Dakota Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dakota Johnson
Johnson at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2025
Born	Dakota Mayi Johnson (1989-10-04) October 4, 1989 (age 35) Austin, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1999–present
Partner(s)	Chris Martin (2017–2025)
Parent(s)	Don Johnson Melanie Griffith
Relatives	Jesse Johnson (half-brother) Tippi Hedren (grandmother) Tracy Griffith (aunt)
Awards	Full list

Dakota Mayi Johnson (born October 4, 1989) is an American actress. She has won an Independent Spirit Award and was nominated for a British Academy Film Award.

Dakota is the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. She first appeared in a movie at age ten in Crazy in Alabama (1999). Her stepfather at the time, Antonio Banderas, directed the film. After high school, she started trying out for roles. She had a small part in The Social Network (2010). Dakota became widely known for her main role in the popular Fifty Shades film series (2015–2018). In 2016, she was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award. She was also featured on a Forbes list of successful young people.

Johnson's career grew with roles in many films. These include the crime drama Black Mass (2015) and the drama A Bigger Splash (2015). She also starred in the romantic comedy How to Be Single (2016) and the horror film Suspiria (2018). Other notable films are the thriller Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) and the adventure film The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019). More recently, she appeared in The Lost Daughter (2021) and Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022). Her latest film is Materialists (2025).

Early Life and Family

Dakota Mayi Johnson was born on October 4, 1989, in Austin, Texas. Her parents are actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. When she was born, her father was filming The Hot Spot (1990) in Texas. Her grandmother is the famous actress Tippi Hedren. Dakota also has a half-aunt, actress Tracy Griffith. Antonio Banderas was her stepfather for some years.

Because her parents were actors, Dakota spent much of her childhood traveling to different film sets. She also went with them to movie premieres. She spent time in Aspen and Woody Creek, Colorado. As a teenager, she worked summers at a local market there. She even lived near writer Hunter S. Thompson. Dakota attended the Aspen Community School for a while. She later went to Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California, and then New Roads School in Santa Monica, California.

Dakota became interested in modeling when she was 12. She took part in a photo shoot for Teen Vogue with other celebrity children. She earned money modeling while still in high school. Even as a child, Dakota wanted to act. She spent a lot of time on film sets with her parents. However, her parents encouraged her to finish high school first. After graduating, she tried to get into Juilliard School but was not accepted.

Career Beginnings (1999–2014)

Johnson on the set of A Bigger Splash in late 2014

In 1999, Dakota Johnson made her first movie appearance in Crazy in Alabama. In this film, she and her half-sister Stella Banderas played the daughters of their real-life mother, Melanie Griffith. Antonio Banderas directed the movie. In 2006, Dakota was chosen as Miss Golden Globe. She was the first person whose parent had also been Miss Golden Globe.

That same year, Johnson signed with IMG Models. Even though acting is her main job, she has also modeled. She modeled for MANGO jeans in 2009. She also did a "Rising Star" campaign for an Australian fashion brand in 2011.

After high school, Johnson took acting classes until 2008. She then signed with the William Morris Agency to start her acting career. She had a small role in David Fincher's film The Social Network (2010). She also appeared in the fantasy film Beastly (2011). In 2012, Johnson starred in the drama For Ellen and the comedy Goats. She also had roles in the romance film The Five-Year Engagement and the comedy 21 Jump Street. She played a main role in Chris Nelson's film Date and Switch.

In March 2012, Johnson got a main role in the Fox TV comedy series Ben and Kate. The show was canceled in January 2013 after one season. Johnson continued acting in movies. She had a small role in Need for Speed (2014). In 2013, she appeared in the final episode of the NBC comedy series The Office.

Becoming Well-Known (2015–2019)

Johnson became very well-known for her main role as Anastasia "Ana" Steele. This was in the romantic drama film Fifty Shades of Grey, released in February 2015. This role brought her international fame. Johnson was chosen for the role over many other actresses. She continued to play the role in the next films of the series. While the film series received mixed reviews, Johnson often received praise for her performances.

Johnson at the 69th British Academy Film Awards in early 2016

On February 15, 2015, Johnson appeared on Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special. She then hosted SNL on February 28, 2015. This made her the second daughter of a former SNL host to host the show. Also in 2015, she worked again with Johnny Depp in the film Black Mass. She played the mother of his character's child. Critics noted that she made her role stand out. In 2015, Johnson also starred in Luca Guadagnino's thriller A Bigger Splash. She acted alongside Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes. Reviewers said she showed more depth and humor in this role.

The same year, she appeared in Cymbeline. This was a modern film based on a William Shakespeare play. She starred with Ethan Hawke and Ed Harris. She also had a main role in the 2016 comedy How to Be Single. She performed a song for the film's soundtrack. In June 2016, Johnson was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Johnson starred in Luca Guadagnino's supernatural horror film Suspiria (2018). This was a remake of a 1977 film. She played an American dancer in Berlin who joins an academy run by witches. Her performance was described as "thrilling." Also in 2018, she starred in Drew Goddard's thriller Bad Times at the El Royale. She played a hippie staying at a hotel where different people with mysterious pasts meet. Her performance was highly rated in the film.

In 2019, Johnson starred with Armie Hammer in the psychological horror film Wounds. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Johnson also starred in the well-received adventure film The Peanut Butter Falcon. She acted alongside Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen. This film premiered at South by Southwest and became the highest-earning independent film of the year. She also starred in the drama film Our Friend. This film is based on a true story about a couple facing illness. Johnson sang on three songs for the film's soundtrack. Critics praised her performance for showing a wide range of emotions.

Recent Work (2020–Present)

Johnson at the 2021 Mill Valley Film Festival

Johnson started her own production company called TeaTime Pictures with Ro Donnelly. They create films and TV shows. In 2020, Johnson made her directing debut. She co-directed a music video for Coldplay's "Cry Cry Cry" with Cory Bailey. Her boyfriend, Chris Martin, is the lead singer of Coldplay. Johnson also starred in the comedy-drama film The High Note, released in May 2020. Critics had different opinions on her performance, but some called it her "most lovable."

In 2021, she co-starred in The Lost Daughter. This film was directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and based on a novel. In December 2021, a company bought a part of TeaTime Pictures. In 2022, she starred in the Netflix film Persuasion, based on a Jane Austen novel. Johnson also helped produce and star in other films. She played a young mother with an autistic child in Cha Cha Real Smooth. She also played a passenger in Daddio who has a deep conversation with a taxi driver. Her acting in these films received good reviews.

In November 2023, Johnson changed talent agencies. She signed with Creative Artists Agency. She played the main role in the superhero film Madame Web (2024). This film is part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe. The movie was not very successful with critics or at the box office. Johnson later said that the script changed a lot during filming.

In 2025, she took a supporting role in the comedy Splitsville, which she also produced. That same year, she took a main role in the romance film Materialists (2025). She starred alongside Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal.

Personal Life

Dakota Johnson was in long-term relationships with musician Noah Gersh and actor Jordan Masterson before. She also dated Matthew Hitt, a singer, for about two years until 2016. She has been in a relationship with Coldplay's singer Chris Martin since October 2017. They lived together in Malibu, California, and were engaged. It was reported in June 2025 that they had ended their relationship after eight years.

Johnson enjoys tattoos. She is also a brand ambassador for the luxury fashion brand Gucci. In November 2020, she became an investor and co-creative director for Maude, a brand focused on personal well-being. In 2018, she worked with 300 women in Hollywood to create the Time's Up initiative. This group helps protect women from unfair treatment.

Johnson loves to read. She started a book club in March 2024.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music video

Awards and Recognition

Dakota Johnson has received several awards for her acting. She won the Robert Altman Award as part of the cast for Suspiria. For her roles in the Fifty Shades film series, she won a People's Choice Award. She was also nominated for two MTV Movie & TV Awards. In 2016, she was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award.

See also

In Spanish: Dakota Johnson para niños