15 Best Supporting Characters In Sci-Fi Movies

Appearing in 2005's War of the Worlds, Rachel Ferrier was portrayed by an 11 year old Dakota Fanning.

Another example of how Fanning was an absolutely outstanding child actor, Rachel Ferrier provides much of the emotional weight of the film.

Alongside her estranged father, Ray, played by Tom Cruise, Rachel attempts to survive the alien invasion of Earth. Arguably the more human of the two characters, she gives Ray a reason to keep fighting for survival and safety, and delivers what is undoubtedly the best performance of the film.

Cruise's character's drive is delivering his children safely back to their mother, and Fanning perfectly portrays the little girl who has unwittingly become little more than baggage to her father.

Over the course of the film, father and daughter become closer after a number of close shaves, and Ray manages to deliver Rachel safely to her mother before the aliens are conveniently defeated by the Earth's microbes.