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.