Heather Joy Arrington is best known as the mother of actresses Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning. Before her daughters became famous, Heather played competitive tennis and attended the University of Miami on a tennis scholarship.
She later focused much of her time on supporting Dakota and Elle as they started acting at a young age.
Heather Joy Arrington’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Heather Joy Arrington |
| Birthplace | Reportedly Georgia, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Father | Rick Arrington |
| Mother | Mary Jane Arrington |
| Education | University of Miami |
| Sport | Tennis |
| Former husband | Steven Fanning |
| Children | Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning |
| Known for | Mother of Dakota and Elle Fanning |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Heather Joy Arrington’s Early Life
Heather Joy Arrington grew up in Georgia in a family that loved sports.
Her father, Rick Arrington, was a professional football player. He played quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.
Her mother is Mary Jane Arrington. Heather also reportedly has a sister, but her name is not widely known.
Heather’s exact date of birth is unclear. Different online sources give different dates, so her age cannot be confirmed.
Education and Tennis
Heather Joy Arrington attended the University of Miami on a tennis scholarship.
She was a competitive tennis player during her younger years. Some sources say she later played professionally, but there is not enough reliable information to confirm this.
Her sports background also influenced how she raised her daughters.
Marriage to Steven Fanning
Heather married Steven Fanning on September 9, 1992.
Steven also had a sports background and played minor league baseball.
The couple had two daughters, Dakota and Elle Fanning.
Steven filed for divorce in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was reportedly finalized in August 2018.
Who Is Dakota Fanning?
Dakota Fanning is Heather’s older daughter. She was born on February 23, 1994, in Conyers, Georgia.
Dakota started acting as a child and became known for films such as Uptown Girls, War of the Worlds, and The Runaways.
Heather Joy Arrington originally hoped Dakota might become a tennis player. However, Dakota was much more interested in acting.
Her parents supported that choice.
Who Is Elle Fanning?
Elle Fanning is Heather’s younger daughter. She was born on April 9, 1998.
Elle followed Dakota into acting at a young age. She later became known for projects such as Super 8, Maleficent, and The Great.
Both sisters built successful acting careers while Heather mostly stayed away from public attention.
Moving to Los Angeles
The Fanning family originally lived in Georgia.
When Dakota’s acting career started growing, the family moved to Los Angeles to support her work. Elle later began acting as well.
Heather helped manage the girls’ schedules. Her mother, Mary Jane, also helped when both sisters were working at the same time.
How Heather Supported Her Daughters
Heather Joy Arrington stayed involved in her daughters’ careers without trying to control their work.
Dakota has said her mother would stay nearby on set but did not interfere with her acting. Heather mainly made sure her daughters were prepared and safe.
She also taught Dakota and Elle good manners. They were expected to apologize when they behaved badly and were encouraged to write handwritten thank-you notes.
Her Relationship With Dakota and Elle
Heather appears to have a close relationship with both daughters.
Dakota and Elle have shared photos and messages about their mother on birthdays and Mother’s Day.
They have also spoken about the changes their parents made to support their acting careers.
Heather is sometimes photographed with her daughters but generally prefers a private life.
Heather’s Career
There is little public information about Heather’s career after tennis.
One source says she later had a regular job, but the type of work is not known.
She is mainly known publicly because of her tennis background and her role in raising Dakota and Elle.
Net Worth
Heather’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some websites estimate it at around $400,000, but there are no reliable financial records confirming this amount.
Social Media
Heather Joy Arrington keeps a low profile online.
A Facebook account using the name Heather Joy Fanning has been mentioned online, but it is not clearly confirmed as her official account.
Most personal photos of Heather seen publicly have been shared by Dakota or Elle.
Reported Royal Family Connection
Genealogy research has reportedly linked Heather’s family line to King Edward III of England.
Through this family line, Dakota and Elle have been described as distant relatives of Catherine, Princess of Wales.
This is a very distant family connection going back hundreds of years.
Facts About Heather Joy Arrington
- Heather Joy Arrington is the mother of Dakota and Elle Fanning.
- She grew up in Georgia.
- Her father is former NFL quarterback Rick Arrington.
- Her mother is Mary Jane Arrington.
- She attended the University of Miami on a tennis scholarship.
- She married Steven Fanning in 1992.
- Heather and Steven have two daughters.
- Their divorce was reportedly finalized in 2018.
- Heather helped her daughters start their acting careers.
- She prefers to keep her personal life private.
- Her exact birthday and personal net worth are not reliably confirmed.
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