Dakota Fanning Says Being A Mom Is More Important To Her Than Being An Actor—"If Somebody Said I Had To Choose, I Would Choose Having Kids"
Actress Dakota Fanning recently opened up about her strong desire to become a mother. "Being an actor is a huge part of my identity. I don't really know who I am without it, but I also have a desire to set up my life and career so that I always have a choice." Many women celebrated her excitement for children while others were more critical.
In a recent interview with PORTER, the Ripley star, 30, explained that motherhood has always been a high priority for her.
"Being an actor is a huge part of my identity. I don't really know who I am without it, but I also have a desire to set up my life and career so that I always have a choice. Having kids is probably more important to me than anything, even being an actor," she added.
Fanning added that in the meantime, she's trying to take on challenging roles and push herself.
"I'm trying to push myself to keep saying yes to things that make me uncomfortable, to keep going to places for long periods of time that maybe I'm scared to do because—God willing—one day, it won't be as easy."
Allegedly, she's been dating TV personality, Henry Frye, since 2017, but the pair has kept their relationship very private.
Fanning also recently turned 30, and her sister Elle wrote a sweet tribute.
"Dirty flirty quirky and purdy. My Cody is thirty! The obligatory birthday post is here and it is a particularly special one. Anyone who knows Dakota knows she has dreamt of turning 30 since she was a teenager. February 23, 1994 the world got brighter and more beautiful. I could sit and listen to you talk for hours, in fact that is my favorite place to be…absorbing your advice, your fascinating view of the world (things you ARE and AREN’T “interested” in) I have always felt safest with you by my side. She is the epitome of what a big sister should be. She’s absolutely nuts but will fight for her friends till the bitter end. I love you I love you I love you Cody."
The Fanning sisters rose to fame in the early 2000s. Dakota has been acting since she was three, but one of her most well-known roles was in the miniseries "Taken," as well as the award-winning film, I Am Sam. Elle played the younger versions of Dakota's character in both.
Some celebrated Dakota's appreciation for motherhood while others claimed her excitement is misplaced, or that she'll only enjoy motherhood because she's wealthy.
"...Sometimes it feels like the world has become just very antichildren / pro career driven life. it’s just validating, I guess, to hear others agree, and feel that raising a family is an acceptable and satisfying goal," wrote one woman on Reddit, to which another responded, "Guess I live on a different planet where women are worshipped and rewarded for having kids, and career women are still criticized as crones hitting the wall with a bunch of cats."
However, the overall response was positive, with many women encouraging Fanning to embrace her desire for a family, as well as affirming that she can continue to build her career. As devoted mothers like Blake Lively and Eva Mendez have demonstrated, that actresses can balance family and career and find great satisfaction in both.
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