Despite having been in the industry from such a young age, Dakota Fanning is remarkably down to earth; a level-headed actress who continuously chooses interesting projects, each so different from the next. She can now be seen in Netflix’s new original series The Alienist, which is available to watch now.

To mark its launch, we had the pleasure of meeting Fanning in London, as she discusses her love for the serial killer, whodunnit narrative, which enriches this particular project. She also talks about the success rate of Netflix, and whether that attracted her to signing up to this series, and just how much of a dream it is for any actor to get their teeth stuck into a character across a series, allowing them much room to explore and develop their role.

She plays Sara Howard, who is a woman rising up through the ranks in what was then a man’s world, and we wanted to know if she has ever felt similarly being a young actress in Hollywood. Finally, she tells us of her ambitions to direct a feature film one day, having recently completed her first short.

Watch the full interview below…

Synopsis

The best-selling book by Caleb Carr is the basis for “The Alienist,” a psychological thriller set amidst the vast wealth, extreme poverty and technological innovation of 1896 New York. A never-before-seen ritualistic killer is responsible for the gruesome murders of boy prostitutes, and newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt calls upon criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, newspaper illustrator John Moore and police department secretary Sara Howard to conduct the investigation in secret. The brilliant, obsessive Kreizler is known as an alienist — one who studies mental pathologies and the deviant behaviours of those who are alienated from themselves and society. His job, along with his controversial views, makes him a social pariah in some circles. But helped by a band of outsiders, Kreizler’s tireless efforts eventually answer the question behind what makes a man into a murderer.

The Alienist is available to watch on Netflix now.