Elle Fanning Goes Brunette, Grows Up Before Our Eyes

Most of the latest celebrity-beauty news has revolved around pastel hair, as seen on stars like Dascha Polanco, Demi Lovato, Rita Ora, Katy Perry, and so many others. The more unorthodox the hue, it seems, the more likes it gets on Instagram! But, fashion darling Elle Fanning is (once again) going down a different path.

The 16-year-old actress debuted a blunt, brunette hairstyle at this weekend’s premiere of the animated film The Boxtrolls, in which she provides the voice of Winnie, one of the lead characters. Dressed in a two-piece Oscar de la Renta ensemble, she went in a decidedly more somber direction than usual — save for the bow details on her top. (Even brunettes have to have fun, after all.)

This is a far cry from her Maleficent press tour, for which she wore romantic, princess-like ensembles by designers like Elie Saab, Alexander McQueen, and Lanvin, dressing her signature long, blonde strands in cascading curls and flowers. She said, at the time, that she was actually channeling the character of Princess Aurora. (How precious!)

So, perhaps we’re witnessing a new chapter for Elle — one that may stray from the vivacious teen we saw embracing Karlie Kloss shortly after their stage performance during New York Fashion Week. Or, better yet, we could be getting a glimpse of her next character. She’s currently filming Trumbo, where she plays the daughter of Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, whose career was halted due to accusations that he was a Communist. Both Dalton and his wife, Cleo, were brunettes, and they’re played by Bryan Cranston and Diane Lane, respectively. And, Elle’s shoulder-length crop is historically accurate for the 1940’s, when women started going to work in factories as a result of the war.

It’s pretty incredible to think that, at her age, Elle dying her hair could prompt such a media frenzy. But, a change this big — and, not to mention, this chic — is absolutely noteworthy, especially when it happens to a young woman who we’ve watched grow up on screen.