Five days of 'The Runaways'! A fake tattoo foreshadowed Dakota Fanning's starring role as Cherie Currie

Sometimes it's the little signs that point toward big roles -- like Dakota Fanning playing singer Cherie Currie in "The Runaways."

And in this case, that little sign was a little bit of body art.

Currie, chatting at the Sundance Film Festival, told me about when she and Fanning met over lunch to discuss re-creating her persona on the big screen. Fanning revealed to Currie that her journey to their table had started with a classmate who was holding some temporary tattoos.

Dakota's friend had brought the arty stickies to school, Currie said. "She picked a single cherry and put it on her arm."

When Fanning got home that day, her mother was holding the script for "The Runaways."

As Currie tells it, Joy Fanning said, "Dakota you’re not going to believe this. I’m holding this script and you would play a girl who has a cherry tattoo."

After that, Fanning hit it off with director Floria Sigismondi, and a new Cherie was born.

For Currie, a mom and recovering addict, there was nobody but Fanning for the part.

"She’s a prodigy, she’s incredibly unique," she said. "I think she deserves an Academy Award, I'm going to say that right now."

Check out more on Dakota's transformation in our official Sundance coverage here. Do you think she's worthy of Oscar gold? Tell me in comments.

-- Matt Donnelly

Photo: Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart as Cherie Currie and Joan Jett in "The Runaways." Credit: Apparition Films.

Enjoy the Ministry's entire series on 'The Runaways':

Five days of 'The Runaways'! Day 1: Kristen Stewart on Joan Jett -- and the whole blogger problem

Five days of 'The Runaways'! Day 2: How Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning learned to rock

Five days of 'The Runaways'! Day 4: Joan Jett on KStew; will Kristen and Dakota record their own albums?

Five days of 'The Runaways'! Day 5: Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning -- anatomy of a kiss

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Comments

[meagain]

Yes Dakota Fanning is a prodigy.
the full scope of her talent is way beyond what we have seen.
she should have had won an oscar for i am sam

[Georgia]

In my opinion, Dakota has more than earned her Oscar! I mean, all her perfomances are incredibly convincing, and she's saved mediocre films from bombing! Not to mention that her films have grossed over a billion dollars! Her roles are also turning into very mature ones, and it's about time she's gotten what she deserves.

[Dakota Fan]

Definately deserving. She is awesome in every way

[Alisa]

Wow- I didn't expect Dakota Fanning to play Cherie Currie. I simply didn't see it... But- Now that I have? Freakin' WOW!

[Lucky Vaunda]

Yeah, I totally agree with meagain. Dakoto should have won an Oscar for her role I Am Sam. Hopefully this time she win an Oscar, or at least get nominated for it. You go, Dakota!