Dakota Fanning Will Be Playing First Ever Female NYPD Cop In Upcoming Series

Dakota Fanning is back in the spotlight, and this time there is no child’s play. As the first women in the NYPD on TNT’s The Alienist, she is wowing audiences and taking names.

The show looks into the investigation of gruesome child murders in 1896 New York, and Fanning plays Sara Howard, who fights to be the first female detective.

“She was written as such a strong woman . . . [I was drawn to] her ambition and drive to push the buttons of society and what women were allowed to do at that time. It does not relent to those social norms,” Dakota said to Page Six.

Her costar Luke Evans added, “There was a lot of male dominance that is shown, in the police force especially,” but “I did not have to bring out any extra bravado for this role — my character is a romantic and an artist.”

The Alienist premieres this Monday. Check your local listings!