Many celebrities in the entertainment industry form deep friendships with fellow A-List stars.
These friendships can endure the test of time, just like the close bonds between Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire.
These notable friendships have withstood the pressures of fame and have served as pillars of support for each other throughout their careers.
During the filming of War of the Worlds, Dakota Fanning and Tom Cruise developed a special bond akin to that of a father and daughter (Credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock)
One such example of a remarkable friendship in Hollywood is that of Tom Cruise, a highly sought-after actor known for his roles in iconic films. Throughout his career, Cruise has had the opportunity to work alongside many exceptional actors, forging close relationships with several of them. However, there is one particular friendship that stands out among the rest.
Surprisingly, Cruise’s enduring bond was formed not with a fellow actor in his latest film, “Top Gun: Maverick,” where he reprised his role as Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, but rather during his time on the set of the 2005 film “War of the Worlds.”
He formed a deep connection with the young and talented actress Dakota Fanning. When War of the Worlds was released theatrically by Paramount Pictures on June 29, 2005, Tom Cruise was 42 years old, while Dakota Fanning was just 11. She was just 10 when principal photography began on November 8, 2004.
In the heart-wrenching world of “War of the Worlds,” Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, and Justin Chatwin deliver captivating performances, portraying a fractured family bound by courage and love as they fight for survival against an otherworldly threat (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
While filming the thrilling underwater scenes featuring a ferry capsizing, director Steven Spielberg decided to inject some unexpected excitement into the experience for Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning.
Drawing on his fondness for playful surprises, Spielberg cleverly orchestrated a prank by utilizing the massive underwater speakers on the sound stage to blast the iconic, dramatic music from his classic film, Jaws (1975).
Tom Cruise portrays the determined and resourceful character of Ray Ferrier in the 2005 American science fiction action thriller film War of the Worlds, while Dakota Fanning delivers a captivating performance as Rachel Ferrier, a courageous and resilient young girl who faces unimaginable challenges during an alien invasion (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
During a 2005 appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Tom Cruise received a surprise video message from his former co-star, a young Dakota Fanning. Fanning expressed her excitement about meeting Cruise and anticipated a remarkable experience with him.
In the video, she assured Cruise that “your Goose,” referring to her character in their previous film, behaved like a proper young lady, making him proud. Cruise reciprocated the sentiment, praising Fanning’s intelligence and talent during his conversation with Oprah.
He offered his support and friendship, assuring Fanning that he was there for her whenever she needed anything. Their close bond continues to thrive, with Cruise actively supporting and maintaining their friendship over the years.
“She’s incredibly bright,” Cruise told Oprah, adding, “You know what, I told her, ‘You’re a great actress, and so I’m here if you need anything.”
Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning formed a close friendship during their time working together on “War of the Worlds,” fostering a deep bond rooted in respect and admiration that extends beyond their on-screen roles (Credit: Albert Ferreira / Startraksphoto)
Despite not appearing in any other films together, Cruise has continued to remember Fanning’s birthday each year, surprising her with gifts. Fanning revealed this heartwarming detail during an interview on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” mentioning that Cruise usually sends her shoes.
Even when Fanning doubted he would continue the tradition after her 18th birthday, Cruise proved her wrong. Their friendship remains strong, with Cruise maintaining fond memories of Fanning and her family.
During a press event for “Top Gun: Maverick,” Cruise acknowledged Fanning’s sister, Elle Fanning, expressing his admiration for her talent.
Are Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart still friends?
Yes, they are. The friendship between Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart is widely known.
Dakota Fanning wears her blonde hair down at the New York premiere of “Cafe Society” held July 13, 2016 (Credit: Patricia Schlein / WENN)
In July 2016, Dakota Fanning supported longtime friend and co-star Kristen Stewart at the premiere of Kristin’s American romantic comedy-drama film “Cafe Society” in New York.
That’s right — the two may have played rivals in the highly successful “Twilight” franchise, but they’re close friends in real life.
Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart’s enduring friendship has not only led to their successful collaborations in films like “The Runaways” and the “Twilight Saga” series but has also seen them support each other personally and professionally, showcasing their strong bond in the entertainment industry (Credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock)
Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart’s friendship has blossomed over the years, forging a bond beyond their shared film industry experiences.
“When we’re together, we’re not talking about movie stuff,” Fanning told Glamour in 2013. “She’s just my really good friend, you know? We go out. We stay in a lot too. I’m a homebody!”
The two actresses first met while working on the movie “The Runaways” set in 2010, where they played bandmates and formed a close connection on and off-screen.
The former child actress wore a short glittery black dress from Chanel’s Fall 2016 collection.
Dakota Fanning wears a shimmery black Chanel dress to the New York premiere of “Cafe Society” (Credit: Patricia Schlein / WENN)
As many stars as there were at the premiere, Dakota gave new meaning to the phrase “star-studded.”
Elle Fanning’s sister sported stars on her feet with studded Rodarte sandals.
Dakota Fanning’s feet in silver star-studded Rodarte heels (Credit: Patricia Schlein / WENN)
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a photo of the two together at the event, but the two both looked gorgeous, nonetheless.
Dakota’s Rodarte sandals are unavailable online, but you can grab a different but still similar star-studded pair by Valentino on Mytheresa.
Silver Metallic Rodarte Metallic Star Stud Sandals
Valentino “Rockstud” Cabochon Caged 100mm Sandal in Black/Turquoise, $1,295