Dakota Fanning feels the need to "defend her life" because of her past as a child star.

The 24-year-old actress shot to fame at the age of seven after starring as Lucy Dawson in 'I Am Sam', but has said that she gets tired of being asked whether or not she regrets missing out on traditional childhood experiences because of her early success, and feels as though she has to stick up for the life she has led.

The 'Alienist' star insists that being an actress from a young age has let her travel to places and meet people she never would have met without her career, and says the overall experience has "added so much" to her life that she doesn't feel as though she missed out on her childhood.