Elle Fanning Turns Heads in Elegant Fur Coat for W Magazine’s 2026 Best Performances Issue
lle Fanning is featured in W Magazine’s 2026 Best Performances issue, showing off her style and talking about her career and experiences as an actor.
In the interview, she discussed her latest film, Sentimental Value, her experiences on set, and some fun personal stories.
Fanning was excited to work with director Joachim Trier, who made the 2021 Oscar-nominated film The Worst Person in the World. Sentimental Value became a project she couldn’t say no to. “I would’ve said yes to Joachim, even if it was just one tiny little line,” she told W Magazine.
In the film, she plays Rachel, a young American actor who gets cast in a role written for a director’s estranged daughter. Fanning explained that her character grows in confidence as she navigates challenges on set.
Elle Fanning for W Magazine’s 2026 Best Performances Issue
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📸: Tyrone Lebon pic.twitter.com/0sCUgj9DWO
Filming took her to Oslo, Norway, and Fanning enjoyed the experience. “Yes, I was an American actress coming to Norway for the first time, much like my character… I loved it there. It’s very clean, and everyone is riding around on their bikes. I kind of fit right in there,” she said. She also shared memories from film festivals like Cannes and Deauville, including a dramatic fainting incident and dancing barefoot at a party.
Fanning reflected on her approach to acting, saying she separates herself from her characters to avoid bringing their emotions home.
For her role as Rachel, she had to work through emotional and personal challenges. She also shared that she sometimes says no to roles if they don’t feel right. “Rachel is a bit less confident than me. Her confidence grows throughout the film because Gustav awakens a talent in her that she knows is there,” she explained.
The actress also shared fun personal details. She admitted to being starstruck and told a story about falling in front of Cardi B at the Met Gala. She described herself as a dog personality-wise and shared fashion mishaps, like trying fake bangs that didn’t work out. She talked about her mother’s advice: “How you handle your disappointments is what defines you… People are going to tell you no, but the way you pick up your bootstraps, power on, and find that passion again, that’s important.”
Fanning also talked about her love for reality shows, enjoying programs that involve competition and creativity. She reflected on her hair choices, enjoying a wig for a role but preferring her natural blonde.
The W Magazine shoot featured Fanning in stunning outfits, including a Gucci coat and dress with Cartier jewelry, and earlier, a Ponte dress with Wolford tights and Donna Karan sandals. Photographer Tyrone Lebon directed her in creative poses, including a nurse look for the shoot.
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