Honestly, if you still think of Dakota Fanning as just that wide-eyed kid from I Am Sam or the girl screaming at aliens in War of the Worlds, you’ve been missing out on some of the best television of the last decade. It’s a common mistake. Most people associate her strictly with the silver screen because she spent her childhood being the industry’s go-to "old soul" kid actor. But lately? She’s been quietly dominating the prestige TV landscape.
She isn't just "showing up" in shows. She’s picking roles that are jagged, uncomfortable, and deeply complex. We aren't talking about guest spots on sitcoms—though she did a legendary turn on Friends back in the day as the little girl who gives Joey life advice. We’re talking about massive, big-budget limited series that redefine her as an adult powerhouse.
From 1890s New York to high-stakes modern-day thrillers, Dakota Fanning's TV shows are where her most interesting work is happening right now.
The "Perfect" Pivot: Why Everyone is Talking About Abby Winbury
If you haven't seen The Perfect Couple on Netflix, you’re essentially opting out of the cultural conversation. It’s a glossy, "eat the rich" murder mystery, and Dakota plays Abby Winbury. At first glance, Abby is just the pregnant, somewhat vapid daughter-in-law of a wealthy Nantucket dynasty.
But Dakota does something brilliant here. She plays Abby with this unsettling, razor-sharp edge. You can see the gears turning behind her eyes even when she’s just sipping a drink in the background. She recently mentioned in interviews how much she loved leaning into the "unlikability" of the character. It’s a far cry from the sympathetic child roles that made her famous. She’s playing a woman who is calculating, desperate, and—without spoiling too much—deeply involved in the mess that unfolds on that beach.
The Black-and-White Intensity of Ripley
Then there’s Ripley. This 2024 series is a visual masterpiece, shot entirely in high-contrast black and white. Dakota plays Marge Sherwood, a role famously played by Gwyneth Paltrow in the 1999 film version.
👉 See also: Where Can You Watch Family Feud and Why It Is So Hard to Find Every Episode
Comparison is inevitable, but Dakota’s Marge is a totally different beast. She isn't the soft, sun-drenched socialite we saw in the 90s. This Marge is suspicious from the jump. She smells the rot on Andrew Scott’s Tom Ripley immediately. The tension between them is thick enough to choke on. It’s a masterclass in stillness. She doesn't need big monologues to show her disdain; she just uses that piercing gaze.
The Career-Defining Turn in The Alienist
If you want to see where this "adult TV era" really kicked off for her, you have to go back to The Alienist.
- The Character: Sara Howard.
- The Stakes: She’s the first female employee of the NYPD in 1896.
- The Vibe: Dark, gritty, and psychologically heavy.
Sara Howard is arguably one of the best characters Fanning has ever played. She’s a woman navigating a brutally sexist environment while hunting a serial killer. The show ran for two seasons (The Alienist and Angel of Darkness), and it proved she could carry a heavy, atmospheric drama as a lead. She perfectly captures that 19th-century "toughness"—the kind of woman who has to be twice as smart as every man in the room just to be allowed to stand there.
Don't Forget the "First" Big Break: Taken
Before the streaming wars, before Netflix was even mailing DVDs, Steven Spielberg cast a young Dakota Fanning in Taken. No, not the Liam Neeson "I will find you" movie. The 2002 sci-fi miniseries about alien abductions spanning generations.
She played Allie Keys. Even at eight years old, she was narrating the entire series. It’s wild to go back and watch it now. You see a child actress doing work that most veterans can't pull off. She was the anchor of a massive, multi-decade story. It’s essentially the blueprint for her current success in limited series.
Breaking Down the Filmography (TV Only)
It’s easy to lose track of where she’s popped up over the years. Here is a look at the heavy hitters and the "blink and you'll miss it" moments:
✨ Don't miss: Why Tony Masiello and Star's End Still Define Ambient Radio Culture
The Big Leads
- The Alienist (2018–2020): Playing Sara Howard, the aspiring detective. This is essential viewing.
- The First Lady (2022): She played Susan Ford, daughter of Gerald and Betty Ford. She held her own alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, which is no small feat.
- Ripley (2024): The suspicious, watchful Marge Sherwood.
- The Perfect Couple (2024): The treacherous and scene-stealing Abby Winbury.
Voice Work and Early Spots
Most people don't realize how much voice acting she’s done. She was the voice of Coraline in the movie, obviously, but on TV, she’s voiced characters in Family Guy and played a young Wonder Woman in Justice League Unlimited.
And then there are the "before they were famous" procedural spots. Like every working actor in the early 2000s, she did her time on ER, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and The Practice. She even showed up on The Ellen Show (the sitcom, not the talk show) back in 2001.
What’s Coming Next in 2026?
If you're looking for what’s on the horizon, Dakota is currently leaning even harder into the thriller genre. She’s recently signed on for a new, currently untitled thriller series for Apple TV+ created by Alex Cary (the guy behind Homeland).
💡 You might also like: Jennette McCurdy in Malcolm in the Middle: Why Everyone Missed Her Two Different Roles
She’s playing an undercover Treasury agent who gets way too close to her target—the heir of a massive, corrupt international conglomerate. It sounds exactly like the kind of high-stakes, morally grey territory she’s been thriving in lately. Plus, she’s executive producing it alongside her sister, Elle Fanning. They’re basically building a TV empire together at this point.
Why She’s the Secret Queen of Limited Series
There is a reason she keeps getting cast in these 8-to-10 episode arcs. Dakota Fanning has this "contained" energy. She’s great at playing characters who have secrets. In a 2-hour movie, you might not get enough time to peel back those layers. But in a show like The Perfect Couple or The Alienist, she can let that tension simmer for weeks.
She isn't interested in being the "relatable girl next door." She’s interested in the weirdos, the outsiders, and the women who are slightly dangerous.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to catch up on the best of Dakota Fanning's TV work, here is the order I'd recommend:
- Start with The Perfect Couple (Netflix). It’s fast-paced, fun, and shows her playing a type of character she’s never done before.
- Move to The Alienist (Max/TNT). It’s a bit darker and requires more focus, but the payoff is huge for fans of historical crime dramas.
- Finish with Ripley (Netflix). Save this for when you want something artistic and slow. It’s a "vibe" show more than a "plot" show.
- Keep an eye on Apple TV+ later this year. The Alex Cary project is likely to be her biggest TV role yet.
Stop thinking of her as the kid from the early 2000s. She’s arguably doing the most sophisticated work of her career right now, and most of it is happening on the small screen.