Dakota Johnson Moves Beyond ‘Fifty Shades’ to Build an Identity of Her Own

Staff Report: PNN

In Hollywood, some characters become so closely associated with an actor’s career that audiences continue to see traces of those roles in the actor’s later work. Dakota Johnson has had a similar experience throughout her career. Although ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ brought her worldwide recognition, the success also came with controversy, intimate scenes and increased public interest in her personal life.

The American actress turned 37 on October 4. Over the past decade, however, Dakota has not allowed herself to remain confined to the identity of Anastasia Steele from the ‘Fifty Shades’ franchise. Alongside commercial films, she has worked in independent productions and has also established herself as a producer.

Dakota Maia Johnson was born on October 4, 1989, in Austin, Texas, United States. Her father is actor Don Johnson and her mother is actress Melanie Griffith. Her grandmother, Tippi Hedren, is also a well-known figure in Hollywood. As a result, the film industry was familiar to Dakota from an early age.

At just nine years old, Dakota made her screen debut in the film ‘Crazy in Alabama,’ which starred her mother. Although she subsequently appeared in a variety of small and larger roles, she did not become widely known as a major star for a long time.

In 2010, she appeared in David Fincher’s ‘The Social Network’ as well as several other films and television productions. She also worked in projects such as ‘21 Jump Street,’ ‘The Five-Year Engagement’ and ‘Ben and Kate.’ However, a major turning point in her career came in 2015.

Based on E.L. James’s popular novel, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ generated widespread attention even before its release. Dakota played Anastasia Steele in the film, opposite Jamie Dornan.

The film centered on adult relationships, sexuality, nudity and the complicated dynamics of power. One of the most widely discussed aspects of the production was its intimate scenes. Performing in those scenes was also a major challenge for Dakota.

She later said that personal privacy and safety were given importance during filming. The number of people allowed on set was kept limited so that the actors could work comfortably. She also had to undergo physical preparation for the role.

The film not only brought her widespread attention but also became a major box-office success. Made on a budget of approximately $40 million, it earned around $569.6 million worldwide.

Following the success of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ Dakota returned to the role of Anastasia Steele twice more. ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ and ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ were also commercially successful. Various reports said that her remuneration increased significantly in the later installments compared with the first film.

However, Dakota did not allow the recognition she gained from the franchise to become her only identity. Instead, she began choosing roles with different styles and characteristics.

She expanded her acting range by appearing in films such as ‘A Bigger Splash,’ ‘Bad Times at the El Royale,’ ‘Suspiria’ and ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon.’ In particular, ‘Suspiria’ gave audiences an opportunity to see her in a very different kind of role, away from her earlier romantic image.

The franchise that turned Dakota into an international star did not always provide her with entirely positive experiences during its production. In an interview in 2022, she said there was a difference between her initial understanding of the film and the final product that appeared on screen.

She also spoke about complications surrounding creative decisions during production and the mental pressure involved. At the same time, it was clear that ‘Fifty Shades’ had helped establish a strong position for her to choose the kind of work she wanted to pursue afterward.

In the later stages of her career, Dakota did not limit herself to being in front of the camera. Alongside producer Ro Donnelly, she established her own production company, TeaTime Pictures.

In 2019, the company entered into a first-look deal with Boat Rocker. Since then, Dakota has served as a producer on several projects, including ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth,’ ‘Am I OK?’ and ‘Daddio.’ She was also involved in both acting and producing on ‘Daddio.’

Through these efforts, the actress has gradually increased her creative control over her career. She has created a role for herself not only in deciding which characters she will play, but also in determining what kinds of stories reach the screen.

However, not every decision has been successful. The superhero film ‘Madame Web,’ released in 2024, became one of the most widely discussed failures of Dakota’s career. She played the character Cassandra Webb in the film.

The big-budget movie received negative reviews from critics and failed to perform as expected commercially. Its worldwide box-office earnings remained at approximately $100.5 million.

Dakota later spoke publicly about the film’s failure. She said that creative decisions in major studio films are often made at multiple levels, meaning that the final movie can be significantly different from the original plan.

Because of her celebrity status, Dakota’s personal life has also attracted considerable public interest for years. Her relationship with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has been reported on numerous occasions. However, Dakota has consistently remained cautious about bringing her private life into the public eye.

In recent times, she has also taken a clear position regarding her personal privacy. According to her, being a popular actress does not mean that every aspect of one’s life has to be made public. She tries to keep her life outside the camera within her own personal space.

Meanwhile, ‘Verity’ has recently become a new topic of discussion. Based on Colleen Hoover’s popular novel, the film stars Dakota alongside Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett.

In addition to acting, Dakota earns income through producing and various brand partnerships. According to Celebrity Net Worth, her estimated net worth is around $14 million, equivalent to approximately Tk 165 crore in Bangladesh currency.

Once known around the world primarily for a single role in the ‘Fifty Shades’ franchise, Dakota Johnson has now established a distinct identity beyond that association. Through acting, producing and choosing stories according to her own preferences, her career is no longer dependent solely on one successful franchise.