Lynn Hirschberg interviews Elle and Dakota Fanning, lensed by Mario Sorrenti for W Magazine’s ‘Sister Act’ in the December 2011 issue. The sisters tell Hirschberg that they share everything.

“My sister and I share a bathroom, and when you have a sibling, nothing is actually your own. I’ve never really had anything or a place that was just mine,” says Dakota, now a university student in New York City.

At age 17, Dakota Fanning has been in the Hollywood spotlight since 2001, when her seven-year-old breakthrough performance in ‘I Am Sam’ with Sean Penn won her accolades. Dakota ran into serious trouble with the conservative Parents Television Council over her kissing scene — also at age seven — in Reese Witherspoon’s movie “Sweet Home Alabama”.

Dakota’s Fall 2011 Marc Jacobs ‘Oh, Lola!’ ad was recently banned in England for being too suggestive. The campaign is much more sexualized (should it be banned is another topic entirely) than herspring/summer 2007 ready-to-wear campaign for Marc Jacobs.

Sister Elle Fanning is front and center this season as the young girl idol of the fashion industry. She will next appear in ‘We Bought a Zoo”, which hits theaters Dec. 23. (See Trailer

Elle herself is the subject of considerable controversy in the ongoing discussion of fashion’s obsession with really young girls.

Lori Goldstein styles the Mario Sorrenti shoot, dressing the fabulous Fannings in Chanel, Dior, Givenchy and Valentino.

(17) Dakota Fanning (left) and the taller, younger (13) Elle Fanning (right)