'Dakota Fanning was on my mind the second I decided to make this film,' gushes Spielberg. 'I know no one her age that's better than she is and more intuitive about human nature. She has a very wise old soul -- it's like she's been around seven or eight times!'

Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption), who also stars in the film, is equally awestruck. 'The first scene that I saw her shoot,' Robbins recalls, 'I thought, 'Man, this girl's 35 years old!' She was so focused. She has incredible maturity for a kid.'