Elle Fanning; Tom Cruise.Photo: Matt Baron/Shutterstock, Pascal Le Segretain/GettyElle Fanningis still recovering after her shout-out fromTom Cruise.Speaking to the audience at the premiere of his new movieTop Gun: MaverickWednesday at theCannes Film Festival, Cruise, 59, praised Elle, 24, while sharing an early memory of the “very talented actress.““And it’s wonderful to see you here, and see your sister,” Cruise added, referencing Elle’s older sisterDakota Fanning, with whom he starred in 2005’sWar of the Worlds.Elle — who smiled widely from her seat during Cruise’s speech — told PEOPLE after the event that she “was freaking out” and “sort of crying/blushing” during the sweet moment.“I was waking up pinching myself. Did that really happen last night? Was I dreaming?” adds the actress and L’Oréal Paris International Spokesperson.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Elle Fanning.Andreas Rentz/GettyDuring his speech, Cruise praised Elle and Dakota, 28, for their acting talent and ambition at a young age, after first meeting them as children.For more on the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day."[Elle’s] going, ‘I’m an actress,’ and I said, ‘I know you are,” he said. “I was working with Dakota, who’s a genius, and I was there with Elle, so I said, ‘What are you gonna do?’ She was like, ‘I’m an actress, too.’ I was like, ‘Yes, you are.’ “Elle tells PEOPLE that Cruise “made it a point to kind of stay in [Dakota’s] life” after they finished filmingWar of the Worlds, “which was so kind.““And he sends her a birthday gift every single year still,” Elle says. “We get the coconut cake that he sends, which I knowKirsten Dunstsaid she gets one, as well, from working with him inInterview with the Vampire.“Tom Cruise and Elle Fanning.Lester Cohen/WireImageRELATED GALLERY:2022 Cannes Film Festival: See All of The Best Photos"I think it just shows how even the younger actors — he wants to be out there and inspire young actors to keep going,” addsThe Greatstar.Elle also shares with PEOPLE that she used to hang out on set with her sister on films likeWar of the WorldsandMan on Fire, making crayon drawings for Cruise on the former andDenzel Washingtonon the latter.“I remember my photo [I gave Tom] was of one of theWar of the Worldsthings — it was my sister and him running away. It was a crayon picture. That’s my memory of meeting him,” Elle says.“And he said he remembered. It seems like he does!” she adds.
Elle Fanning; Tom Cruise.Photo: Matt Baron/Shutterstock, Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
Elle Fanningis still recovering after her shout-out fromTom Cruise.Speaking to the audience at the premiere of his new movieTop Gun: MaverickWednesday at theCannes Film Festival, Cruise, 59, praised Elle, 24, while sharing an early memory of the “very talented actress.““And it’s wonderful to see you here, and see your sister,” Cruise added, referencing Elle’s older sisterDakota Fanning, with whom he starred in 2005’sWar of the Worlds.Elle — who smiled widely from her seat during Cruise’s speech — told PEOPLE after the event that she “was freaking out” and “sort of crying/blushing” during the sweet moment.“I was waking up pinching myself. Did that really happen last night? Was I dreaming?” adds the actress and L’Oréal Paris International Spokesperson.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Elle Fanning.Andreas Rentz/GettyDuring his speech, Cruise praised Elle and Dakota, 28, for their acting talent and ambition at a young age, after first meeting them as children.For more on the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day."[Elle’s] going, ‘I’m an actress,’ and I said, ‘I know you are,” he said. “I was working with Dakota, who’s a genius, and I was there with Elle, so I said, ‘What are you gonna do?’ She was like, ‘I’m an actress, too.’ I was like, ‘Yes, you are.’ “Elle tells PEOPLE that Cruise “made it a point to kind of stay in [Dakota’s] life” after they finished filmingWar of the Worlds, “which was so kind.““And he sends her a birthday gift every single year still,” Elle says. “We get the coconut cake that he sends, which I knowKirsten Dunstsaid she gets one, as well, from working with him inInterview with the Vampire.“Tom Cruise and Elle Fanning.Lester Cohen/WireImageRELATED GALLERY:2022 Cannes Film Festival: See All of The Best Photos"I think it just shows how even the younger actors — he wants to be out there and inspire young actors to keep going,” addsThe Greatstar.Elle also shares with PEOPLE that she used to hang out on set with her sister on films likeWar of the WorldsandMan on Fire, making crayon drawings for Cruise on the former andDenzel Washingtonon the latter.“I remember my photo [I gave Tom] was of one of theWar of the Worldsthings — it was my sister and him running away. It was a crayon picture. That’s my memory of meeting him,” Elle says.“And he said he remembered. It seems like he does!” she adds.
Elle Fanningis still recovering after her shout-out fromTom Cruise.
Speaking to the audience at the premiere of his new movieTop Gun: MaverickWednesday at theCannes Film Festival, Cruise, 59, praised Elle, 24, while sharing an early memory of the “very talented actress.”
“And it’s wonderful to see you here, and see your sister,” Cruise added, referencing Elle’s older sisterDakota Fanning, with whom he starred in 2005’sWar of the Worlds.
Elle — who smiled widely from her seat during Cruise’s speech — told PEOPLE after the event that she “was freaking out” and “sort of crying/blushing” during the sweet moment.
“I was waking up pinching myself. Did that really happen last night? Was I dreaming?” adds the actress and L’Oréal Paris International Spokesperson.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Elle Fanning.Andreas Rentz/Getty
During his speech, Cruise praised Elle and Dakota, 28, for their acting talent and ambition at a young age, after first meeting them as children.
For more on the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
“[Elle’s] going, ‘I’m an actress,’ and I said, ‘I know you are,” he said. “I was working with Dakota, who’s a genius, and I was there with Elle, so I said, ‘What are you gonna do?’ She was like, ‘I’m an actress, too.’ I was like, ‘Yes, you are.’ "
Elle tells PEOPLE that Cruise “made it a point to kind of stay in [Dakota’s] life” after they finished filmingWar of the Worlds, “which was so kind.”
“And he sends her a birthday gift every single year still,” Elle says. “We get the coconut cake that he sends, which I knowKirsten Dunstsaid she gets one, as well, from working with him inInterview with the Vampire.”
Tom Cruise and Elle Fanning.Lester Cohen/WireImage
RELATED GALLERY:2022 Cannes Film Festival: See All of The Best Photos
“I think it just shows how even the younger actors — he wants to be out there and inspire young actors to keep going,” addsThe Greatstar.
Elle also shares with PEOPLE that she used to hang out on set with her sister on films likeWar of the WorldsandMan on Fire, making crayon drawings for Cruise on the former andDenzel Washingtonon the latter.
“I remember my photo [I gave Tom] was of one of theWar of the Worldsthings — it was my sister and him running away. It was a crayon picture. That’s my memory of meeting him,” Elle says.
“And he said he remembered. It seems like he does!” she adds.
source: people.com
