Warning: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for The Perfect Couple.
Dakota Fanning’s performance in the hit new Netflix ShowThe Perfect Couplerepeats a career twist from 12 years ago, when she appeared in theTwilightmovies. Netflix’s newest murder mystery revels in its soapy, overdramatic elements. DespiteThe Perfect Couplebeing divisive among both critics and audiences, the show has remained in the number 1 spot of Netflix’s Top 10 list since its release, making it a hit.
While the series has unquestionable narrative flaws, the show shines because of the performances ofThe Perfect Couple’s A-list cast. The actors who portray the Winbury family do a great job of making their ridiculously wealthy characters unlikable and obnoxious.A notable standout in the murder mystery is actorDakota Fanning who portraysThe Perfect Couple’s pregnant murderer, Abby Winbury. In addition to being hilariously terrible, Fanning’s role mirrors a career twist from over a decade ago.
The Perfect Couple Is Dakota Fanning’s First Major Villain Role Since Twilight
Dakota Fanning Acted In Twilight’s New Moon, Eclipse, And Breaking Dawn Part 2
The Perfect Couplekeeps Dakota Fanning’s villain role a secret until the last episode, only hinting at her involvement. However, they lean into the character’s unlikable personality throughout, which is a nice change of pace for the actor. Fanning started acting in named roles at five years old, and she quickly got typecast as the innocent and the girl next door. Her characters are typically highly likable, kind, and protagonists.
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The last time the actor played a major villain was in theTwilightseries, where she took on the role of Jane, a sadistic,super-powered member of the Volturi. When she was in Twilight,Jane quickly became a fan-favorite villain because of Fanning’s incredible performance.She even received a 2010 Teen Choice nomination for Choice Movie: Female Scene Stealer because of her performance inNew Moon. Since then, Fanning hasn’t had any significant villain roles.
The Twilight Saga
She technically played a villain inOnce Upon a Time…In Hollywood, but the character Squeaky Fromme is not central to the plot. Her villain in that movie is also more nuanced because she is also a victim of Charles Manson. As such, audiences didn’t really get to see her ability to play a truly evil character. It’s great to see her back in a villain role, and her take on Abby works perfectly inThe Perfect Couple.
Dakota Fanning’s The Perfect Couple Role Reverses Her Story From Her 2024 Netflix Crime Thriller
Dakota Played Marge Sherwood In Netflix’s Ripley
Abby’s money-hungry, power-seeking, and heartless personality is one of the best parts ofThe Perfect Couple, and Dakota Fanning captures that perfectly. Throughout the whole show, she’s also trying to avoid detection by the police, eventually getting arrested at theend ofThe Perfect Couple. Interestingly,this is the opposite of her role in Netflix’s 2024 crime thriller,Ripley.
Dakota Fanning received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her performance inRipley
In the highly acclaimed show, she plays Marge Sherwood. She immediately clocks Tom as the killer, tracking his behavior. While both characters lean towards apathy and emotional coldness, Marge’s goals are the antithesis of Abby’s inThe Perfect Couple. Marge wants to expose Tom’s crimes and see him punished. These two roles, compared to one another, show Dakota Fanning’s incredible acting range.
