Dakota Fanning reflects on a memorable story involving Kurt Russell from more than 20 years ago.
Dakota Fanning is taking a surprisingly casual approach to modern dating. The actress recently revealed that she joined the invite-only dating app Raya, although she isn’t necessarily treating it as a serious search for a relationship.
The 31-year-old actress shared the update while appearing with her younger sister, Elle Fanning, in a conversation about their personal lives and relationships. Dakota explained that a friend actually created her Raya profile, and she decided to give the app a chance simply “for fun.”
Dakota Fanning Gives Raya a Try
Dating apps apparently aren’t completely off the table for Dakota Fanning.
During the sisters’ discussion, Elle pointed out that Dakota had never really done anything like this before. Dakota clarified that she recently downloaded Raya after a friend encouraged her to give it a try.
“My girlfriend made it for me,” Dakota explained, describing the decision as something she did “for fun.”
The conversation quickly turned playful when Elle suggested that perhaps Dakota’s future husband could be somewhere on the app.
Dakota had a simple response: “I can confirm that he is not.”
The exchange gave fans a rare glimpse into Dakota’s approach to dating, particularly because she has generally kept that part of her life away from the public eye.
When asked whether she had encountered any recognizable people while using Raya, Dakota was equally straightforward.
“I haven’t seen a ton of familiar faces yet,” she said.
That answer suggests that, at least so far, the actress hasn’t been overwhelmed by celebrity encounters while browsing the exclusive dating platform.
Why Dakota Has Kept Dating Private
Dakota’s decision to try Raya stands out partly because of how private she has historically been about relationships.
In a 2016 interview, the actress described traditional dating as an uncomfortable experience. She explained that sitting across from someone and going through the standard questions over a meal could feel stiff and unnatural.
Instead, Dakota said she preferred meeting someone through a friend. That approach allowed her to have some sense of who the person was before going on a date.
Her comments also reflected a broader preference for privacy in her personal life. Dakota has rarely made her romantic relationships a major part of her public persona.
That makes her latest admission about joining Raya particularly interesting—not because it confirms a new relationship, but because it shows she is willing to experiment with a different way of meeting people.
Dakota’s Past Relationships Have Stayed Low-Key
Although Dakota has maintained a relatively private dating life, she has been linked to a few relationships over the years.
She dated model Jamie Strachan for approximately two years before their relationship ended in 2016. Later, in 2018, Dakota was reported to be dating Henry Frye. The pair were last publicly photographed together in May of that year.
Since then, Dakota has largely avoided publicly discussing the details of her romantic life.
Her recent Raya comments don’t indicate that she is currently in a relationship or that she has found a partner through the app. Instead, her remarks point to a willingness to explore dating while keeping the experience relatively lighthearted.
That distinction is important given how quickly celebrity dating-app appearances can generate speculation.
Elle Fanning Takes a Different Approach to Love
The sisters’ conversation also highlighted how differently Dakota and Elle approach their romantic lives.
Elle, 27, has been much more open about her relationship with Gus Wenner. She has spoken positively about their romance and explained that she enjoys publicly celebrating the relationship.
Elle even joked that she considers it a warning sign if a partner refuses to post about the relationship on Instagram.
She has also made clear that she is happy in her relationship and appreciates Dakota’s approval of Wenner.
For Elle, social-media visibility is part of how she expresses affection. Dakota, meanwhile, has traditionally taken the opposite route, choosing to keep relationships largely out of the spotlight.
Their contrasting personalities made the sisters’ discussion especially revealing.
How Dakota and Gus Wenner First Met
The conversation also included a story about how Dakota and Wenner first crossed paths.
According to Elle, the two met at the same Las Vegas after-party while Elle was in Paris. Dakota was there with friends, and Elle received videos from the evening showing Dakota spending time and dancing with Wenner.
Dakota confirmed that she had a good time during their first encounter but also made sure Wenner understood that dating someone close to her sister came with some friendly warnings.
She described the cautions as stern words delivered with a smile and said the interaction ultimately went well.
Dakota has since developed a positive relationship with Wenner, describing him as “the brother I never had.”
The story offers another example of the close bond between the Fanning sisters. Even though they have different approaches to relationships, they remain involved in each other’s personal lives.
A Rare Look at Dakota’s Personal Side
Dakota’s comments about Raya don’t necessarily signal a major change in her dating life. Instead, they provide an unusually candid glimpse into an actress who has spent much of her career protecting her privacy.
Joining an invite-only dating app “for fun” fits with the lighthearted tone of her comments. She isn’t presenting Raya as a guaranteed route to romance, nor is she suggesting that she has already met someone special.
For fans, the bigger revelation may simply be that Dakota is open to trying something she once might have avoided.
Her sister’s playful comments also helped bring out a more personal side of the actress, showing that despite her long career in Hollywood, Dakota can still approach dating with curiosity and humor.
For now, she appears to be browsing without much expectation—and, based on her own account, she hasn’t yet found a familiar face who has changed that outlook.
