A Unique TRAIL

In a Bazaar India exclusive, actor Elle Fanning discusses the pros of working on a femaledriven set, her first scent memory, and being the face of Fame, Paco Rabanne's new fragrance.

Harper’s Bazaar: You began acting at a very young age. Looking back, how has this shaped you as a person?

Elle Fanning: “I get to ‘play pretend’ as a career, and because I have been doing it since I was so young, my profession has allowed me to live in my imagination. As a result, I am not afraid to dream and take risks.”

HB: You have played a ghost, a Disney princess, an alien, a 19th-century author, an 18th-century empress... What is it like to slip into different characters? 

EF: “No matter what kind of character I am playing, I always try to find empathy for them. Also, I have noticed that I learn more about myself with each character that I play. I am currently filming Season 3 of The Great, so I am thinking about Catherine. This is the longest I have played any character and she means so much to me...especially in terms of what kind of person I want to be.”

HB: What’s the most challenging kind of role to play? And the most fun?