Dakota Fanning is embracing her single status, especially after navigating the often-challenging landscape of modern dating. The actress expressed contentment with her current situation, emphasizing her clear understanding of what she offers and what she expects in return from a partner.
“I know what I have to give, and I know what I deserve in return,” Fanning, 31, told The Times of London in an interview published on Saturday, October 25. “I’m super happy to wait for that.”
After turning 30 last year, Fanning revealed that several friends attempted to set her up with potential matches. These efforts, however, proved largely unsuccessful.
“You think, ‘Is this what you think of me?’” she remarked about some of the questionable pairings. “Then you question the friendship with that person.”
Like many singles, Fanning has also explored online dating applications. She shared her experiences on Raya, a popular app among celebrities.
“Oh my God, ask your single friends!” Fanning lamented. She described men’s profiles often listing extreme outdoor activities. “All the guys are like, ‘Must love mountain biking, want to hike, be very adventurous and outdoorsy, must love dogs and want to get to the top of Everest.’”
She finds these descriptions and accompanying photos unappealing. “I’m like, ‘No, I don’t want to do any of that, and if I do, I’ll do it when I want to.’ It’s all the guys, and then a picture of them shirtless on a mountain. And you’re like, ‘Please put it away.’”
Despite these dating frustrations, the All Her Fault star looks forward to finding her perfect partner. She envisions a future that balances her successful acting career with personal fulfillment.
“I still have so much I want to do [in my career], but I’d also love to live on a farm and have three children,” Fanning shared. “Being a mom is the pinnacle for me. It’s what I look forward to most in my life.”
She added that the desire for children has been a lifelong feeling. “I don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to have children. For some reason, it’s just something I carry within me.”
As Fanning navigates the dating scene, she finds support in her sister, Elle Fanning, 27. Elle is currently dating magazine executive Gus Wenner.
Dakota recounted a specific piece of advice from her sister. “My sister talked to a psychic who told her, ‘Your sister is not going to meet the person she’s going to marry until she’s 32.’”
Fanning recalled her reaction to the prediction. “She told me that a few years ago and I was like, ‘32? I don’t have time for that.’”
Fanning had previously spoken openly about her less-than-stellar Raya experience. During a Vanity Fair interview last month, she confirmed having created a profile.
“I did it for fun. My friend set it up for me,” she explained. She then jokingly confirmed her future husband was not on the app, stating, “I can confirm [my husband] is not [on this app]. I’m going to cancel this!”
Throughout her extensive career in the public eye, Fanning has had a few public relationships. She dated model Jamie Strachan from 2013 to 2016, followed by brief relationships with Logan Markley and Henry Frye.
Her perspective on relationships is deeply influenced by her parents’ long history together. “I have a weird view of relationships because my parents have known each other since second grade and got married right out of college,” Fanning told Glamour in 2013, prior to her parents’ divorce.
She has always held a firm belief in destined connections. “I’ve always thought that’s how it should be, and if it’s not, then I don’t want to waste my time on it.”
Fanning maintains a clear boundary regarding commitment. “Even at 14, I was like, ‘I’m not marrying this person. What’s the point in doing it?’ It’s not that I’m naive. I just know what it should be like. And I think until I feel that, I’m not going to bother.”