Elle Fanning Watched YouTube Testimonials To Prepare For 'About Ray' Role

Elle Fanning heads to the hair salon for an appointment on Tuesday afternoon (August 25) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Speaking with Out magazine, the 17-year-old opened up about how she prepared to take on the role of a transgender teen in About Ray — she watched YouTube!

“Some kids were telling me such personal things,” she shared. “It was really moving. I was a stranger, and they were opening up to me, and way more confident than I would be.”

Elle added, “On YouTube, I watched how they lit up – they were so happy about becoming who they are, so happy that they don’t have to hide anymore.”