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How 14-Year-Old Dakota Fanning Handled Peer Pressure in Hollywood

Aired on 10/02/2008 | CC tv-pg
During a 2008 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 14-year-old actress Dakota Fanning fielded a question from Sophie, a 14-year-old superfan from Minneapolis, who wanted to know how the young star managed to deal with the "peer pressure in young Hollywood."

Dakota said that the key to staying grounded was surrounding herself with family and friends and focusing on her responsibilities. "After school, I have to go to cheerleading practice for two hours; then I come home and have to get my homework done just like everybody else," Dakota said. "But I think it also helps to just keep your family and your friends really close."

Here, look back as the emerging Hollywood star shows off a maturity beyond her years.