Dakota Fanning’s A True Hollywood Veteran

In Hollywood, growing up is, more often than not, associated with screwing up. Dakota Fanning has not gotten trapped in that stereotype.

The 20-year-old actress covers Town & Country's August 2014 issue in all her neo-mod glory. Inside, Fanning's poise and wise-beyond-her-years intellect shines. "Even before I started working — when I was two, three, four, five — I was an exceptionally mature child," Fanning explained. "My mom and I were able to have conversations like, 'Do you want to go to California and go to auditions for commercials and TV shows? Is that something you want to do?' And I was like, 'Yeah, let's give it a try.'"

So, the entire family packed up their Atlanta life and moved to Los Angeles when Fanning was five. Talk about believing in your child! Luckily, it paid off in spades: Fanning and her younger sister Elle are the darlings of the both the film and fashion industries. And, though Fanning's just shy of the legal drinking age, she's the embodiment of what it means to be a role model. If calling her a Hollywood veteran at the age of 20 is wrong, then we most certainly don't want to be right.

Read on for excerpts of Dakota Fanning's interview, or check out the full story when Town & Country's August issue hits stands July 8.