Actress Dakota Johnson has opened up about the special and long-lasting friendship she shares with pop icon Madonna. Their relationship dates back several years, evolving from a chance meeting in Johnson’s youth to a close bond today. The connection first formed because of Johnson’s stepfather, Antonio Banderas, who starred alongside Madonna in the 1996 film Evita.
Johnson recalls their initial encounters growing out of her family’s ties, as Banderas was married to her mother, Melanie Griffith, at the time. Over the years, their relationship transformed from acquaintanceship to genuine friendship. Johnson described Madonna’s presence as uniquely captivating, highlighting the singer’s “beautiful and wild” energy as something she deeply admires.
I really love her. We’ve been like weird friends for a while,
Johnson said.
I met her when I was really young because she did a movie with my stepfather, and then I got to know her later because we were going to work together on something.
—Dakota Johnson
We’ve always kind of circled each other, but she is an energy to be near that is so beautiful and so wild,
she added.
It’s just cool that she even wants to talk to me.
—Dakota Johnson
The Intersection of Their Careers and Ongoing Projects
Although Johnson has not disclosed the details of any collaborative work planned with Madonna, their creative worlds continue to intersect. Madonna’s classic 1984 track Material Girl recently featured in the trailer for Johnson’s upcoming film, Materialists, highlighting a subtle professional overlap.
Madonna’s extensive career includes hits that have defined pop culture and several acting and directing roles, such as her performances in A League of Their Own and Arthur and the Invisibles. She also directed the film W.E. and is currently involved in producing a biopic about her life, with actress Julia Garner attached to portray her.
Dakota Johnson’s Expanding Career Beyond Acting
In addition to nurturing her friendship with Madonna, Johnson is actively advancing her own career. She stars alongside Adria Arjona in Splitsville, which opens in select theaters on August 22 before expanding nationwide on September 5. Looking ahead, Johnson will appear in the 2026 adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel Verity.
At the Cannes Film Festival this past May, Johnson announced that she is preparing to make her directorial debut with a script written by Vanessa Burghardt, her former co-star from Cha Cha Real Smooth. This move marks a significant development in her creative journey, expanding her role in the film industry.
Significance of Their Bond and What Lies Ahead
The longstanding friendship between Dakota Johnson and Madonna reflects a unique connection between two influential women from different generations and creative fields. Their bond, rooted in family ties and strengthened by shared experiences, continues to flourish amid their busy careers. As both women advance into new projects—Johnson as an emerging director and Madonna with her biopic—fans can anticipate more intersections of their talents and friendship in the future.
