At a Glance
- Elle Fanning received a video message from Jack Black on the Jan. 11, 2026 Golden Globes red carpet
- Black joked about being her “hall pass” and sent greetings to her boyfriend Gus Wenner
- Fanning once called Black “sex on legs” and her family has a group chat praising his appeal
- Why it matters: The playful exchange highlights Fanning’s long-standing, lighthearted crush on the comedian
Elle Fanning’s celebrity crush on Jack Black took center stage at the January 11, 2026 Golden Globes, when the “Sentimental Value” star came face-to-screen with a surprise video message from the comedian himself.
Red-Carpet Surprise
While speaking with Access Hollywood on the red carpet, Fanning was shown a clip in which Black addressed her very public infatuation.
“You make me very embarrassed with all this hall-pass talk,” the 56-year-old quipped. “Look, I’m very flattered, but I have to keep my eye closed because I am so embarrassed.”
Blowing Fanning a kiss, he added, “Much love to you and yours.”
Black-married to Tanya Haden since 2006-also extended a humorous greeting to Fanning’s boyfriend, Rolling Stone executive Gus Wenner, who accompanied her to the Nikki Glaser-hosted ceremony.
“Hi to your boyfriend also,” Black said. “Dude, I didn’t do anything.”
Fanning’s Longtime Crush
Fanning has never hidden her admiration for the “School of Rock” actor.
“I just love Jack Black. He’s lovable,” she told Access Hollywood, admitting she had worried the comic might take out a restraining order after her repeated praise. “Oh my gosh, I was worried that he was gonna have a restraining order against me.”
The admiration runs in the family. Dakota Fanning, 31, revealed in a September Vanity Fair Lie Detection Test segment that the sisters maintain a group chat “dedicated to how hot” Black is.
During the same interview, Dakota reminded Elle that she once labeled Black “the perfect man” and pressed her on whether she would leave Wenner if Black declared his love.
Although Elle answered “no,” the polygraph registered “some deception,” prompting laughter from both sisters.
“Gus doesn’t care,” Elle said, noting that when Wenner met Black at the 2024 Golden Globes, he informed the Tenacious D front-man, “You’re her hall pass, by the way.”
Star-Studded Party Encounter
Fanning wasn’t the only celebrity excited to meet Black. At Netflix’s Summer Break party in Los Angeles, reality star Tanner Smith told Access Hollywood’s Lauren Herbert how thrilled he had been to encounter Black on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
Smith also shared updates on his dating life and expressed excitement at seeing castmate Abbey Romeo perform at the event.
Key Takeaways
- Elle Fanning’s red-carpet moment at the 2026 Golden Globes became unforgettable thanks to Jack Black’s playful video message
- Black’s good-natured response reinforced Fanning’s years-long, family-wide affection for him
- The interaction provided a humorous highlight amid the star-studded awards season
