Dakota Fanning Reveals How She Stayed In Touch With Denzel Washington For 20 Years

Aug 21, 2023

Denzel Washington has graced screens for decades and won the hearts of fans worldwide. He is a recipient of many awards, including a Tony Award, two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and two Silver Bears. Denzel also boasts of a  Presidential Medal of Freedom award. His talents have been observed for years on various projects spanning theater and films. 

The actor has also enjoyed the respect of colleagues and outsiders for his abilities outside of acting. Contrary to the capricious nature of Hollywood marriages, Denzel has remained married to one woman all his life. His wife, Pauletta Washington, also works within the entertainment industry. Denzel and Pauletta met on the set of “Wilma” in 1977 but didn’t pursue a relationship until after many years. Meanwhile, they were good friends before they began their romance. 

The “Man on Fire” actor and his wife have often credited their friendship, in addition to their faith, as the reason for their lengthy and successful union. They also commit to making things work. 

“I just think that you have to work at it. Not give up on each other. It’s a commitment. It’s not all the honeymoon, it doesn’t last forever, so you work at it. And hopefully, you’re good friends first, that might help!” the actor once said. 

Denzel has also worked on his career with the same gusto as his marriage and earned the respect of peers and younger ones. He reunited with actress Dakota Fanning after they first worked together almost two decades ago. In an interview with ET published on Aug. 16, 2023, Denzel and Fanning revealed how they kept in touch, all the while Fanning expressed her delight at working with him again. Keep reading for the details. 

Dakota Fanning is only 29 years old, but she already has a reputation as a seasoned and delightful actress. Fanning has also worked with many Hollywood stars, including Denzel Washington and Michelle Pfeiffer, as she started acting when she was very little. 

When the actress started her career on the stage, she was a little girl. She transitioned to the small screen with a guest role in “ER” and loved it. She thus appeared in other TV series like “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “The Practice,” and “Spin City.”

Fanning was clearly talented, and before long, she started acting on the big screen, holding adults captive with her skills and cuteness. 

“She was just a marvel ... I would watch her work and I would think, ‘What planet is this little actress from?” Pfeiffer said of Fanning, who co-starred with her on “I Am Sam” when she was seven. 

Fanning’s acting was good. It earned her a nomination at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, making her the youngest person nominated for the award. 

Meanwhile, Fanning is also touted as a young Grace Kelly, the beloved actress who held sway during the Golden Age of Hollywood despite working for only six years before she left to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Kelly started acting in the theater when she was 20 before she moved on to making films. Although she acted for only a short time, she won an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards. 

Fanning is often believed to carry Kelly’s same look and presence. Moreover, she is already leaving her mark on the industry at an even younger age than the late actress. 

Fanning also left a mark on Denzel, who co-starred with her in “Man on Fire” in 2004. The duo reunited after 19 years as co-stars on “Equalizer 3,” where the veteran stars as a retired government assassin who escapes to Italy to forget his past. He is matched by Fanning, who plays CIA agent Emma Collins. 

Denzel and Fanning chatted with ET in an interview published on Aug. 16, 2023, where they revealed that they had kept in touch with each other over the years despite not working together in the last two decades.  

Denzel revealed that they kept in contact because Fanning is close friends with one of his daughters, with whom she went to New York University. The actor shares four children with his wife Pauletta, John David Washington, Katia Washington, and twins Olivia Washington and Malcolm Washington. Fanning confirmed his statement and shared:

“I’ve obviously, you know, known Denzel for a big part of my life, and one of his daughters is one of my closest friends, so I’m always in the loop.”

Denzel also revealed that he has always been impressed with his co-star’s skills. 

“She knows how to hit the ball back over the net. Sky’s the limit for her,” he gushed and added, “It was weird, you know, cause I’m like, ‘she’s a grown woman.’ She was like a grown woman then, but now she’s a grown woman. And, you know, obviously a great talent... It wasn’t really strange, cause she was bringing it,” he shared. 

Fanning also praised him. “There is definitely no one better to go up against than Denzel,” she said … “It’s most people’s dream to get to work with him once, so to get to work with him twice at different stages in my life is a real treat.”

 What do you think of Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning’s connection after all these years? What do you think of Fanning’s skills? Would you agree that she is certainly an actress to look out for? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to friends and fans of Denzel and Fanning!