In a candid conversation on the Good Hang with Kim and Amy podcast released this June, the Fifty Shades of Grey star opened up like never before about her early career, body confidence, and how Hollywood has finally caught up with what actresses like her have needed for years.
“I don’t have to prepare anymore,” Johnson said with a confident laugh. “I’m always psyched up for sex. That’s just my baseline.”
It was a bold statement, but not a flippant one. For Johnson, this confidence comes from years of navigating an industry that often left her vulnerable. Back in 2015, when she took on the role of Anastasia Steele, there were no intimacy coordinators on set—no one whose job it was to ensure that scenes involving nudity or sex were safe, consensual, and collaborative. What should’ve been a creatively empowering process often turned into emotional exhaustion.
“It was a struggle,” she recalled of the Fifty Shades shoots. “There was a lot of tension, a lot of power dynamics behind the scenes. We didn’t have anyone protecting us during those scenes. We were left to figure it out ourselves.”
Fast forward to 2025, and Dakota Johnson is reclaiming her narrative. “This year, I worked with an intimacy coordinator for the very first time. And honestly? It was amazing. It changed everything.”
The presence of a trained professional during intimate scenes has allowed her to approach those moments with greater creative control and safety. “It’s not about being less sexy or raw—it’s about being more honest,” she said. “When you feel safe, you can go deeper.”
But what makes Johnson unique is her no-nonsense attitude about the physical aspects of the job. “My mom raised me to be proud of my body. Nudity doesn’t scare me. Sex doesn’t scare me. What I care about is the character. Is this moment truthful? Is it earned?”
She explained her preparation process doesn’t start in the bedroom—it starts on the page. “Is she married? Lonely? Conflicted? Empowered? That’s what I care about,” she said. “Once I know who she is, then we can talk about what she’s doing in bed.”
Her latest film, The Materialists, features yet another romantic lead—but this time with layers of satire and emotional depth. “It’s about love, lust, ambition—and the crazy things people do for money and validation,” she said. “It’s fun, but it’s also real. These characters are messy. I love that.”
What’s clear from her latest interviews is that Dakota Johnson has grown far beyond the role that made her famous. She’s no longer just the face of a scandalous trilogy—she’s a producer, a creative force, and a voice for safer practices in the industry.
“I’ve learned to say no,” she said. “And I’ve learned how to say yes on my own terms.”
From trauma to triumph, Dakota Johnson’s journey reflects a broader shift in Hollywood—a move toward respect, collaboration, and autonomy for women in film. And she’s not done yet.
“I think we’re just getting started,” she smiled. “There’s so much more to explore—sex scenes and beyond.”
