When actors prepare for a role, the research can take many forms. For Elle Fanning, it meant stepping into a corner of the internet she had never explored before.
Speaking at the premiere of her upcoming series during the SXSW Film & TV Festival on March 12, Fanning shared that she created an OnlyFans account to better understand the world her character inhabits in Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
The 27-year-old actor said the process was simply part of learning how the platform works and how people use it — details she felt were important for portraying the character authentically.
Fanning explained that she’s already familiar with social platforms like Instagram and TikTok, but OnlyFans required a bit more investigation.
To help with that, the creative team set up an account used collectively in the writers’ room so they could explore the site together.
Showrunner Eva Anderson later added that the team approached the research carefully. Everyone involved gave consent before reviewing content, and the goal was simply to gather information before production began.
The series is based on the bestselling 2024 novel Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe.
It follows Margot Millet, a young woman navigating life after dropping out of college and unexpectedly becoming a mother. With finances tight and the future uncertain, she leans on her unconventional parents for support.
Her mother Shaynne is played by Michelle Pfeiffer, while her father Jinx — a former professional wrestler — is portrayed by Nick Offerman.
The eight-episode adaptation was created by David E. Kelley and will stream on Apple TV+. The cast also includes Nicole Kidman, Marcia Gay Harden, Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano, Rico Nasty, Thaddea Graham and Lindsey Normington.
Fanning has described the project as one of the most enjoyable experiences of her career.
While the story deals with financial hardship and complicated family dynamics, she said the tone is ultimately hopeful. Margot, she explained, is someone who keeps pushing forward despite setbacks.
That resilience is what drew her to the role.
Part of what makes the series resonate is its reflection of modern realities.
Young adults today are navigating rising costs, uncertain career paths, and a digital economy that often blurs the line between personal life and income.
By exploring platforms like OnlyFans as part of Margot’s world, the show attempts to portray those pressures with honesty rather than judgment.
For Fanning, understanding that environment was essential to bringing Margot to life.
Researching the platform wasn’t about shock value, she suggested, but about capturing the complicated choices people sometimes face when trying to build a stable life.
And in the end, the story circles back to something familiar — family, survival, and the determination to keep going.
