am in la, yes. But I have been. My boyfriend lives in New York and so he just sent me actually, a photo.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, it's crazy in New York right now, isn't it? He sent you photos? It's so nuts.

[Elle Fanning]

There was a tree that fell down in front of his house. This giant tree. But it looks so cozy. I mean, I'm in LA and it's like, glorious and sunny outside. So it's so crazy how opposite it is.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, you know, it's. I had. Yeah. Yeah, I just. I. I ventured out for two minutes. My. My local coffee shop's closed. Nobody went in because there's not, by the way.

[Jason Bateman]

I just. There's. There's nothing open.

[Will Arnett]

Nothing's open. My gym was open. Thank God. Abby, wait. Ask for compliment. Nothing. Okay, moving on. Wait, so. So, Elle, you're in la. You spent a lot of your life in la. You were born. We're. We're going to go. Early days. You were born in. Just outside Atlanta, I'm guessing, right?

[Elle Fanning]

Is that right? Yes, I was born actually during a tornado warning.

[Jason Bateman]

Whoa.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, I've been through a tornado warning in Atlanta. It's not fun.

[Elle Fanning]

Well, I guess. Yeah, I wasn't really. Definitely don't remember it. I was going through something else at the time.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, so your mom was giving birth to you while there was a tornado, like, happening?

[Elle Fanning]

I don't think it was happening, but it was very close and there was a warning. So, like the hospital, like, the hallways, like, there was kind of the shut. Nah.

[Jason Bateman]

What do you do? You don't think about that?

[Elle Fanning]

That meant that my sister was in the room while my mom gave birth and she was asleep on a cot next to the bed. And my mom didn't find out with either of us, like, if we were a boy or a girl. And so my mom gave birth and then my sister woke up and, like, famously, and I think it's on camera, we have, like, a video of it, but she says, what is it? And it's like, it's a baby sister. And that. Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

That's very sweet.

[Will Arnett]

You're lucky. You're lucky your parents didn't do that thing of, like, decided to name you, like, NATO or F3 after the size of the hurricane.

[Elle Fanning]

Tornado. I know. But, yeah. I was born in Georgia. Like, my family is very Southern, so even though. Yeah. Even though I grew up in la, I moved here when I was three, so I definitely don't remember Georgia that much. But the Southern roots, like, run deep. And my grandmother lived with us growing up, and she still lives with my mom, and she would go with me on film sets, and my mom would go with my sister.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, wow.

[Elle Fanning]

Because we would. When we were working at the same time.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, you were. And what I loved about reading up a little bit about your sort of early days is how your. And I mentioned I am Sam Upper, because you did play a younger version of your sister in the movie. And someone like Wikipedia, of course, we have a deep research department, said that you. Your first. It sort of lists your first few credits, and then it says her first role where she wasn't playing a young version of her sister.

[Elle Fanning]

Right. Cause I did it a couple times.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

And they would throw me in. Yeah. Cause they would. You know, there would be flashback scenes, and then they'd be trying to find a young girl that looked like Dakota. And then I would be on set, like, with my mom, and they're like, actually, can we just use Elle real quick? And so, technically. And my mom's like, sure. And I, I. They. They took me, and I just got handed to Sean Penn, and we're swinging on the swing.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Will Arnett]

And that's how it just. There's Jason played a young Justine Bateman many times. So many.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, right. Put in the extensions, and off I went.

[Elle Fanning]

Throw out the hair.

[Sean Hayes]

What's the age difference between you2?

[Elle Fanning]

She's four years older than me.

[Will Arnett]

Okay.

[Sean Hayes]

And it's just the two of you?

[Elle Fanning]

Just us. Yep.

[Jason Bateman]

Up.

[Elle Fanning]

Just us.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

And when. Yeah, yeah. Well, how. How old were you when you. When you guys started? I'm getting. I'm getting to sort of this question about, like, missing childhood and all that stuff.

[Elle Fanning]

You're going down the dark way. People love asking that.

[Will Arnett]

Well, there's a. But there's a great. There's a great kind of. There's a great. I know you worked a lot when you were a kid, but there's also. There was a lot of normalcy. There. And I was going to get it, to get to it, but you go for it alone.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's definitely something, you know, that's asked. I mean, the origin story. It's so funny because my sister's like, you're not telling it exactly right. And I'm like, well, I was a baby. I'm like, you know, it's been told to me so. Because a lot to do with my start is really her start into everything. And so she was in, you know, Georgia. My mom and my dad, they were both athletes. My dad was a professional baseball player. My mom played tennis in college. Her dad was a quarterback in the NFL for the Eagles.

[Jason Bateman]

What?

[Elle Fanning]

Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

That's crazy.

[Elle Fanning]

Is in our blood. And we were really. Yeah, we were really supposed to. I think mom probably thought that we would be tennis players or something.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, really?

[Elle Fanning]

Or, I mean, you know, something. Something sporty. And it's funny. I mean, this has to do with it. But, like, our mom is. She tans really easily, has really dark eyes, super dark long hair. And so this.

[Jason Bateman]

Whoa.

[Elle Fanning]

It all tracks because our dad is part. He's German. His mom was German. And so we kind of came out with this, like, fair. Fair skin and this, like, white hair and blue eyes. And so when my sister, you know, she went out on the tennis court from. You know, my mom got her out there young. She's like, you know, four, five, you know, and she would just get so hot. And, like, we don't tan. Like, the sunburn was just insane. And so she's like, oh, my God. Like, my precious little, you know, fair skin, like, baby. Like, she's just not cut out for this sport. Like, you know, and then she put her in doors, and it's like, yeah, like, we need to get her.

[Will Arnett]

Let's get her on a dark stage.

[Sean Hayes]

Nice theater class.

[Elle Fanning]

But I appreciate, you know, I think there's the athleticism and the discipline is actually really translated into acting. Like, as I've gotten older, I really see the correlation to it. Like, I approach my work kind of in this athletic way.

[Sean Hayes]

Like a team sport.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, team sport. But also just, I think the adrenaline, like, hiking yourself up, like, making sure you're nourished, like, for the. Like, there's just something to it that I think there is a correlation there. And so then I know. I'm trying the origin story. Cause it's kind of crazy, but my mom wanted, you know, wanted Dakota to. Cause I wasn't born yet, but to find, like, her passion. Like, okay, what are we Gonna put you in. So then she was like, all right. You know, she did violin, she played the piano. And my sister was like a savant. Like, she is just was always incredibly smart for her age. And she has a photographic memory. Her memory's insane. Which doesn't help in arguments. Cause she's completely always right.

[Will Arnett]

I know what that's like.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, it's a burden. That's a burden.

[Elle Fanning]

And so then there was this. You know, then my mom kind of would observe my sister playing around the house constantly of just all she wanted to do was, like, play with her baby dolls. I mean, a lot of kids do, but it was just very extreme in an elaborate. In all of that. And then when I came along, she got like this real life baby to play with. She's like, we can make it even more real. You know, we would watch the TLC shows. Like, My Baby Story as a kid. We loved that and all. We would play. And then she would give birth to me. So I would, like, come out of this beanbag, like, underneath her and, like. And we wouldn't perform this for people, but we would do it for ourselves.

[Jason Bateman]

Right? Like, push, push. And it'd just be like a bean bag.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes, yes. And it's like, oh, God, we're losing her. We're losing her. You know, she's like, pounding on me, and I'm playing along or just hysterical. These real scenarios. And so. So my mom. I mean, we're kind of jumping around, but this was kind of. Yeah, I guess Dakota was like 5, so I was around. But she put her in this play camp in Georgia. And the people at the play camp, they were putting on this. I think it was called Blue Fish, like, this play. And she got a big part in that play and just lit up, like, found they could just see something in her from the other kids that was different. And they talked to my mom and were like, you know, maybe she could do some commercials or get an agent here or, you know, maybe get a TV show or just. It was. But it wasn't like, go to the movies. It was just like, try this out type of thing.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

And I mean, mom had a genuine conversation, like, with Dakota at that age, like, is this something you'd want to do? And she was like, at any point, if this is, like, not fun for you, like, we won't do it. Go home.

[Sean Hayes]

We won't do it. We'll take it.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, yeah. And so then it. Eventually she got an agent in Georgia. And then my mom and my sister, they Went themselves to la because my aunt, who was a sideline reporter for the NFL at the time.

[Sean Hayes]

Good Lord.

[Jason Bateman]

Amazing.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. She was living in la and so my mom and my sister, like, slept on her couch and did pilot season.

[Sean Hayes]

Sure.

[Elle Fanning]

And I think she got Ally McBeal. She played the young Ally McBeal. Yeah. And got commercials. You know, where does l come in?

[Jason Bateman]

No, I love it. No, but I'm like.

[Elle Fanning]

But this time I'm just like, I'm so young, but I'm watching. It's just becoming a part of my life from that age of seeing my sister. Oh. Going on these auditions and then. Oh, then she gets to dress up and gets to go to other places and it's like, I want to do that. It really was a copycat. Like, I call myself like a Nepo sister in a way because I completely just copied her because I would visit her on sets all the time, which also. Cat in the Hat, Sean.

[Jason Bateman]

Cat in the hat with Dakota.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Did you come by and did I meet you? Probably met you as a child.

[Sean Hayes]

I.

[Elle Fanning]

All the time.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, my gosh, Sean, how many times

[Will Arnett]

a day do you. How many times a day do you say, did I meet you? Just guess. Ballpark.

[Jason Bateman]

We'll be right back.

[Sean Hayes]

My home, like your home, It's a retreat, right. It's your nest. Right. And you want to be able to just lay out in that nest, you know, after a long day. So, you know, like my couch, like your couch is probably deep. It's soft, highly crashable. Right. The home should show off who you are. And Ashley has styles that balance timeless appeal and modern trends to bring your personal look home. Ashley offers well crafted, affordable pieces built to stand up to real life with great looks that are made to last. More than just eye catching design. Get features like stain resistant performance fabric options that are incredibly durable, stain resistant with machine washable cushion covers. Plus Ashley provides fast, reliable white glove delivery right to your door. Now, my buns are very familiar with the Jersenlo swivel chair. I sat in this chair at our show in Los Angeles that we did in front of a live audience. And let me tell you something, I would have sat there for another three, four, five hours, but then we would have had to have charged everybody four, five times the amount they spent on the one hour show. So it didn't make any sense. But the Jerson low swivel chair made that a temptation for me. Visit your local Ashley store or head to Ashley.com to find your style. Oh, boy. You know, we talk about closets a lot on this show.

[Jason Bateman]

We sure do.

[Sean Hayes]

Kicking the door down, coming on out, basically talking about that closets are for clothes.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, I knew.

[Sean Hayes]

And I've taken that too much to heart because my closet is stuffed. I've been meaning to go through my closet round some of that. I should sell it. I mean, listen, you know, what feels familiar in my closet may be exactly what someone else is searching for. Buy, sell and discover affordable secondhand fashion you'll love.

[Jason Bateman]

With the resale marketplace, Depop reselling can feel overwhelming. But on depop, getting started is easy.

[Sean Hayes]

Just snap a pick of your item and depop can take care of the rest, including suggesting a price to help

[Jason Bateman]

sell one of the best parts. There are no seller fees, which means you keep more of your money.

[Sean Hayes]

No printer required. And you can even choose a convenient drop off. No matter your style. Depop is where people with all kinds of taste come to sell and shop.

[Jason Bateman]

It really is for everyone. Parents selling, kids wear, people shopping for the perfect outfit for a Friday night out. And anyone who wants to express themselves and play with trends on their own

[Sean Hayes]

terms, download the Depop app now and start listening today. We know parents want to feel confident as their teens are navigating social media. With Instagram Teen Accounts, teens get automatic protections by default.

[Jason Bateman]

Teens between the ages of 13 and 17 are automatically put into a protective experience.

[Sean Hayes]

That means they get built in content settings for what they see, contact limits on who can contact them, and time management tools like daily time limit reminders, as well as sleep mode which mutes notifications from 10pm to 7am plus teens

[Jason Bateman]

under 16 need a parent parents permission to change any of these settings to be less strict. Learn more about Teen Accounts and Instagram's ongoing work to help protect teens [e-mail] teen accounts. And now back to the show.

[Sean Hayes]

So, but what about school for the both of you guys? Like, did you have a very normal childhood? Like looking back now?

[Will Arnett]

Kind, kind of. Right.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes, we really did.

[Sean Hayes]

I mean, sorry, that one was for L will.

[Will Arnett]

No, no, it's.

[Elle Fanning]

You have a normal child.

[Sean Hayes]

I'm sorry. Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Willie. Yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

Oh my gosh.

[Jason Bateman]

No, but you did. So you went to public schools and stuff like that?

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, my. Well, yeah, my sister went to. She was homeschooled.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay.

[Elle Fanning]

For a long time until ninth grade in high school. And. And so then that meant like the age wise, I was homeschooled by my grandmother until fourth grade. And so at those two ages we just kind of felt like we wanted, you know, I think our mom Wanted us to have that experience. You know, it was very much an experience that our mom had. Like, she just never had a. She is shy. She's not an. Like, no one is in the business. Like, this is just not. This is not how she saw her life going. And then it was like, Dakota just kind of kept getting jobs. And then she always thought, oh, we're gonna move back to Georgia. And then they never did. Cause she kept getting things and, like, move to la. And so my mom was really, you know, figuring out as she was going along as well. It's interesting. Cause my sister. Her birthday is today.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, happy birthday, Dakota.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, happy birthday.

[Elle Fanning]

He's. Yeah. She's 32. But we were. It's interesting. Cause we're like, mom was 32 when she was on set with I Am Sam, like, navigating this. You know, when Sean Penn's, like, method you know, talking to Dakota and just. They're having to navigate that together. It's just so interesting. Like, kind of sweet to think about our young mom dealing with that.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, that's really cool.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. But, yeah, schools. It's. Yes. We. We were homeschooled. And then it was like, I think, you know, I was like, I don't really have any friends my own age, and I want to have that experience. And so Mom's like, yeah, certainly, you know, wanted proms and the parties and the whole thing. And so we went to the same school, and it was a private school here in la.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, that's great.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

And then did again. I'm just. I find myself. I'm just projecting here, just thinking about all of my, you know, oh, take

[Will Arnett]

us away on this journey.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

So.

[Sean Hayes]

For me. But did you guys think about college?

[Jason Bateman]

I didn't know there were kids left on the journey.

[Sean Hayes]

You guys. You guys just kind of blew right by college. Kind of like, I did thinking like, oh, I'm good. I've got my career started. I don't. I don't need it. And it's stressful. Right.

[Elle Fanning]

I certainly did. I was not sure. I was so done with school. I was. I knew from pretty quick, I'm not going to college. Dakota did. Dakota went to nyu.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay, go for it.

[Elle Fanning]

She's much more studious than I and has much more, like, the attention span.

[Sean Hayes]

And she's got a backup career in her back pocket.

[Elle Fanning]

I know we said she should be. She. We always tell her, like, she should be. Should have been a lawyer. I mean, not should have, but, like, yeah, right.

[Jason Bateman]

She still can be. Yeah, still can. Why not? Yeah, that's why. Wait, I want to just say one sidebar about homeschool. Because I don't know anything about it. It just imagines definitely go off on it then.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, let's have your hot take.

[Jason Bateman]

I always imagine when somebody says they're homeschooled, like how eat. Like, who's checking to see if you've done your homework? Like, how does it. You know, like, you just wake up, you're like, man, I don't feel. You can't say, I don't feel like going to class. Cause your class is in your house. You know, like, I would cut class all the time.

[Sean Hayes]

Sure you would. You'd be late a lot.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, you'd be like. Or whatever. I'd be late almost every day to school. But. Yeah, but there's. There's no. Like. Anyway, we don't have to go into it. I just.

[Elle Fanning]

No, it was like a curriculum that was a full curriculum. And they would send you all of the books and then.

[Jason Bateman]

And then your, quote, teacher is your grandma.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes. And then I also had a studio teacher that was the same studio teacher with me. Even when I would. When I was in my regular school and would leave and go back and forth and we had to keep up with the assignments. Got it. But it was also, I mean, it was interesting. Cause I felt like I learned a lot more. Like the certain curriculum, they taught us cursive first instead of and. Which is kind of reversed. When I went into school, like a lot of my. They didn't know cursive as, and they thought it was kind of weird. Like, why are you doing cursive? Like, oh, that's what I was taught first before. And so it was kind of like an advanced.

[Sean Hayes]

Right.

[Jason Bateman]

I know what you mean about the college thing, though, because I always. It's like, I completely advocate for everybody going to college just for the experience of it. Right. But I understand when people, like, want to pursue acting or something, because if you have a degree in ACT and being an act, like theater and actor, it doesn't help you get a job. Like, either you're right for a part or you're not right for a part. But I mean, I still, as a

[Sean Hayes]

doctor, you need to have that diploma and the credentials and all that stuff before you.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, I still advocate for people going to study because I.

[Will Arnett]

We heard that the first coverage. Yeah, we're really covered on that part. Just in case you're worried about taking fire, by the way.

[Jason Bateman]

And. And by the way, just a little plug. I. I Have a scholarship set up at Illinois State University for theater kids. So I do.

[Will Arnett]

There's a long way to get to that.

[Jason Bateman]

Tell you what, it's important.

[Will Arnett]

No, I had my, my. My thing was, let's get to will experience after one semester. Because I was like, sure, I want to get out into the world and I want to get doing the thing I want to do. That was it for me.

[Sean Hayes]

You were saying, yeah, yeah, let's do it.

[Will Arnett]

Let's get on.

[Elle Fanning]

That's how I felt. I mean, yeah, it was. Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

So, Elle, what was the first gig where you were actually front and center and not a stand in for your sister? That you were up, you were front and center and you were like, wait a minute, this is really cool. And I really get it.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes, there was, Gosh, I'm trying to remember the very first. I mean, I definitely. I mean, I did, you know, I had a lot of commercials. I did the, you know, law and order stint. You know, I burned down a house. It's like a crazy, you know, demon child. And, you know, I had the rite of passage there.

[Sean Hayes]

What was your style of burning? Was it. Was it like lighter fluid? How did you burn down the house? Do you remember what your character did?

[Elle Fanning]

I don't remember asking for a friend

[Sean Hayes]

or a bunch of old newspapers.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, I don't remember because there's a

[Sean Hayes]

bunch of different ways to do it.

[Elle Fanning]

It might have just been. I don't know if they showed me doing it, it was more like, you know, fire starter. Like, I was just like this girl in front of the burning building.

[Sean Hayes]

Didn't come out of your eyes or anything like that?

[Elle Fanning]

No, no. But criminal minds, they really loved me. They brought. I was a. I was kidnapped twice. The same character. I was brought back to get kidnapped again.

[Will Arnett]

Kidnapped again, yes.

[Sean Hayes]

The best kicking and screaming we've ever seen.

[Jason Bateman]

Not since Liam Neeson. Yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. So that was a big thing.

[Will Arnett]

Sean, after. After being kidnapped, how quickly would they let you go, do you think? If they talk.

[Sean Hayes]

Oops.

[Will Arnett]

Like on the ride to the hideout.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, you know, as Oprah says, never let them take you to the second location.

[Will Arnett]

That first job on your own.

[Jason Bateman]

But like, when the fire started, like when that flame first started, like, oh, wait, this is exciting. Was it like all of those little episodic things? You're like, wait a minute, this is really, really thrilling.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. I remember there was a movie I did called Phoebe in Wonderland and I was nine. It was with Felicity Huffman and Patricia Clarkson and Bill Pullman.

[Jason Bateman]

They're both great. They're all great.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. And I played Phoebe, so, like, my name was in the title. And it was about a young girl who had Tourette syndrome. And I realized it was the first time that I, you know, had to learn about something and portray something in, like, a sensitive way. I mean, yes, I was young, but I realized, oh, there's another layer to acting, obviously, of, like, I have to transform into this person and kind of. It's a very specific experience that I don't know, that I have to learn about. And I talked to kids that had it, and so that was very unique. And just to be, for the first time, like, the person who was, like, number one on the call sheet.

[Jason Bateman]

Like, I was Phoebe, and go deep like that.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

That's really cool. I remember watching what's Eating Gilbert Grape, and I'd never even heard of Leonardo

[Elle Fanning]

DiCaprio, sister's favorite movie.

[Jason Bateman]

So good. And when Leonardo DiCaprio came on as that character, I was like, oh, my gosh. How do they cast that kid? Where do you find the kid? That kid? And you're like, oh, he did what? That was a part. Like, that blew my mind, as I'm

[Will Arnett]

sure he was so good. What? What? Well, Elle, so that. That happened. What was the first film when you were kind of on your own? Like, you really felt like you were an adult and really had agency over you. I mean, you always had agency over the roles and stuff you wanted to do. But that time when you were.

[Elle Fanning]

Or mostly you're just auditioning and you're trying to get the best thing, and it just so happens that, oh, you know, you got the part, so you can't.

[Will Arnett]

What was the first thing that you, like, chose that you picked, that you felt like, this is all right, I want to do it. I'm an adult. This is the kind of stuff I want to do. You remember was there a certain thing.

[Elle Fanning]

I know. It's so funny because there's also so many different chapters that I can pinpoint of, like. Of remembering. Like, I felt like Somewhere was a film that I did that I auditioned for that. I was 11, but that was the first time that people started. Is that Sophia's film somewhere and Super 8? It was Sophia's film, yes. With Stephen Dorff. And we filmed the Chateau and Super 8. That was with J.J. abrams. They were kind of. I was 12 in that. But those were the first times I started getting recognized. Not as Dakota Fanning. Cause constantly I would always get recognized as Dakota. And so that was like a. There was, like, a Kind of stepping stone there and like another chapter. What is coming to mind with like a role that I chose that really felt like I fought for it was the Neon Demon. This film I did with Nicholas Winding Refn, who directed Drive, right?

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

And Drive had just come out and it was this. I mean, it was a crazy script.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. And that film was incredibly ambitious too. Yeah, I remember the excitement around him right after Drive too. Yeah, that was awesome.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes. And the script was, you know, I was 17 when I filmed it and it was, I guess, quote, unquote. I mean, I was playing a 17 year old girl. But it was kind of the horror. It was intense. Like, it was like, again, kind of polarizing with the themes. It was kind of like the substance in a way. Like pre the substance. It was about beauty in the modeling industry. And it was kind of extreme. But I. I was like, I want to do this. I saw something in it. And obviously, I mean, Nick was from Drive. I mean, he was a big director that people wanted to work with. And so it was a part that a lot of people wanted. But it was something that I really pushed for and wanted to go there. And I think people in the industry, I don't know, I think it went to Cannes and it got booze and then got applause and it was very polarizing. But I enjoyed that. That it was not, you know, straight down the middle. And it was my first time kind of doing something like that.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Do you see? So the job obviously of being an actor is playing different people. And can I. This is gonna be a weird question, but, like, did you find as a kid, when you're just learning who you are and becoming who you are, did you find it confusing to be asking yourself to be all these different people at a.

[Jason Bateman]

When you're trying to figure out who you are?

[Sean Hayes]

I mean, I just. I found that was confusing for me, you know, like, we didn't become schizophrenics, but like you're really trying to be a convincing version of something that you're not at a time when you're trying to figure out who you are. So how was that for you?

[Elle Fanning]

That is really good. It's something I haven't completely thought about.

[Jason Bateman]

Get it out now. This is the place to get it out.

[Elle Fanning]

This is the moment right here. Yeah, I think. I think that.

[Sean Hayes]

I think it can be helpful maybe. Right.

[Elle Fanning]

I think something that I hadn't thought about, I think. Yeah, I think there was, for me, acting in the experience. I just felt like it was so enriching like, there's nothing. Like, for me, it's added so much to my life and, like, expanded my life of getting to also know how to handle yourself, like around adults and be in those social situations and. And go to other countries and experience. Like, it was just kind of. It opened my world in a way that it seemed I was like, oh, this is normal, but it's obviously not the normal. And then playing characters, I mean, I'm a real big. I live in my head a lot, and I'm a big daydreamer and kind of like my imagination more than reality anyway. So I felt like I found a place that I could expose all of those inner thoughts. So for me and experiment and almost put on different types of clothes and different personalities. And I did that not so much in my real life, but I got to act that out through the characters I played when I was younger. So it wasn't confusing. It was more like cathartic, I guess, to have an outlet like that.

[Sean Hayes]

Can you point to any character that you feel that you adopted still to this day, that's become a kind of a good part of your personality?

[Jason Bateman]

Yes. Another great follow up is.

[Sean Hayes]

I just wanted to give you guys. I've done a lot of work, a lot of work on this interview.

[Jason Bateman]

That's a really good question.

[Elle Fanning]

It wasn't someone that I played when I was younger. Younger, but I was in the show the Great, where I played Catherine the Great.

[Will Arnett]

Sure.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes. For. We did it for three seasons. Nicholas Holt and Nicholas Holt. Yes. He played Pete. And we were a married couple. And Tony McNamara, who wrote the favorite, wrote it. So it was very, you know, we had an asterisk that said, like, this is not historically accurate. Like, before the show happened in, like, a tongue in cheek way. And it was raunchy and definitely not about history.

[Sean Hayes]

It was really stylized.

[Jason Bateman]

It was.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, it was kind of in that favorite, like, tone, the rhythm. It was very written, very. We had to be punctuation perfect, word perfect. And, you know, it was a real, you know, you had to hit the joke. Yeah, it was a real challenge. But I felt like Tony was watching me kind of come to my own as a woman, because I started the first season, I was 19, 20, and then we finished when I was 25.

[Will Arnett]

Wow.

[Elle Fanning]

So 100% my personality was informing what Tony was writing throughout the seasons. Katherine was. I was absorbing her. And to this day, I feel like she's the most like me. Which could be better or worse. I mean, there's a Lot of negative things to her as well. But, you know, she was a very messy character and complicated. And I think also people sometimes want to put you in a box of. I mean, especially me. Like, ooh, you laugh all the time, and da, da, da. And you're naive. And, you know, that is something. You know, I did Maleficent. I played Sleeping Beauty, so I was a Disney princess. And so to be able to do this show where I technically was playing an empress, a queen, that was. That came into the, you know, ruling and had a coup on her husband when she was super young. But she was super underestimated, but had this really calculating side to her.

[Sean Hayes]

You could show all the stuff that's under.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. She would use her naivete, and I feel like, ooh, I kind of. I think I do that. And so she was like, good.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah. Cause you're a good actor. And also, like, God forbid, that wouldn't be really. Oh, you're laughing positive all the time. Like, like, that's a, like, that's a bad thing.

[Sean Hayes]

I had a little bit of that experience. Sh.

[Will Arnett]

Right. I thought you were saying. Because I feel a lot of that.

[Sean Hayes]

Like, well, I'm super hairy on the outside. I'm pretty naked and bald on the inside.

[Will Arnett]

I feel a lot of that sort of like a real Teen Wolf energy.

[Sean Hayes]

No, but Shani, I, I, I was thinking that it's a whole thing, you seeing Shani, you know, you do that, that the. The One man show a couple weeks ago, like, there's so much sort of like, like, you know, deepness and darkness and, and at times during that show, and you just do it so effortlessly. I'm like, yeah, there's. There's the guy underneath all the, the warmth and the generosity that you socially, you know, put forward to people to put them at ease. There's like, this incredibly deep, serious, ferocious under the. Yeah. Dark.

[Jason Bateman]

Dark.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. And the only part I didn't buy is that you would walk, that you would walk over to the river, because I know you take a cab or you take an Uber, there's no way you'd walk. That was. That took me out. That took me out.

[Elle Fanning]

Well, I don't think. You can't have even in, like, scripts where I always, like, look for this, or, like, you can't have, like, incredible joy without, like, deep sorrow. Like, it doesn't.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. And it's also like, any four of us right now talking, it's like we have tons and tons of different sides of us that people have seen and People haven't seen. And so for people to think that you don't have that, you know, is just by default a Hollywood thing. You know, it's like. No, could never do that because.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, you get typecast for sure. I know all about it, by the way. So we did. I didn't mention in the, in the opener, L. This your new show that's going to Premiere. A24 for Apple. Margo's got money troubles.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

That type of games. Marco's got money troubles.

[Will Arnett]

She's got money troubles.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait a minute. Was this.

[Will Arnett]

Pausing. I was taking a pause.

[Sean Hayes]

Was this a documentary on Margot Robbie? Because we just had her on. She didn't mention having any issues with cash.

[Elle Fanning]

I don't think she has any money troubles.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, Elle, was this a book?

[Elle Fanning]

It was a book.

[Jason Bateman]

I think I read that book.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes, it was not. Sure.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, no, that was the one. That was the one I read.

[Elle Fanning]

It had to be. Yeah. The title's very specific. She.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, that's so cool.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. She joins. She's a young mom and she doesn't have the cash and so she joins only fans.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes, I think. Yes. Oh, my gosh. This is so cool.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes. And it's. It's super. It's a. It's cool on a lot of.

[Will Arnett]

I mean, first of all, it's got an amazing cast.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

And you and your sister produce it as well. Right. You and your sister have a production company together. Is that true?

[Elle Fanning]

Called Llewellyn Pictures.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, that's fun.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, that's great.

[Will Arnett]

That's so fun.

[Elle Fanning]

After our late dog.

[Sean Hayes]

We'll be right back.

[Jason Bateman]

Whole Foods Market is your go to destination for flavors inspired by regions across the world. Explore the store for yellow signs to find big sales on brands like Siete de Checo, Rao's and San Pellegrino to bring together a delicious meal. The prepared foods department at Whole Foods Market makes dinner time easy with empanadas, burritos, soups, and more. Explore the frozen foods aisle for $3.65 burger brand taquitos at great low prices. Save on regional flavors at Whole Foods Market. Ever invest in something that seemed incredible at first but didn't live up to the hype? Yeah, I wasted a lot of money buying a car when I was 21 years old. I spent way too much on it. It just. It never worked and I didn't know what I was doing. Marketers know that feeling. They optimize for the numbers that look great, like impressions, but they don't see revenue. LinkedIn has a word for bull spend instead. You can get the highest roas of major ad networks with LinkedIn ads. Cut the bull spend, advertise on LinkedIn, spend $250 and get a $250 credit. Go to LinkedIn.com smartless. This is a paid ad by BetterHelp. You know, you've heard me talk a lot about my mom and how funny she was and how much we loved her, but boy was she a huge inspiration to me. She gave me the tools I needed for the work ethic I have and the funny bone in my body. She's one of the best human beings, if not the best human being I've ever known. Women deserve to be celebrated, but we should also recognize that many women carry emotional weight at work, in relationships, in families, and in the roles they play for others. Whatever you're navigating career expectations, parenting, caregiving or More therapy with BetterHelp can help you check in with yourself, unpack what's feeling heavy and build healthier pathways forward. BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform and handles the initial therapist matching work for you. Just take a short questionnaire to share your needs and preferences. And thanks to BetterHelp's industry leading match fulfillment rate, they usually get your match right the first time. You can also feel confident knowing BetterHelp therapists work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully qualified. Your emotional well being matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% [e-mail] that's betterhelp.com Smartless.

[Sean Hayes]

Back to the show.

[Jason Bateman]

I have a dumb, dumb question. Have you guys, other than like the stuff when you were kids, have you done anything as adults together in a film?

[Elle Fanning]

No. And it's about to happen in a month.

[Sean Hayes]

No way.

[Will Arnett]

No way.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes. We have never read a line together. Never. We visited each other on set, but we do not. We have never done that. Never been on camera together other than, you know, me playing her young. But we're obviously not together. And so yeah, we're doing the Nightingale, which is a best selling book by Kristin Hannah and we're playing sisters and that is a sister story in World War II.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh wow, that's so cool.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, that'll be huge.

[Jason Bateman]

That'll be huge.

[Elle Fanning]

I know. And we're excited and nervous.

[Sean Hayes]

Will knows a lot about World War II. What portion of the war are we covering and where are we talking?

[Elle Fanning]

It's the French Resistance, so it's.

[Will Arnett]

Oh sure.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh sure.

[Will Arnett]

Yes.

[Sean Hayes]

One cigarette.

[Will Arnett]

It's the best. I take a cigarette, I go and I kill some Nazis. I leave a bag with explosives next to that.

[Elle Fanning]

We're still casting. We're still casting. So if you want to give us an audition, you can.

[Will Arnett]

I'd love to send him the tape. How? That's excellent. That's so great. I'm so happy that you guys are doing that. That's. That's so cool. You must be. Are you nervous? Are you excited? Are you all of the above?

[Elle Fanning]

We are. I think we're all of the above. I think it's also stepping into the unknown a little bit. And people who have worked with both of us say that we work in a very different way, that we're extremely different on set.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, cool.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, not a bad thing, but just our energy's very different.

[Jason Bateman]

Do you guys talk Every single day.

[Elle Fanning]

Every day.

[Jason Bateman]

Every day.

[Elle Fanning]

We are unbelievably close.

[Will Arnett]

Close.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

We hang out. We live close to each other.

[Jason Bateman]

We talk. I love that. I love that.

[Sean Hayes]

But wait, we. We. We. We scooted right past your new show.

[Will Arnett]

I know.

[Sean Hayes]

So look, so tell us.

[Will Arnett]

Mar's got money troubles. Troubles, troubles.

[Sean Hayes]

There's no ellipses there. It just goes right through.

[Will Arnett]

So it's. It's you and the wonderful Michelle Feifer, whom we adore. We adore that.

[Jason Bateman]

Will just worked with.

[Sean Hayes]

Will just worked with.

[Will Arnett]

I love her. I love Michelle. She's amazing. Yeah, she's the best. And. And her husband David, right?

[Elle Fanning]

Yes. David is the. He wrote the show.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, cool. I mean.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. They've never worked together before.

[Will Arnett]

They've never.

[Elle Fanning]

This is the first time.

[Will Arnett]

Wow.

[Elle Fanning]

In this show. Yes. Whoa.

[Will Arnett]

A lot of people working together who've never worked together. So it's. Yeah. So it's. It's you and Michelle and Nick Offerman.

[Sean Hayes]

Nick Offerman plays the great Nick Offerman.

[Elle Fanning]

Great Nick Offerman, who we engineer. Yes.

[Will Arnett]

Greg Kinnear.

[Sean Hayes]

The great Greg Kinnear.

[Will Arnett]

We just saw him the other day.

[Elle Fanning]

Someone you know, an unknown. Nicole Kidman.

[Will Arnett]

Nicole Kidman, wow.

[Sean Hayes]

We're rooting for Good feeling about her. Keep your eye on her.

[Will Arnett]

Wikipedia. Oh, Jesus. Holy shit. That's so great. You must be so excited about the show. Everybody's talking about how great it is.

[Elle Fanning]

Oh, that's so nice. No, I really am. It was also kind of one that. I mean, I was a producer on the grade as well, and I. Oh, you were? I was. I was. So that was kind of the first time I actually got to see behind the scenes of, like, you know, pitching a show for the first time. That was the first time I did it on that. But this Margo truly feels like from the ground up, because it was. I read the book before it was published and so I had to talk to Rufi, who wrote the book, and she had to give. It was a real process. And then we assembled this dynamic team with a 24 and David and the cast. And then we went out and really pitched it hard. And so it just feels like. Like it's definitely this collaboration, but something that I'm. I don't know, I'm very involved in and I love this character so.

[Will Arnett]

Well, yeah, I thought you were gonna say. I'm sure you're very proud of it. That process of being there right from the. Right from the get go and sort of shepherding it all the way through. Do you feel responsibility? I don't mean that in a negative way, but do you feel like this. Like real care for it in that way?

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, I think you do feel this care and you feel a little bit of pressure because you. It's kind of like exposing your heart and you hope that that's with every. That's with everything. I mean, and you hope that people. You hope that people like it. Obviously. I mean, a show also takes so much time to film too.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Do you like that longer involvement? The fact that you're involved with it during. During pitching and developing and pre production and post production, aside from just the filming part of it, or having gone through that a couple of times now, you're like, yeah, maybe I'll just do like a couple of acting gigs between just sort of hit and run, get in, get out. Or would you like to. Do you like staying with a project from start to finish and doing the whole thing?

[Elle Fanning]

I kind of got a taste for it now. I feel like I like the power. I think there's something in also being.

[Jason Bateman]

That's hilarious. Yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

Being like a child actor. I think you also spend a lot of time. Not that. I mean, we're not harping on this, but it is like my origin story. But. But being an observer, you're cast as the observer who watches the adults do the fun things. And you're also on set. I think I've gotten to a place now where I feel very in myself, where I think it also comes from. Okay. Respect your elders. And you don't wanna be like, I know too much or I know more than you. But there does come a point, and I think now that I can say, well, no, maybe I do. Cause I've been on set since I Was two.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. You've got all this experience, you know

[Elle Fanning]

what you're talking about how to avert a crisis or how to problem solve. And what, like, I've seen. And I really learned on the job, like, I didn't go to acting school or anything, so I was learning from these directors, and they all worked in this vastly different way. So I became very malleable. You had to be, you know, and so I get to put that into the producing process now.

[Sean Hayes]

And I like that in an unapologetic way. You have a seat at the table, legitimate seat at the table. So when you chime in, you don't have to say, oh, sorry, excuse me.

[Elle Fanning]

Exactly. I definitely used to do that, you know, and I don't so much have to anymore. I really like the post production. I love editing.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, then my next favorite question always is, do you see directing in your future as well, since you've got so much that experience?

[Elle Fanning]

I know it's such a cliche. Everyone's like, oh, yeah, I want to be a director.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, But I think everybody wants to. I mean, but in any, in any occupation, you want that promotion, you want to be able to use what you've been learning, and that usually lives in the job that's just above you. You know, you're constantly learning more about the process. And. And so with directing, it allows you to use everything you've been obviously taking a look at and absorbing and observing.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, I've dreamed about that for a long time, even since I was young, like, and I would write a lot. I don't so much do it as much anymore, but it was, you know, my favorite. Always in school and coming up with stories and things. And so I know that that's in my future, but I don't think it's in my near future.

[Jason Bateman]

But yeah, it's there.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, speaking about your near future, what are you doing when you're not. I mean, you're constantly working.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, this year's been this year and last year was really insane. But I always knew that. I'm such a freak. I love the number five, and so you do, too.

[Sean Hayes]

That's my favorite number.

[Elle Fanning]

It's my favorite number. And I just felt like 2025 was always. I planned, like, I did certain things when I was 15, like, because the number five, like, I planned a lot of stuff.

[Jason Bateman]

Why five? Why five?

[Elle Fanning]

I feel like it's an even number, although it's an odd because it's in the middle of all the numbers, like 1 to 10.

[Jason Bateman]

It's very solid.

[Will Arnett]

I like, like that.

[Sean Hayes]

So I like the number five, too,

[Will Arnett]

for what it's worth.

[Elle Fanning]

What do you like, Sean? What do you.

[Jason Bateman]

I like three. I like three.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, I kind of like three too as well.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

So then. Yeah, what Shawnee was.

[Elle Fanning]

I don't know if I even answered, like, what the heck did I just say?

[Sean Hayes]

He was talking about.

[Elle Fanning]

You asked me a question. I'm like, yes, I really like the number.

[Jason Bateman]

Number five.

[Sean Hayes]

Weirdo.

[Elle Fanning]

And my sister and her, our friend Chloe, they are going to listen to this. That's why I'm like, my butt cheeks are like clenched. I'm like.

[Jason Bateman]

Because they love this show. So we love you guys.

[Elle Fanning]

And I talked to Dakota right before. She's like, you're about to do smart. Listen. But she actually. I was like, I'm nervous. She's like, no, it's just a conversation.

[Jason Bateman]

Like, yeah, we're just hanging out. We're all just hanging out.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, hello to them both. But Sean was saying, like, about the future, like, you're working so much. What do you do? Have you carved out some like, non work time in your future?

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, you know, I guess I gotta get better at doing that. But also, I'm not. I don't think I'm too. I'm just so. I wanna do it all.

[Jason Bateman]

What do you and Gus like to do? What's your favorite thing to do? For Tracy. That's your boyfriend?

[Elle Fanning]

Yes, that's my boyfriend. For Tracy. We love going on trips. He has actually been a really nice. Gosh, he is such. Well, we're very similar in a lot of ways. Cause he's also extremely extroverted. But he's extremely grounded and is able to really ground. And also he kind of carves out the time for me and I'm like. I don't even realize it, but like, okay, let's. We're gonna do this weekend away or we're gonna drive to Santa Barbara. We're gonna set up this trip. And it's just not. I'm not great at organizing. I don't. And I'm good at organizing in my. Like with scheduling, with work like that. I'm very honored. And that's kind of all I think about. And so then here he kind of turns me away to also think about these other things. It's a really. It's a spectacular.

[Jason Bateman]

We call him anchors. Scotty's my anchor. Everybody needs an anchor.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, we really are a good couple.

[Will Arnett]

I mean, fucking no comment.

[Jason Bateman]

What are you talking about? That's good. Scotty's my anchor.

[Elle Fanning]

Everybody knew I'm trying to do that. But also we're extremely ambitious, like, both of us. And so I think it's also, I'm like, yeah, you go do your thing and I go do mine. It's like, you don't got. You don't have to come follow me to set. Like, come and visit. But also, you know, you don't. I don't need you just like sitting in the trailer. It's like, I know that's boring. You know, he doesn't want to do that. So we're, you know, we're.

[Will Arnett]

He's a nice. I've. I've met. I've met your guest a few times over the years. He's a real nice, really nice guy.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Well, that's great. So what. But what do you do, like, on a day like today, right in midst all this stuff you're doing, you're. I mean, right now you're like constantly doing press and screenings and meet and greets and getting ready to work and prepping and blah, blah, blah. What do you do today? What do you do today? If you have the afternoon, like, what are you going to do? What makes you happy to carve out for you?

[Elle Fanning]

Gosh. Well, you see, it ebbs and flows. Like, I get into modes of like, okay, now I'm like, I love working out or I love doing this, so I'm going to go to Pilates and do this. And then. And it's like all or nothing for me. So I'm not in that phase right now at all.

[Jason Bateman]

What about, like, arts and crafts?

[Elle Fanning]

I have a cooking.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

[Elle Fanning]

Yes, I love painting and drawing and like, that is in me, but it's not. I gotta do it more. Like, I. I think about. I think about it. I'm like, you know what if I had like a painting room or something, I would be so happy. But it also feels too hard. I'm like, the step of setting it up, you know?

[Jason Bateman]

You know, my. My dream is Elle. My dream is to have somebody come. By the way, I did this. I had somebody come over. This is years and years and years ago with some friends. We got totally stoned. We all smoked pot, and then some woman came over with seven sewing machines and we all made pillows. Like, stoned out of our mind. And we just made pillows. And like, that's what we need to do, right? We need to have somebody come over to teach us. Like, hey, I want to paint. Can you Just set some stuff up for me and I'll paint and then we're done. And then we did it.

[Elle Fanning]

See if someone else sets it up for me. I sound terrible. Like, if it's set up for me, it's like, okay, you gotta go to this class. Class, then I will do it. I feel also, I'm like, oh, no, I don't want to stand up that teacher.

[Sean Hayes]

That's right.

[Elle Fanning]

You know, I'm like, obligation. But if it's just me alone, then I sit on my computer and I watch Traders.

[Jason Bateman]

Same. Seen every episode of every iteration, too.

[Elle Fanning]

I'm watching, so. Well, obviously we're watching.

[Sean Hayes]

There's a British or domestic one, right?

[Jason Bateman]

There's a Brit. There's a. There's a New Zealand or Australian or whatever.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Was the English one the first one?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, the English one was the first one.

[Sean Hayes]

This is like a Survivor type of thing, right?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Elle Fanning]

It's like Mafia.

[Will Arnett]

Remember we used to play that? Jb.

[Sean Hayes]

Sure. Yeah. No, you're a great leader.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

I always had to do it.

[Elle Fanning]

Any of y' all watch it? I mean, I want Rob to win.

[Jason Bateman]

I want Rob to win, too, because he's so clever.

[Elle Fanning]

I know. And I see. I. I always want the traitors to win.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, always.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah, I'm always like that. I also just started the celebrity uk, which I know is. I'm a little late to. I'm loving it.

[Jason Bateman]

But do you know who won that? Because I just. Okay, I won't. Do you have a guess? Do you have a guess?

[Elle Fanning]

See, I feel like everyone is onto them really quickly, so I just can't see that. I mean, Kat, I like Cat a lot.

[Jason Bateman]

Cat's great.

[Elle Fanning]

So she possibly. I feel like. And Alan, I love. I love Jonathan. I love them, but I just don't. They're all seem to be on them unless they get particular people out. I think Kat and Alan could go.

[Jason Bateman]

It's a very satisfying ending.

[Elle Fanning]

Oh, good. Okay, good. Yeah, my mom watches it too, and she was like, you're gonna love this. She's like, it's a great thing. Yeah. But I love reality tv, so I just spin. I'm like, okay. I sit. I also have TVs in my home. I don't turn them on. I only watch on my computer.

[Sean Hayes]

Huh.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay, so they're just decoration or.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah. I don't. They don't need to be here. It's so weird. And I have a giant, giant computer that is heavy and old and I just can't get rid of it. But the Screen is so big. I'm on it right now. And like the tech check this morning I was like, guys, I don't know any of these wires you sent are going to fit into this archaic thing.

[Jason Bateman]

It all worked out.

[Elle Fanning]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

While we're paused here, Will, did you want to double back on Sean's pillow party at all?

[Will Arnett]

I did, I just. The visual alone of.

[Sean Hayes]

Sure.

[Elle Fanning]

Sewing machines.

[Will Arnett]

You bunch of stoned middle aged entertainment types in a beautiful Hollywood mansion. Geez. Everything I ever. Always thought it was so fun, you guys.

[Jason Bateman]

We should do it. I'm not even kidding. It's really fun.

[Will Arnett]

Make sure that. Yeah. When good. 12th of never. That's the issue.

[Jason Bateman]

Come on. Warm McPillows.

[Will Arnett]

It's really. We'll do it. Elle, listen. You are such a.

[Jason Bateman]

You are a delight.

[Sean Hayes]

Just a delight.

[Will Arnett]

Elle, I'm so happy to have you. I mean you're just. You're such an impressive actor and you've done so many amazing things. So happy for your new show. Margo's got money troubles.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes, I'll say.

[Elle Fanning]

Money.

[Will Arnett]

Come on.

[Jason Bateman]

Troubles, troubles.

[Will Arnett]

Money pause. Troubles, troubles. Listen, it's just such a great. You just bring such positivity and you're amazing. Amazing. And we're just.

[Jason Bateman]

I could talk to you all day long. All day.

[Elle Fanning]

Thank you. God, I feel the same. I feel the same. And my favorite part, I just gotta say this because the best part on the dock is when you're worried that ordering the surf and turf is too extravagant. Is unbelievable.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, but I didn't cause him going,

[Elle Fanning]

oh, did we go long on that? I mean, that's the best. So when I'm in, when I need a pick me up like I turn, I watch that on TikTok like. And I think a lot of people do. I think it is a thing.

[Sean Hayes]

But it's freak little bites.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, thank you, my dear.

[Sean Hayes]

All right. Thanks for doing this.

[Jason Bateman]

We love you.

[Sean Hayes]

Enjoy the rest of your day.

[Elle Fanning]

Thank you.

[Will Arnett]

Thank you, Elle.

[Elle Fanning]

Thank you. Bye guys. This was so fun. Thank you for having me on.

[Sean Hayes]

You got it. Thanks.

[Jason Bateman]

Pillow party.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, Sean.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Wow.

[Jason Bateman]

Why would you guys.

[Elle Fanning]

What.

[Sean Hayes]

What should we do tonight? You know, we got all this big bag of weed and what do you think? Should we should just go crazy and. And call that gal with the sewing machines?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Sweet bro. Remember her number, huh? Yeah. And what should we do with the sewing machine? Let's make pillows.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, we all made pillows.

[Sean Hayes]

This is why I never.

[Will Arnett]

Hey, you know what would be really cool? We should go and pit this is this Is on the night, right. Sean going. You know what we should do? We should go pitch Celebrity Sweatshop. Right?

[Jason Bateman]

We. All right. We all make pillows.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, so that was. That was a real delight.

[Jason Bateman]

I mean, what a wonderful human being.

[Will Arnett]

I'm so impressed. She is a wonderful human being. She's got great energy. She's always just. She's always just positive and cool.

[Sean Hayes]

She was exactly as I had always hoped she would be.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

And then just does all this incredible work, constantly doing different stuff. I mean, it's just amazing. She's. She's got one of the new. She's in the. One of the new. What are those? You know, the thing that I'm talking about.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, here he comes.

[Will Arnett]

No, no, no, I'm not. It's a Hunger Game. She's in the new Hunger Games as well.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, she is?

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

She's on fire. She's amazing.

[Will Arnett]

She totally on fire. And. And I can't wait to see Marco's got money troubles.

[Jason Bateman]

I know that. That book was really good. Good.

[Sean Hayes]

I love that. You forgot. Oh, I think I read that book.

[Jason Bateman]

I.

[Sean Hayes]

How. What, do you read a book in an hour or something?

[Jason Bateman]

No, it's. I read like three or four in my life. That was one of them.

[Sean Hayes]

And so even though you forgot the one of.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, I.

[Sean Hayes]

Month and a half to read a book I like. I'm not going to.

[Jason Bateman]

If I read a book, takes me a while.

[Sean Hayes]

Will, how long does it take you to read, like, an adult book?

[Will Arnett]

Well, I've been reading a lot late. Like the last. Last two weeks. I'm on my fourth book in the last two weeks.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

When do you. When do you. When are you doing this?

[Will Arnett]

At night? Sometimes during the day. If I have time down in the day for an hour or whatever, I'll just.

[Sean Hayes]

So you. How many pages will you read before you knock off? 60 pages.

[Will Arnett]

It depends on how tired I'm. Yeah, yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

But like, sometimes. Sometimes you get in 10, 15 pages and you're just. Eyes are.

[Sean Hayes]

Right, right. But usually it's about a half hour reading and then you're. Then you're. And then you're sleeping. Sleeping.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah. And I do a lot of reading during the day, too. On my. Like sometimes in the morning, I'll wake up if I'm up early.

[Jason Bateman]

And you enjoy it. You just enjoy. I like reading about things. I like to read about.

[Will Arnett]

I get excited.

[Jason Bateman]

I mean. But if you sent me a. If you sent me a book about, like, I don't know, like, what, motorcycle driving?

[Sean Hayes]

Sure. I don't know that'd be called motorcycle

[Will Arnett]

before, but you know what would be good to read about would be bicycle riding.

[Jason Bateman]

That was good.

[Will Arnett]

That was goodbye. Smart. Smart less Smartless is 100% organic and artisanally handcrafted by Rob Armjarv, Bennett Barbico and Michael Grand Terri Smart Less this

[Jason Bateman]

podcast is brought to you by Kleenex Lotion Tissues Cold season is like the ultimate plot twist sudden, unwelcome and unpredictable. Luckily, you can be prepared with Kleenex lotion tissues that protect, soothe and moisturize your skin. Keep a box in the car or close by, especially on those cold mornings. They're not just soft, they're made with coconut oil and aloe for added comfort. Whether it's binge watching season or cold and flu season, Kleenex lotion tissues are always a smart move. For whatever happens next, grab Kleenex.

[Elle Fanning]

If you've never tried mochi ice cream,

[Jason Bateman]

it's time to tempt your taste buds with mymochi.

[Elle Fanning]

My Mochi ice cream is rich premium

[Jason Bateman]

ice cream wrapped in sweet, soft dough with delicious flavors like strawberry and mango. It's creamy on the inside and chewy on the outside, like an ice cream dumpling.

[Sean Hayes]

Don't miss out on the joyfully chill

[Jason Bateman]

sensation of my mochi ice cream. Grab a purple box of my mochi

[Sean Hayes]

today and taste the amazing flavor yourself.