NEW YORK — "Well," Dakota Fanning replies to a reporter's question, "I think ('Charlotte's Web') just teaches us simple things that some people forget in life, such simple things as not judging someone and really getting to know someone and being a good friend. And also the importance of living each day to the fullest — important things that we could all apply to our lives."
Pretty philosophical for a kid who's only 12 years old. Actually, that's a pretty good answer for an actor of any age.
Fanning is fielding questions at a reporters' roundtable set at an exclusive Manhattan hotel on a Sunday morning, when a lot of kids her age are watching cartoons. Close your eyes and they sound like the polished words of a sophisticated, highly paid Hollywood star. And, in fact, they are — after starting her career six years ago in TV supporting roles, she's become a marquee headliner, co-starring in "I Am Sam," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Man on Fire," "Hide and Seek," "War of the Worlds" and more.
But open your eyes and this box-office draw is kneeling on her chair and wearing braces on her broad smile. To a group of weary critics nearing the end of three long days of celebrity interviews during overlapping press junkets for four coming films, Fanning is a 5-foot-2-inch marvel of maturity dishing out good answers to tough questions.
In director Gary Winick's animated and live-action adaptation of E.B. White's classic tale, Fanning plays Fern, the farm girl who rescues a pig from slaughter, becomes his best friend but soon visits the barn less often as she develops other interests. Is Fern not a good friend?
"She's growing up, and she realizes it's OK to get interested in other things and doesn't have to go to the barn to see Wilbur every day," says Fanning.
Once Fanning had committed to the project, producer Jordan Kerner wanted the script to give her more screen time. Writers Susannah Grant and Karey Kirkpatrick goosed her role, adding material they'd found in several of White's original preliminary drafts.
This is the actress' first semiromantic role. Her character gets a beau. Sort of.
"I think it's such an important relationship, because it symbolizes growing up and becoming more interested in her appearance and wearing dresses and not just wanting to go to the barn," says Fanning.
"'Charlotte's Web' is such a classic and iconic story that so many people know, it's such a responsibility to live up to their expectations of Fern."
There she goes again — the "tween" who talks like an adult.
"I guess I've always been that way," she says. "I haven't changed. I think I was born an actor. I never learned it from anyone, no formal lessons or anything, just what I learned on the set."
Slumping back on her knees, she describes Winick's interest in making sure the film crew was comfortable working with all the animals, including 50 to 60 young porkers used to capture Wilbur's gradual growth. Acting, at times, without a person to play against was a challenge.
At the end of Fanning's 20-minute roundtable interview, she flashes the braces at her questioners in a big gummy smile.
"Thank you all very much for your time," she says, gracefully, bounding out of the room with a bouncy gait, as if she'd just heard the recess bell and class was dismissed.
E-mail: jhayes@post-gazette.com