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LITTLE DAKOTA FANNING PLAYS 'HIDE AND SEEK'
from ET Online, January 25, 2005

Little DAKOTA FANNING, the star of such films as 'I Am Sam,' 'The Cat in the Hat' and 'Uptown Girls,' is tapping into her dark side in 'Hide and Seek,' her new thriller with ROBERT DE NIRO, in theaters Jan. 28.
We caught up with the veteran, 11-year-old actress (she's worked on close to 20 projects!) to talk about becoming a brunette -- and having imaginary friends!
"They were named, like, Cobb, Tube, Bop, Jesse, Pappy; like, really strange names," Dakota tells ET about the imaginary pals she used to have. "I'd make up these things like, 'Pappy stole my necklace, mom,' and my mom would be, like, 'Okay, great. Hmmm.' But I don't know how I came up with these names. I mean, at least try to come up with a normal name!"
In 'Hide and Seek,' Dakota plays Emily, the daughter of David (De Niro), who has an imaginary friend named Charlie to help her cope with the recent death of her mother (AMY IRVING). At first, David sees Charlie as a positive way for Emily to express herself. But after a series of startling acts points to someone other than Emily, David comes to the terrifying realization that Charlie may actually be real!
Directed by JOHN POLSON ('Swimfan'), the thriller also stars ELISABETH SHUE, as a divorced woman who befriends De Niro and Dakota, and 'X-Men' star FAMKE JANSSEN as a child psychologist who puts her life on the line to save them.
"I actually scared myself, even though I knew what was going to happen," says Dakota about screening the movie for the first time. "I was still trying to figure out the puzzle. I really just loved it and I hope everybody enjoys it."
The last time we saw Dakota on the big screen was with DENZEL WASHINGTON in the action-drama 'Man on Fire.' While that revenge saga was dark in content, Dakota's character was light and upbeat. The Georgia-born actress says she chose to do 'Hide and Seek' because "it's so different from myself. I mean, normally in all the characters [I play], there's something that's like me. On this one there's nothing that's like me at all!"
Dakota also gets to go the extra mile by becoming a brunette in the movie. "It was exciting," she says. "It was a wig and we put it on every day. The makeup was exciting because I had to look really tired, and as the movie went on, [I look more] tired and tired and tired. When I first put it on it was very different. It was really dark and my eyes really popped out, so it was exciting."
The busy little thespian is currently working on STEVEN SPIELBERG's 'War of the Worlds' with TOM CRUISE, but remains tight-lipped on details, other than repeating the June 29 release date. And next up is a live-action adaptation of 'Charlotte's Web,' to shoot Down Under -- a place she's never been to and can't wait to visit. "Australia's going to be exciting!" she proclaims.
Watch ET tonight for more with Dakota and the cast of 'Hide and Seek'!

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