Move over, Tinder—when it comes to celebrity dating, Raya is where the bold and beautiful swipe. But what happens when Hollywood’s most private leading lady, Dakota Fanning, ventures onto the “Tinder for celebrities”? Spoiler: The experience was a lot more about curiosity than cupid’s arrow. Here’s what Dakota revealed about her adventures on Raya—and how she’s really feeling about the online dating scene.
Dakota Fanning on Raya: Curiosity, Not Cupid
For Dakota Fanning, signing up for Raya wasn’t about chasing romance—it was about satisfying curiosity. The Ripley and Uptown Girls star confessed in a Vanity Fair cover interview (alongside sister Elle Fanning) that she recently joined the exclusive, invite-only dating app mainly “for fun.” In fact, it was her girlfriend who made the profile for her, not a secret hunt for love.
Elle summed up Dakota’s stance: “She’s never done this. Ever.” Dakota echoed, “If I didn’t [try Raya], then I’m going to think—maybe my husband is there?” Her answer, though? “I can confirm that he is not.” Asked if she’d seen any celebrity profiles, Dakota replied, “I haven’t seen a ton of familiar faces yet.” The whole vibe? Lighthearted, curious, and still very much Dakota—guarded and dryly funny.
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Dating on Dakota’s Terms: Why She Finds Apps “Horrific”
Although Dakota Fanning’s love life is the stuff of rare interviews and never public spectacle, she hasn’t shied away from critiquing dating culture itself. In past interviews, Dakota called dating “horrific,” explaining that traditional one-on-one dinners feel stiff and unnatural. Her preferred way to meet someone? Through friends—because, as she bluntly put it, “then they’re most likely not a freak”.
Her Raya experiment hasn’t changed that. Dakota is famously private—her last public relationships were with Jamie Strachan and, later, Henry Frye; since then, she’s mostly stayed out of the tabloid dating scene. While Elle Fanning is happy displaying relationship snaps with boyfriend Gus Wenner, Dakota says she’ll “never air her dirty laundry” and prefers to keep her personal life “together” in public view.
So, What’s Next for Fanning—and Raya?
The bottom line: Dakota Fanning isn’t counting on Raya to deliver her soulmate—she’s just enjoying the surreal ride of digital dating (and probably rolling her eyes, too). For fans wondering who Dakota matches with, the answer is simple: Even America’s most acclaimed actresses struggle with apps, and, sometimes, curiosity wins over romance.
Dakota Fanning’s Raya experience? All fun, no drama—and exactly as real as she wants it to be.
