Inside Dakota Fanning And Kristen Stewart's Friendship
In a world where the media so often pits women against each other, it is super refreshing to see a wholesome, passionate friendship between women. One of the girl gangs, or friendship goals, or whatever you want to call it, that we love more than anything is that between Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. You actually might not have even known that the two were friends. But indeed, it appears that the two are unequivocally best friends, and we love to see it.
And if you're wondering how the two officially met? Well, they're wondering the same thing. In 2016 at the ELLE's Women in Hollywood Awards, Fanning presented Stewart with an award and subsequent accompanying speech: "I never know what occasion to mark as the first time that Kristen and I met," Fanning admits. "We had met in passing on the set of a short film and were once in a meeting together, but neither of those instances feel special enough to be the moment that we met so I'm choosing my own moment" (via ELLE). Keep reading to hear more about that moment, amongst the many others, that created this ultimate friendship.
They were in Twilight together
Are we the only ones that sometimes forget about the Twilight series, as well as who was actually in those films? That includes Anna Kendrick, who also forgot she was in them (via Entertainment Weekly). Kristen Stewart was an obvious part of the film, playing the lead role of Bella, but you may have forgotten that Dakota Fanning was also totally in the Twilight saga, in which she plays Jane, a vampire villain (via Entertainment Weekly).
The on-set interaction between Stewart and Fanning on the films is actually what Fanning considers to be their "chosen moment" of meeting. "We were sitting in a warming tent on a soundstage on our first day working together on New Moon," explains Fanning. "Our conversation took a deep turn very quickly and I walked out of that tent knowing I had just connected with someone that I was going to know forever. I was 15 years old and I am now 22 and I can honestly say that my friendship with Kristen is one of the most special bonds in my life" (via ELLE).
They made out in The Runaways
Starring Fanning and Stewart as Cherie Currie and Joan Jett respectively, The Runaways tells the story of the mega-popular rock band, the Runaways, and how they navigated being an all-girl band in the 1970s (via IMDb). The film also explores Currie and Jett's relationship. It's clear that both actresses were very passionate about their times on this film, but perhaps even more passionate about having been able to work on it together. In her ELLE speech, Fanning gushed, "Watching [Kristen] work on The Runaways and working with her intimately on that film is an experience that I hold dear to my heart. It will never be replicated and I feel lucky to have been there. She approached playing Joan Jett with a guttural passion that can only come from one's soul, she gave her whole heart, her whole self to Joan and to me."
In the film, they replicate the Runaway's iconic song, "Cherry Bomb," which really can't be missed if you're a fan of either actress, The Runaways, or both. The two also may or may not have had a cheeky little make out session in the film, if you want to check that out too. Surprising no one, it was one of the most commonly asked questions in any 2010 interview featuring the actresses (via YouTube).
They're been there for each other through thick and thin
Stewart is certainly no stranger to controversy, and it's not a secret that she has faced quite a bit of backlash for engaging in some adulterous activities (via Vanity Fair). But just like any great best friend should, Fanning was by her side through all of it. "Everyone thinks they have the right to, you know, publicize the struggles and sadness and heartbreak and all of that," she told InStyle UK (via E! News). "It's like, 'Why do you think you are the authority to judge people's experiences?'" Fanning also very strategically dodges the question in this interview on YouTube.
Fanning truly believes that her friendship with Stewart is one of the most meaningful of her life. "She has held my hair back and talked me through heartbreak," she tells ELLE. "She has always been there for me when I have needed her most and most of all she has taught me the power of being one hundred percent yourself one hundred percent of the time."
Upon receiving her reward, Stewart couldn't resist gushing about her best friend in return, saying, "Oh my God, dude I love you so much...sorry that was like a real trip to have that experience in front of so many people."