Its a remarkable performance from Fanningstill, impassive, cold, and crypticwhich ranks among the 30-year-old actors best.
Vogue: I heard that Steven Zaillian wanted you forRipleybecause he loved you inOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Dakota Fanning:Thats what I heard.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
He saw that and then wanted to chat with me about this.
Steve is so brilliant, and his vision for the show…
I didnt really even think about it.
Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood inRipley.
I just said, Yes, Ill do whatever he wants.
It was a dream to be a part of.
What about the scripts captured you the most?
Fanning’s Marge with Johnny Flynn’s Dickie Greenleaf and Andrew Scott’s Tom Ripley.
His writing is so nuanced, and the scripts are brilliant in that theyre actually very simple.
Then we did some takes where you kind of flip that on its head and see what happens.
Andrew and I relished getting to explore that rivalry.
Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood inRipley.
I read that you, Andrew, and Johnny didnt rewatch the 1999 film.
Its in black and white so, right off the bat, that changes things.
It looks so gorgeous, but in a very different way from the original film.
I wanted to ask you specifically about Marges house, too.
Compared to Dickies villa, its surprisingly modest.
What does that setting tell us about her?
I loved all the details on that set, and it informed the relationship between Marge and Tom.
According to him, they dont know what to do with all that, whereas he does.
Theres also her knittingI love that Marge is a knitter.
I am as well.
You see her messy basket of yarn and needles on that set.
Steve is a details man and he arranged those knitting needles exactly how he wanted them.
Im not exaggerating [laughs].
Everything on that set had a purpose.
Its a bit of a mess and Tom is sort of disgusted by it.
Shes working on her book, and her photos and her writingeverythings artfully displayed.
That was special, toogetting to actually be in those extraordinary places.
Marges ambition is also front and center in this retelling.
Was that important to you?
Marge has some ulterior motives as well.
Shes kind of using this situation that shes found herself in to her benefit a little bit, too.
And once again, that similarity to Tom really pisses him off.
Shes getting in his way and marching on what he sees as his territory.
Fannings Marge with Johnny Flynns Dickie Greenleaf and Andrew Scotts Tom Ripley.
But we definitely found time to have some great meals and wine together.
We played cards at Johnnys and had our Italian lessons together.
Andrew and Johnny are two of the loveliest people Ive ever worked with.
Andrew, Johnny, and I were able to lighten up the challenging days.
I couldnt have done it without them and Im in awe of their performances.
What proved the most challenging?
There were practical thingswe traveled a lot and set up shop in lots of new locations.
Thats an extraordinary way to work, but it can get heavy at certain moments.
But, I made the best of it.
What does Marges less feminine and more pared-back style in this series say about her?
Its kind of like her armor in which to battle Tom.
But if I had to pick one favorite piece, its probably Marges swimsuit.
She definitely feels ahead of her time.
Why are we so endlessly fascinated by Tom Ripley?
Im still trying to figure it out.
Andrews brought something completely different to the part that no ones ever seen before.
And you have quite a few similarly dark projects coming up after this.
Can you talk me through them?
I had a great time filming it in Dublin last yearit has this supernatural Shyamalan vibe.
And then I have the Netflix mystery seriesThe Perfect Couple, directed by Susanne Bier, with Nicole Kidman.
Its a true ensemble piece and a big family story, and we got to film on Cape Cod.
It felt like summer camp.
And Im filming the horror movieViciousat the momentTBD, but its been great so far.
Ripleywill be on Netflix from April 4.
