During a recent conversation, Dakota Johnson candidly discussed how she navigates filming intimate scenes on set, highlighting her openness towards these moments. Using the focus keyword, Dakota Johnson candidly discusses filming sex scenes, she explained that her comfort comes from personal preparedness and her upbringing.
Appearing on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast on June 10, Dakota revealed she doesn’t require much to get ready for a sex scene due to her accumulated experience. In her own words,
“I’m, like, always psyched up for sex.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor. Johnson elaborated that character research is central to her process, as she assesses the persona she’s portraying—whether the character is an idolized figure, a housewife, or someone more reserved or vulnerable. By grounding her approach in the character’s motivations, Johnson ensures each scene feels authentic to the audience.
Johnson credits her mother, actor Melanie Griffith, for encouraging a healthy relationship with her body and an open dialogue about sexuality.
“My mom raised me to be really proud of my body and love my body,”
Johnson explained.
“I’ve always felt so grateful for that, especially in my work because I can use it and it feels real. It was the way she spoke about it with me. She talked to me about sex and how precious and important it is.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor. Melanie Griffith’s influence helped Dakota develop confidence in both everyday life and her career, which often involves navigating intimate moments on screen.
Recently, Johnson noted the difference an intimacy coordinator made while filming her most recent sex scene, stating this marked her first collaboration with such a professional. Reflecting on her earlier work in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, specifically her portrayal of Anastasia Steele, she shared that there was no such guidance available at that time. The production process under director Sam Taylor-Johnson challenged her, with major script changes occurring after she signed on for the role.
“I think the movie is as good a version as it could be. But it was challenging. I signed on to a script that was different than what we ended up shooting.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor.
Despite unexpected changes and her youth at the time, Johnson persevered through a shifting production landscape.
“You’re attached, you signed a contract, signed on to do it with a different actor—and then it all changed,”
she said.
“I was so young, I think I turned 24 when we were shooting. But I’m proud of myself for being brave.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor.
Memorable Moments in the Spotlight
Johnson’s forthright style extends beyond her work on film sets, as seen in interviews and viral media moments. During a widely discussed exchange on Ellen DeGeneres’s talk show in 2019, Johnson directly addressed a misunderstanding regarding her 30th birthday party.
“Actually, no—that’s not the truth, Ellen.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor. She continued the exchange with dry humor, telling DeGeneres,
“I didn’t even know you liked me,”
and,
“I did invite you, but you didn’t come.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor. This exchange contributed to Johnson’s reputation for candid responses in live settings.
Internet Culture and Viral Trends
After her appearance on Ellen’s show, Johnson’s interviews continued to spark viral attention. When asked about the impact of that viral moment years later, she simply remarked to L’Officiel, “It will haunt me.”
As part of the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, Johnson spoke frankly about author E.L. James’s creative influence. She pointed out the complexity of adapting the novels to screen, especially due to the inner monologue style of the books.
“There were parts of the books that just wouldn’t work in a movie, like the inner monologue, which was at times incredibly cheesy,”
she recalled, referring to behind-the-scenes disputes.
“It was like mayhem all the time.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor. Johnson argued that the working environment was so intense that,
“had known at the time that’s what it was going to be like,”
no one would have taken the project. She added,
“It would’ve been like, ‘Oh, this is psychotic.’”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor. E.L. James has not publicly commented on Johnson’s perspective.
Lime Incident and the Power of Memes
Johnson’s comments often become cultural touchpoints. A lighthearted instance occurred after her 2020 home tour with Architectural Digest, where she admired a bowl of limes in her kitchen, stating,
“I love limes. I love them so much. They’re great, and I like to present them like this in my house.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor. She later revealed it was staged, confessing she is, in fact, allergic to limes.
In late 2023, as the trailer for Madame Web debuted, Johnson’s delivery of the line,
“He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died,”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor—became widely circulated as an internet meme. Despite the uproar online, Johnson appeared perplexed by the meme’s traction, telling an interviewer,
“I have no idea what that’s about.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor. Commenting on the line’s ordinary nature, she added,
“That seems like a basic storyline to me.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor.
Addressing the Nepo Baby Debate
As the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, Dakota Johnson has naturally been asked about her perspective on debates surrounding children of celebrities. She rejected the ongoing discussion, telling Today in February 2024,
“When that first started, I found it to be incredibly annoying and boring.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor.
Unconventional Stories and Personal Habits
At Hollywood events, Johnson has shared quirky anecdotes about her experiences. In one exchange with fellow actor Andrew Garfield, she admitted,
“At those parties, I’d probably get a little drunk and then just take them out,”
referring to her hair extensions. —Dakota Johnson, Actor. She humorously described gifting her extensions to unsuspecting partygoers by hiding them in jacket pockets:
“and put them in men’s jacket pockets because they’re so annoying and I’d just find a place to put them.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor.
Prioritizing self-care, Johnson also declared sleep as her main focus:
“my number one priority in life.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor. She acknowledged to WSJ. Magazine that,
“I’m not functional if I get less than 10,”
and,
“I can easily go 14 hours.”
—Dakota Johnson, Actor.
In a playful 2017 video, Johnson showed off an unusual skill, referencing her gap teeth:
“How much stuff can Dakota Johnson fit in her gap teeth?”
She tested various items, including a toothpick, a credit card, and even $1100 in cash, calling it her only skill and playfully addressing her dad on camera.
The Influence of Family and Lessons from Experience
Across interviews and appearances, Dakota Johnson has woven in references to her family, personal growth, and professional challenges. Her candid openness, influenced by her parents, Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, has shaped her career choices and composure during complex or unexpected moments. Her collaboration with professionals, like intimacy coordinators, and willingness to address difficult topics—whether related to the nepo baby debate or behind-the-scenes chaos on major productions—demonstrate her adaptability within Hollywood.
Johnson’s approach, highlighted by her willingness to reflect on memorable and awkward situations alike, offers insight into how public figures manage fame, creative challenges, and their authentic identities. As her career continues, fans and industry watchers alike remain attentive to the unfiltered perspectives that make Dakota Johnson stand out in both the spotlight and everyday life.
