Dakota Fanning might have grown up in the Hollywood spotlight, but the 16-year-old actress has not allowed her rising stardom to rob her of the high school experience.Many teenagers would gladly trade their time at high school to appear in the "Twilight" films or form "a really close bond" with her twice-over costar, Kristen Stewart. But Fanning has tried not to let her blossoming acting career replace normal activities at her LA high school, like making varsity on the cheerleading squad or going to prom with friends.
"No matter how old people are, they remember homecoming," Fanning told Teen Vogue of her choice to pursue a somewhat-normal education. "They remember their senior prom. And I really wanted that."
Prom may be a standard rite-of-passage, but not too many 16-year-old girls can boast that they're part of the third installment in the blockbuster "Twilight" series. In "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," out later this month, Fanning reprises her role as the sadistic Volturi Jane. Although Fanning's vampire character menaces Kristen Stewart's Bella Swan through the series, the actresses' off-screen relationship is much warmer: Fanning told People magazine that Stewart is one of her best friends.
Her recurring "Twilight" role is certain to boost Fanning's acting career and earning power. Last year's "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" brought in $710 million in worldwide ticket sales, and the franchise only seems to get bigger with each film.
Last year, Emma Watson roped in $30 million for signing on to play the studious Hermione Granger in the final two "Harry Potter" films. In fact, Watson -- who was only 19 when the last decade came to a close -- was actually the highest-grossing female movie star of the '00s, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
That means Watson -- a total unknown back in 2000 -- pulled in higher world-wide box office totals than long-time stars such as Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep, or breakouts like Keira Knightley. And she managed to get into Brown, the Ivy League university in Rhode Island.
Balancing teen stardom with school isn't for everyone, though. "I'm not gonna go to college right now," Miley Cyrus recently announced . Unlike Fanning, the 17-year-old actress and singer opted out of a typical high school experience years ago anyway, choosing instead to work with private, on-set tutors .
If Miley, Dakota or any up-and-coming actress wants to achieve Emma Watson-level success, they might want to focus on their grades: Watson got straight As on her high school exams before heading off to her prestigious college.
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