American actress Dakota Fanning, aged 30, was recently featured in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, accompanied by her co-star from “Ripley,” Andrew Scott. During their discussion, she revealed an interesting tidbit: her first mobile phone was a gift from none other than Tom Cruise.
This revelation came about when Scott correctly guessed the answer to a question about who gave Dakota her inaugural cell phone. Scott guessed it could be a Hollywood icon, prompting Dakota to confirm that it was indeed Tom Cruise who bestowed upon her a Motorola Razr on her 11th birthday. This generous gesture occurred while she portrayed Cruise’s daughter in the 2005 hit film “War of the Worlds.”
Reflecting on the moment she received the gift, Dakota expressed her excitement, reminiscing, “Oh, my God, I was so excited.” Despite her enthusiasm, she admitted that at the time, she lacked people to communicate with, being just 11 years old. Nonetheless, she cherished the gift, feeling a sense of coolness associated with owning such a device at a young age.
Interestingly, Dakota revealed that Cruise’s generosity didn’t end there. Even after all these years, the “Mission: Impossible” star continues to send her birthday gifts annually. She humorously contrasted this with Scott’s lack of similar treatment from Cruise.
However, Cruise isn’t the only Hollywood luminary to have extended kindness to Dakota. Given her early start in the industry, she has crossed paths with several industry legends. In a recent appearance with Andrew Scott in Elle magazine’s “Ask Me Anything” video series, Dakota recounted a memorable gift from Kurt Russell. While working together on the film “Dreamer” in 2005, Russell presented her with a particularly special parting gift: a horse.
Dakota fondly recalled, “Kurt Russell gave me a horse.” These anecdotes not only shed light on Dakota’s early interactions in Hollywood but also showcase the enduring generosity of some of the industry’s biggest names.