Runaways role cements Fanning’s move away from child films

The 16 year old shot to fame aged seven in drama I Am Sam, before going on to land starring roles in children’s favourites Charlotte’s Web and Coraline.

But Fanning was keen to tackle more hard-hitting roles, and was overjoyed to win the leading part in the rock biopic.

She tells America’s Parade magazine, “I can be sweet little Dakota Fanning, and then I can be totally different in the movies.

“A big reason I wanted to do The Runaways was to do something unlike anything that I’ve done before. I’m ready to have people see me in a different way than like the kid in I Am Sam.

“You have to kind of grow up. Everyone has to do it. I am doing it through films, which may be more difficult but it’s what I love to do.”