Dakota Fanning To Play The Lead In 'Effie'; Fanning Takes Over For Saoirse Ronan

First she replaced Taylor Momsen at IMG and now this? Dakota Fanning is on a roll.

Initially, "The Lovely Bones" star, Saoirse Ronan, was to star in "Effie," Emma Thompson's upcoming period drama.

But Deadline reports that now Fanning will now take the lead role in the biopic as Effie Gray, the wife of the English art critic John Ruskin, who becomes entangled in a notorious Victorian love affair.

The movie narrates the strained intimacy between Gray and Ruskin. In spite of her good looks, Ruskin was allegedly disgusted with her and annulled the marriage, allowing Gray to marry Ruskin's pupil John Everett Millais (Tom Sturridge).

Thompson will also get some screen time as Lady Eastlake, who guides Effie through her tumultuous relationship.

For more, click over to Deadline.

Comments

[gfmurphy]

12:21 PM on 08/23/2011

Emma Thompson’s producer’s assertion that "Effie" is to begin filming in October is baffling to say the least. Emma Thompson and Greg Wise were sent copies of my play and screenplay "The Countess" to play John Ruskin and Lady Eastlake, the roles they are to play in "Effie". "The Countess" ran Off-Broadway for two years and has been produced worldwide According to papers filed by Emma Thompson’s producers in February, "Effie" cannot move forward until the court has made a declaratory judgment stating there has been no copyright infringement. This case is not yet on the court calendar.

Gregory Murphy

[edejan]

10:55 PM on 08/18/2011

Aaaarrrrgghhhh......I don't want to see Dakota in ANY sexy roles! It's just not right!

[Nyesha Scott]

08:18 PM on 08/18/2011

I love Dakota Fanning, she's a wonderful little actress... except she's grown up infront of our eyes and we forget... she's not going to stay young and will eventually have adult roles. I say go for it Dakota!

[Stephen Thorpe]

05:09 PM on 08/18/2011

She's still a young girl,....hasn't crossed to woman yet,....my view.

[NoSillyName]

02:54 PM on 08/18/2011

Cute girl, but she doesn't look well.

[cnlekax]

05:56 AM on 08/18/2011

beautiful look

[orange county man]

12:30 AM on 08/18/2011

The girl needs to start hitting the tanning booth and hard.

[libravalidus]

12:42 AM on 08/18/2011

Again with the "tan is the only beautiful look" You do know there is something called natural beauty? I'm tired of reading these stupid comments, it is ok to be who you naturally are, even if it isn't considered "beautiful" to the skewed and messed up American public. Skinny or curvy, pale or tan, a size 14 or a size 2, as long as your healthy and confident, you are beautiful. Please stop trying to box young girls' minds into a mold that the only way to be beautiful is to conform to a society's standard of "beautiful". Girls don't be afraid of being yourself naturally, no matter what society says you as you naturally are is beautiful.

[Getalifealready]

01:25 PM on 08/18/2011

Besides that, who is so stupid as to use a tanning bed these days knowing all the dangers? And she will be smooth and wrinkle free later in life when all the tanned so called beauties are all old and disgusting.

[lerchthemiser]

05:15 AM on 08/18/2011

She just signed on to do the next X-MEN movie, her mutant character is GLARE, you can't look at her without squinting ...

[spirrigold21]

08:24 PM on 08/17/2011

I'm not a hater but IMO she's not even a good actress..she's obviously pretty but not THAT pretty...How is it that she gets all these jobs?

[orange county man]

12:29 AM on 08/18/2011

For not being a hater, you sure are hateful and judgemental. Not to mention mean spirited.

[spirrigold21]

01:09 PM on 08/18/2011

Hateful and judgmental? Let me take you through my comment - first, I say she's not a good actress because I have seen many of her films and IMHO I think that she can't act very well...I mean did you see Twilight movies with her? It was terrible acting, just saying..next, I said she was pretty, I have never thought of Fanning as ugly, however I just don't think she has movie star looks...
by the way, could you please tell me how to address my honest opinion of her without being called a "hater" and "judgmental?" You can't, because by giving your honest opinion people automatically think of you as a hater. And mean spirited? You've never even met me, so you can't judge me as a person.

[Spock]

07:32 AM on 08/18/2011

You seem like a hater to me.

[spirrigold21]

01:05 PM on 08/18/2011

Nope, not a hater, just an honest observation.

[piano501debussy]

07:32 PM on 08/17/2011

I don't agree with her replacing Saoirse Ronan. I believe Saoirse is a much better actress than Dakota. And besides, why choose either of them? They are both so young looking. Saoirse looks older anyway which confuses me even more as to why they chose Dakota.

[MidwestPride]

03:03 AM on 08/18/2011

Fanning is getting Ronan left overs since Ronan decided to go with Byzantium over Effie (scheduling conflicts amongst the reasons).

I don't agree with Fanning being cast in a otherwise legit, British time period. If Elizabeth Bennet was played by Anne Hathaway you KNOW it's due to money and getting the American public to see it, a public which usually doesn't practice thoughtful choice mind you, and producers obviously was banking on Ronan to play the lead or else they wouldn't have chosen American's Teenage Sweetheart Actress. Since the actress slated to play it dropped out producers went for the name recognition. I think this was bad decision since I believe that unknowns who are actually British (and although Rona is Irish she has a serious knack for accents) could have done a fine job if Ronan couldn't do it, so Fanning's casting to me is to save face. It's about money this time not the highest quality. Such a shame really. Fanning's agent probably talked the producers into this decision.

[jlet37]

07:27 PM on 08/17/2011

Dakota started out flawless as a child star and continues that way today. I've been impressed with her talents from the beginning. A great young actress on her way to the top.

[lerchthemiser]

05:08 AM on 08/18/2011

word, i first saw her in a starring role in taken, she's pretty good.

[bbrasher1]

07:21 PM on 08/17/2011

After reading the comments below, this world is in sad place. All I have left to say is your a bunch of idiots. It's just hard to believe!

[Randi Grogan]

05:38 PM on 08/17/2011

As an adult I've seen this child and now young woman who has proven you can remain grounded in Hollywood. You can tell by the way she acts she has a very good support team. She is flawless, I am truly mesmerized by her talent. To see her on the big screen and then see her as Homecoming Queen her junior and senior year of high school, then see her play such an evil vampire in the Twilight Sagas. I hope this young lady keeps acting, she's unbelievably talented. I look at child stars of today and just wish they were as grounded, polite and truly loved their profession, acting. I look at Dakota, Kristen Stewart, yes Kristen she started out as a child actor and obviously has her head on straight. But of all child stars I'm amazed and whom I truly admire is Drew Barrymore. I just wish those who stray would look at Drew and say, I can do it! Dakota Fanning will be around for quite sometime and I'm sure in her very long career she'll have many awards for her great acting

[bobbythompson65]

02:06 AM on 08/18/2011

I went to high school with her father (Steve) and still run around with 2 of her uncles here in Conyers. Know her family well. Trust me, she is NOT your typical hollywood-type. She is very well-grounded and INCREDIBLY mature, especially for her age. You don't have to worry about this one falling into the whole hollywood drugs/partying scene -- she is the polar opposite of, say, Lindsey Lohan. An incredibly nice girl from a VERY good family who has her head on straight and just happens to be a talented actress. I wish her and the Fannings only the best!!!

[BlueZoo]

05:01 PM on 08/17/2011

If that photo is any indication, Dakota IS "The Lovely Bones!" EAT something! Please!

[sdmartintc]

05:33 PM on 08/17/2011

Hollywood forces starlets like Dakota to starve to fit its perception of "normal".

[Js420]

11:03 AM on 08/18/2011

no they dont. If you had money & a personal trainer, you'd look good too.

[baylormaggenti]

04:51 PM on 08/17/2011

She made her bones.

[clearpepsi]

08:14 PM on 08/17/2011

stop attacking women

[baylormaggenti]

08:53 PM on 08/17/2011

Making one's bones is a term used by law enforcement personal to say she paid her dues, she's credible. Where in there is an attack?

[OliveColored]

04:36 PM on 08/17/2011

Her acting "se xy" was one of the least se xiest things I have ever seen.

She may technically be of age but she has the body of a little girl. Even the media consumed guys I was watching it with did not find anything about it attractive.