If you’ve spent any time on Netflix recently, you probably found yourself staring at Dakota Fanning’s stomach. Seriously. It was the bump heard 'round the internet. When the murder mystery The Perfect Couple dropped, the searches spiked almost instantly: Is Dakota Fanning pregnant? Is it real? Honestly, the prosthetic work was so good it borderline felt like a magic trick.
Playing Abby Winbury—the seemingly sweet but low-key terrifying daughter-in-law to Nicole Kidman’s character—Dakota was required to be very, very pregnant. Like, "any minute now" pregnant. And because she’s been in our lives since she was seven years old, the public has this weird, protective curiosity about her. Seeing her with a massive belly felt like a major life milestone, even if it was just for the cameras.
But let's set the record straight right now. Dakota Fanning was not pregnant during the filming of The Perfect Couple. It was all movie magic.
The Mystery of the Abby Winbury Bump
Social media went into a bit of a tailspin when the pool scenes aired. Usually, on-screen pregnancies look like a lumpy pillow stuffed under a Zara knit sweater. Not this time. Abby Winbury spent half the show in bikinis and tight summer dresses. The prosthetic was a masterpiece of special effects makeup.
Dakota actually talked about this during the press tour. She mentioned how the "belly" wasn't just a strap-on piece of foam. It was a custom-molded silicone prosthetic that blended into her skin so seamlessly that her co-stars kept forgetting it wasn't real. They’d catch themselves staring and then have to apologize. Kind of hilarious when you think about it.
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Why the pregnancy mattered for the plot
In a show filled with people who are basically human garbage, Abby Winbury felt like a breath of fresh air—initially. She was the "normal" one. The one carrying the next generation of the Winbury dynasty. But if you’ve finished the series, you know that her pregnancy wasn’t just a character trait. It was the ultimate weapon.
- The Trust Fund: The Winbury kids were waiting for a massive payout that only triggered when the youngest son turned 18.
- The Threat: If a new baby was born before that payout, the clock would reset. Another 18 years of waiting.
- The Motive: Abby was tired of being the "poor" relation in a rich family. She wanted that money now.
It’s dark. Like, really dark. Using the image of a glowing, pregnant woman to mask a cold-blooded killer is a classic noir trope, but Dakota played it with this specific brand of Nantucket snobbery that made the reveal hit harder.
Is Dakota Fanning planning on kids in real life?
Since the show aired, Dakota has been surprisingly open about her actual views on motherhood. It’s funny how a fake belly can trigger those "so, what’s your five-year plan?" questions from every interviewer.
She’s 31 now. In a recent 2025 interview with Byrdie, she basically said that while she loves her career, being a mom is actually more important to her than acting. "I’ve always felt the pull," she admitted. She’s not rushing it, though. She’s currently single—though she recently admitted to dipping her toes into the Raya dating app scene.
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Life in her 30s
Dakota is in that interesting transition phase. She’s no longer the kid from War of the Worlds, but she’s not quite the "matriarch" of Hollywood yet either. She’s focused on "possibility."
- She wants to keep acting, but only on her terms.
- She is actively looking for a partner to start that family with.
- She's pushing herself into uncomfortable roles (like a killer in The Perfect Couple).
It's a refreshing take. Most actors give the "my career is my baby" line, but Dakota has always been a bit more grounded. Maybe it’s because she’s been working since she was a toddler. She’s already had a full career; she’s ready for the "real life" stuff.
What the "Perfect Couple" pregnancy taught us about CGI
We live in an era where we can de-age Harrison Ford and bring back dead actors with AI. Yet, for The Perfect Couple, they went old school. They used physical prosthetics.
There’s a lesson there. Practical effects still win. The reason everyone thought Dakota Fanning was pregnant is that the light hit the silicone the way it hits skin. It moved when she moved. It had weight.
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If they had used CGI, we would have smelled it a mile away. The "uncanny valley" of digital pregnancies is a real thing. By sticking to a physical suit—which Dakota described as being laced up like a corset in the back—they created a lie so convincing it trended on TikTok for three weeks.
What’s next for Dakota?
If you loved her in The Perfect Couple, you don’t have to wait long for more. She’s currently starring in the Peacock series All Her Fault alongside Sarah Snook. It’s another thriller. Apparently, she’s found her niche in the "suburban woman with a dark secret" genre.
She’s also working on The Nightingale with her sister, Elle Fanning. That’s been in the works for forever, but it’s finally happening.
Next Steps for the Fans:
If you’re still reeling from that ending, go back and re-watch Abby’s scenes in the first two episodes. Now that you know she’s the killer—and that the pregnancy was her "get out of jail free" card in everyone's mind—her dialogue feels completely different. She wasn't just a pregnant lady; she was a shark in a maternity swimsuit.
Keep an eye on her upcoming interviews. She’s becoming much less private about her personal life as she moves through her 30s, and honestly? We’re here for the honesty.