Hitting the road in style! Elle Fanning, 16, is all smiles as she takes driving lessons in luxury Mercedes-Benz

By Ryan Smith

Published: 07:08 EST, 8 July 2014 | Updated: 07:08 EST, 8 July 2014

Most people who have taken driving lessons can likely remember doing so in a clapped-out motor.

But when you're a young movie star like Elle Fanning, the experience can be a little more luxurious.

The adorable actress was all smiles as she embarked on every teenager's dream rite of passage as she took control of the wheel in Los Angeles last week.

Hitting the road: Elle Fanning was seen taking driving lessons in a Mercedes-Benz in Los Angeles last week

Hitting the road: Elle Fanning was seen taking driving lessons in a Mercedes-Benz in Los Angeles last week

But, of course, this was likely no ordinary driving school experience.

 

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Elle, 16, enrolled as a student at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, and was seen steering one of the luxury car-marker's gleaming white vehicles.

The blonde actress most recently enjoyed big screen success alongside Angelina Jolie in the box office juggernaut Maleficent - Disney's highest-grossing live action movie of all time.

Jovial: The actress seemed to enjoy her lesson, spending much of her time behind the wheel laughing

Jovial: The actress seemed to enjoy her lesson, spending much of her time behind the wheel laughing

Take the wheel: The star looked relaxed as her instructor put her through her paces

Take the wheel: The star looked relaxed as her instructor put her through her paces

Big step: Driving is allowed from the age of 16 in the state of California

Big step: Driving is allowed from the age of 16 in the state of California

While she plays a princess in Maleficent, it was recently revealed that Elle really does have royal blood running through her veins, according to ancestry.com.

She told E! News: ‘It's so weird. I saw it the other day. My cousins called me up and they were like, "Look online!"

‘I looked online and like King Edward III is my great great-great-grandfather. I was like, "Is this real?"'

Simply the best: The star opted to take her lessons in a top luxury vehcile

Simply the best: The star opted to take her lessons in a top luxury vehcile

Easy does it: Elle looked confident as she navigated the city's tree-lined streets

Easy does it: Elle looked confident as she navigated the city's tree-lined streets

Elle is also said to be a distant cousin of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, to which she exclaimed: ‘It’s crazy.’

Despite being young, Elle and her sister Dakota, 20, have enjoyed relatively long and successful careers in Hollywood.

The sisters boast dozens of films between them and have been able to escape the treacherous child star trap that has caught so many before them.

Driven to succeed: Elle's movie Maleficent proved to be a huge box office success

Driven to succeed: Elle's movie Maleficent proved to be a huge box office success

Comments (22)

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That's a CLA., Mercedes entry-level car in the USA.There are smaller ones sold in Europe. I'd hardly say she's in that fancy a Mercedes.

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I'm learning to drive at the moment and my worst nightmare would be somebody taking photos - I'm not great... I need to focus!

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Big car to learn in.... I know I had a few mishaps in my instructors mini

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You can get your permit at 15 in Georgia, so you can start driving supervised by an adult. You get your license at 16.

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Lucky girl.

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Publicity shot me thinks.

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Do people have manual cars in the States? :o just curious...

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2 of 3 repliesSee all replies

About 30%

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I beg to differ Aman... I have an automotive background and can say there are LOADS of manual transmission cars purchased/driven in North America.

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Here in the states you can get your permit at 16 so you can start driving supervised by an adult.

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Trouble is they let you drive until you are 90 and can hardly walk.

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Mercedes does the same in the UK.

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Here in the states you can get your permit at 16 so you can start driving supervised by an adult.

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Elle who????????

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Some driving schools allow the same in the UK, so nice try.

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16? She is too young to learn to drive?!

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2 of 5 repliesSee all replies

not in the usa

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She has to supervised by an adult but hardly any teen does that. I didn't at that age. lol

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