Dakota Johnson has never shied away from candid conversations about her personal life, especially when it comes to the intense spotlight surrounding her role as Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades trilogy. In a revealing 2017 interview with Vogue for their February issue, the actress opened up about exploring her own sexuality, the raw honesty required for those infamous sex scenes, and playfully addressed persistent rumors about her relationship with co-star Jamie Dornan.
At the time, fresh off the massive success of Fifty Shades of Grey and amid promotion for the sequels, Johnson reflected on her character’s sexual awakening and how it mirrored her own curiosities. “I’m fascinated by young women and their sexuality,” she shared, explaining that portraying Anastasia—a woman discovering BDSM and intimacy for the first time—sparked deeper self-exploration. “I’m a sexual person, and when I’m interested in something, I want to know so much about it,” she later elaborated in other interviews, emphasizing her comfort with nudity and authenticity on screen. She pushed for more realistic depictions in sex scenes, bluntly stating, “I don’t want to see someone wearing a bra and underwear in a sex scene. Let’s be honest about it. People are naked when they have sex.”
The interview also tackled the swirling tabloid speculation about her dynamic with Jamie Dornan. Rumors ranged from on-set feuds to secret affairs, fueled by the steamy on-screen chemistry and the close collaboration required for the films’ intimate sequences. Johnson tackled it with her signature witty sarcasm: “We hate each other and we’re having an affair, so everybody’s right. How about that?” She quickly clarified the truth, praising their professional bond: “Jamie and I worked so incredibly closely for so long. There were no inhibitions… it was very honest, very trusting. But I mean, what a gamble! What if he had turned out to be a total d***?” Fortunately, the gamble paid off—they built a trusting partnership that made the vulnerable scenes possible.
Years later, in a 2022 Vanity Fair profile, Johnson revisited the topic amid renewed interest in the franchise’s legacy. She described the entire Fifty Shades production as “psychotic” due to creative battles (often with author E.L. James over fidelity to the books), but firmly shut down any lingering feud narratives with Dornan. “There was never a time when we didn’t get along,” she insisted. “I know it’s weird, but he’s like a brother to me. I love him so, so, so much. And we were really there for each other. We had to really trust each other and protect each other.” Dornan has echoed this in recent years, noting they still text and plan dinners, underscoring a lasting friendship born from shared challenges.
The rumors persisted because of the films’ cultural impact—Fifty Shades grossed over $1 billion globally, turning Johnson and Dornan into instant sensations while inviting endless scrutiny. Johnson has expressed pride in the project for its boldness and difference, even as she acknowledged the toll. Her openness about sexuality—embracing curiosity, rejecting prudish portrayals, and prioritizing trust in intimate work—has become a hallmark of her public persona, especially as she navigates diverse roles in films like Persuasion, Madame Web, and beyond.
As the trilogy marks its milestones well into 2026, Johnson’s words from that Vogue cover remain iconic: a mix of humor, honesty, and defiance against speculation. She didn’t just address rumors—she flipped the script, turning tabloid fodder into a clever punchline while affirming the genuine respect and camaraderie that made those steamy scenes believable. In an era of oversharing, her blend of vulnerability and wit continues to resonate, reminding fans why she became the perfect Anastasia Steele: unapologetically herself