Dakota FanningDakota Fanning has said she doesn’t mind missing out on a “normal childhood” to pursue her acting career, because who wants to be normal anyway?

The War of the Worlds star started acting at the age of five but had her big breakthrough role at the age of seven in I Am Sam in 2001. She now juggles her movie career with attending Campbell Hall School in North Hollywood and dancing on their varsity cheerleading squad.

She explained recently: “I don’t want to be normal. This is my childhood.

“I’ve been to Australia, travelled and learned about different cultures - some people never leave the country in their entire lifetime.

“My job has opened my mind up and enriched my childhood.”