Elle Fanning is living her teenage dream by portraying Bob Dylan’s girlfriend, Sylvie Russo, in the upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown. The film, directed by James Mangold, chronicles Dylan’s rise during the transformative years of the 1960s folk scene.
Fanning, 26, shared her long-standing obsession with Dylan, recalling how she would daily write his name on her hand during middle school. “Every day, in middle school, in cursive. I wasn’t allowed to have posters on my walls because I had flowery wallpaper... but I had corkboards and would print out Bob Dylan photos,” Fanning told The Observer.
Her passion for vintage clothing matched her admiration for historical figures like Dylan. “I was obsessed with Marilyn Monroe, Bob Dylan. I loved vintage clothes… they were actually really cool but not the normal thing to fit in,” she reflected. Fanning’s love for Dylan’s music was reignited by director Cameron Crowe when they worked together on the film We Bought a Zoo.
The film A Complete Unknown, set to be released on December 25, stars Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, alongside Fanning, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, and Edward Norton as folk legend Pete Seeger. At the film's press conference, Mangold emphasized the significance of the story, stating, “It came about because there was a wonderful book by Elijah Wald covering this period.” The script, co-written with Jay Cocks, aims to capture Dylan’s transformative electric performance at the Newport Folk Festival, marking a key moment for both the artist and the genre.
Chalamet, who had plenty of time to prepare for the role, spoke about immersing himself in Dylan’s world. “At some point, it stopped becoming work and just became... living in the material, living in the world of the sixties,” said Chalamet. He took trips to Dylan’s hometown and the iconic venues where the folk scene flourished.
Barbaro also shared her dedication to capturing the spirit of Joan Baez, describing the preparation involved. “I had five months to learn to sing and play guitar, and... had to stretch and try things on my own,” she recounted.
Norton’s enthusiasm for folk music played to his advantage during filming. Reflecting on the cultural weight of the characters, he said, “I’ve marinated in the Church of Bob for my whole adult life... If you’re someone who came up... with even a passing interest ...Pete Seeger was a paragon.”
For Fanning, the role demanded creativity, as her character is loosely based on Dylan’s real-life girlfriend, Suze Rotolo. “You can do the facts and the searching, but really your bible is the script,” Fanning explained. “I wanted to do justice to honoring Suze and Bob’s relationship... making sure the emotional weight was there.”
During the shooting process, the energy among the cast was palpable. Fanning was taken aback by her co-star’s authenticity, recalling the moment Chalamet sang “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” for the first time on set. “I had such anticipation, like butterflies. You could feel... the bubbling anticipation. He gave us a full concert,” she expressed.
For Mangold, creating the film was as much about the audience's experience. He hopes A Complete Unknown makes a cinematic impact amid the growing trend of streaming. “I want all our movies to be seen on the big screen. That’s why we make them,” he stated, praising the film's visual and auditory scales.
Fanning’s portrayal of Sylvie aims to capture the tension of love overshadowed by Dylan's growing fame. Their relationship reflects the challenges young couples face when success alters their dynamics. “I knew him before he became [a huge star],” Fanning admitted, emphasizing their history of friendship.
Drawing on her own experiences, Fanning argued about societal expectations placed on women, relating back to her character’s emotional struggles. “I feel like the media creates so much comparison... it’s important to stay authentic to myself,” she said when reflecting on her impact as both an actress and producer.
Fanning’s successful transition from child star to adult actress is marked by her resilience. Known for her confident choices, she hopes to produce stories with strong female narratives through her production company, Lewellen Pictures. Sharing the significance of her recent projects, Fanning stated, “Most of the projects we’ve done are female stories... the underbelly of things… the subjects people are scared to touch.”
With A Complete Unknown set for release, Fanning’s passion for the subject matter shines through, promising audiences not only the music of Dylan but also the intricacies of relationships during the era.
