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SPINNING HER WEB
from Total Girl Magazine, December 2006

Who do you play in Charlotte's Web?
I play Fern Arable. She's lived on a farm all her life and knows a lot about farm animals. She gets the opportunity to care for a newborn pig and jumps on it. She wants to save his life - he becomes like her child.

What's the story about?
Wilbur the pig becomes a handful, so he goes to live in Fern's uncle's barn with the other farm animals. He's very lonely until he meets Charlotte the spider. She doesn't have any friends either, so they team up together. Charlotte then saves his life when he's due for the slaughter house. She makes these wonderful miracles happen!

What did you think of the story when you first read it?
It doesn't matter how many times I've read the book or read the script for the film, I cry every time! It's very sad. But at the same time it's very uplifting.

Tell us about working with the pigs...
The pigs were so cute! I worked with them from when they were nine days old up until when they were 20 months old. They're so adorable, and I loved them all so much. And they're very clean and they're so smart! And they're my favourite colour - pink!

What was it like making the movie in Australia?
The whole experience was wonderful. I loved being around the animals - there was never a dull moment on set. And being in Australia was amazing! I'd never been there before. It's beautiful and I'd love to go back. We went to Phillip Island to see the little penguins come out of the water, onto the beach and into their burrows. That was really fun - I loved that!

Do you have a favourite scene in the movie?
I like the scene where I'm pushing Wilbur in the pram. It's exactly like me! That's exactly what I'd do if I ever had a pig - I'd put it in a baby carriage and stroll around with it like a baby!

Did you miss your friends while you were making the movie?
My sister Elle is my best friend. She stayed in Australia with me the whole time, so I was very happy about that. My mum is also my best friend. She's the best mother in the whole world! She's always with me, which is great.

What was it like playing such a well known character?
The book is a classic, and I am honoured I got to bring Fern to life in the movie. I hope everyone will love it as much as I do! I can't wait for everyone to see it. It's a film that all ages can enjoy and understand, and have fun watching.

Is there a message behind the story?
It's not to judge people by the way they look, and that you should live each day to its fullest because sometimes your friends and loved ones might not always be there. It's also about the cycle of life and growing up.

Fun Film Facts:
. Julia Roberts voices the part of Charlotte the spider, while Oprah Winfrey and Jennifer Garner also have voice roles in the film.
. Dakota's younger sister, Elle also has a part in the film as Fern's granddaughter.
. Because it wasn't the right season when the country fair scenes were shot, the trees had to be spray painted with orange and yellow paint to look like it was during autumn.
. So the extras didn't get sick from riding the rides at the fair, the art department made dummies and put casts of the actors' faces onto them. They were then painted, dressed up, strapped into the rides and went round and round for about a week!

Pressie Time:
It's not bad being a movie star... not only do you get to appear alongside some of Hollywood's greatest actors, they also love giving you cool presents too!
. After Dakota filmed Hide And Seek with Robert de Niro, he gave her a doll that looked like her character for her 10th birthday.
. On her 11th birthday, Tom Cruise gave her a mobile phone.
. After filming Dreamer, Kurt Russell, who played her father in the film, bought her a palomino horse called Goldie!
. While shooting War of the Worlds, Tom Cruise gave her an iPod packed with cool tunes.

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