Kurt Russell’s Unlikely Pick for Hollywood’s Finest Actor
Kurt Russell has singled out Dakota Fanning as Hollywood’s top talent, lauding her remarkable skill and experience at a young age. He rates her above many celebrated stars.
It’s widely acknowledged that Kurt Russell has long held Marlon Brando in the highest regard, considering him the ultimate figure in the world of acting. Yet, with Brando’s passing in 2004, the question of who might inherit that lofty title naturally arose. Russell didn’t have to wait long for an answer. Merely a few months after Brando’s death, he found himself working alongside someone he believed could fill those considerable shoes.
Nearly twenty years on, Russell’s opinion has remained steadfast. He once remarked that Meryl Streep was the closest the industry had come to a new Brando, but even she, in his view, didn’t quite fit the bill. While Streep is certainly among the all-time greats, Russell’s choice for the most gifted performer in the business is rather unexpected, far removed from the usual suspects.
Beyond the Obvious Choices
When people discuss the greatest living actors, names like Streep, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Anthony Hopkins are often mentioned. However, for Russell, the standout talent was someone he worked with on a rather formulaic equestrian drama. His admiration for this individual was so profound that, upon learning that Quentin Tarantino was auditioning a host of young actors for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, he offered a glowing recommendation.
“Quentin, Dakota Fanning is the best actress in Hollywood,”
he told the director.
“She is absolutely the best actress in Hollywood. She is the best.”
Fanning was just ten years old when she and Russell collaborated on Dreamer in 2005, yet her abilities left a lasting impression on him. To be fair, she was hardly a novice at that point, having already appeared alongside Denzel Washington in Man on Fire, Robert De Niro in Hide and Seek, Sean Penn in I Am Sam, and Tom Cruise in War of the Worlds.
Impressing the Industry’s Elite
When Tarantino cast Fanning as Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme, a member of the Manson Family, he was equally taken aback by her dedication. She managed to teach herself not to blink throughout her audition, a detail that did not go unnoticed. Tarantino was quick to agree with Russell’s assessment, remarking,
“Kurt is right. She’s the best actress in Hollywood. She is obviously doing this. She has trained her eyes not to blink.”
Is Dakota Fanning truly the finest actor working today? In short, no. She is, without doubt, a talented performer. Among her generation, she stands out, and with nearly a quarter-century of experience despite being in her early thirties, her credentials are impressive. Still, Russell’s extensive career, stretching back to the early 1960s, lends weight to his opinion. If both he and Tarantino are convinced, perhaps there’s more to their view than meets the eye.
Reconsidering the Conversation
Fanning’s name is unlikely to be the first mentioned in debates about the greatest living actor. Yet, when two figures of Russell and Tarantino’s stature offer such high praise, it’s worth pausing to consider. Perhaps the conversation about Hollywood’s finest should be a bit more open to surprise contenders.