Dakota Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dakota Johnson
Johnson at the 2021 Mill Valley Film Festival
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–present)
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 is the daughter of famous actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. Dakota first appeared in a film when she was ten years old. This was a small part in Crazy in Alabama (1999). Her stepfather at the time, Antonio Banderas, directed the movie. Her mother also starred in it.

After finishing high school, Dakota started trying out for acting roles. She had a small part in the movie The Social Network (2010). She became widely known for her main role in a popular 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.

Her acting career grew with roles in many different 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 movies are the thriller Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) and the coming-of-age film The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019). More recently, she appeared in the psychological drama The Lost Daughter (2021) and the romantic drama Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022). She also played a superhero in Madame Web (2024).

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 a movie in Texas. Her grandmother is the famous actress Tippi Hedren. Dakota also has an aunt who is an actress, Tracy Griffith. Her former stepfather is the Spanish actor Antonio Banderas.

Dakota has six half-siblings. From her mother's side, she has a half-brother, Alexander, and a half-sister, Stella Banderas. From her father's side, she has three half-brothers, Jesse, Jasper, and Deacon, and one half-sister, Grace.

Because her parents were actors, Dakota often moved around. She spent a lot of her childhood on film sets and at movie premieres. She also spent time in Aspen and Woody Creek, Colorado. As a teenager, she worked at a local market in Woody Creek during the summers. She went to different schools, including Santa Catalina School and New Roads School.

Dakota became interested in modeling when she was twelve. She took part in a photoshoot for Teen Vogue. She later earned money modeling while she was still in high school. She was interested in acting from a young age. Her parents encouraged her to finish high school before pursuing acting. After high school, she tried to get into the Juilliard School in New York City but was not accepted.

Beginning Her Acting Career (1999–2014)

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. Her former stepfather, Antonio Banderas, directed the movie. In 2006, she was chosen as Miss Golden Globe. This honor meant she helped at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. She was the first person whose parent had also been Miss Golden Globe.

Johnson on the set of A Bigger Splash in 2014

In 2006, Dakota signed with IMG Models. Even though acting is her main job, she has also modeled for brands like MANGO. She also worked on a "Rising Star" campaign for an Australian fashion label.

After high school, Dakota took acting classes. She then signed with the William Morris Agency to start her acting career. She had a small role in the popular film The Social Network (2010), directed by David Fincher. She also appeared in the fantasy film Beastly (2011). In 2012, she had roles in several films. These included For Ellen, Goats, The Five-Year Engagement, and 21 Jump Street.

In 2012, Dakota got a main role in the TV comedy series Ben and Kate. This was her first time starring in a TV show. The show ran for one season. After that, she quickly returned to movies. She had a small part in Need for Speed (2014). In 2013, she also appeared in the final episode of the TV comedy series The Office.

Becoming a Star (2015–2019)

Dakota Johnson became very famous with her main role in a romantic drama film released in February 2015. This movie brought her international attention. She was chosen for the role over many other actresses. When asked about her character in the film series, Dakota said she was proud of the movie. She believed her character was strong and made her own choices. While the film series received mixed reviews, Dakota's acting often earned praise.

Johnson at the 2016 BAFTA Awards

In 2015, Dakota appeared on Saturday Night Live for its 40th anniversary special. She also hosted the show later that month. 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 a strong impression in her role.

In 2015, Dakota also starred in the thriller A Bigger Splash. She acted alongside Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes. That same year, she appeared in Cymbeline, a modern movie based on a play by William Shakespeare. In 2016, she played a main role in the comedy How to Be Single. She even sang a cover of the song "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" for the film's soundtrack. In June 2016, Dakota was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This group is known for giving out the Oscars.

Dakota trained in dance for her role in Suspiria (2018). This was a supernatural horror film and a remake of an older movie. She played an American dancer who joins an academy run by witches. Her performance in the film was described as "thrilling." Also in 2018, she starred in the thriller Bad Times at the El Royale. She played a hippie staying at a hotel where different people with mysterious pasts meet. Her acting in this movie was ranked as one of the best.

In 2019, Dakota starred in the psychological horror film Wounds. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. She then appeared in the adventure film The Peanut Butter Falcon, which was well-received. She also starred in the drama film Our Friend. In this movie, she played Nicole Teague, a woman facing a difficult illness. Dakota sang three songs for the film's soundtrack. Critics praised her performance, calling it "extraordinary" and "impressive."

Recent Work and Future Projects (2020–Present)

Dakota Johnson started her own production company called TeaTime Pictures. She co-founded it with Ro Donnelly to create new films and TV shows. In 2020, Dakota made her directing debut. She co-directed a music video for Coldplay's song "Cry Cry Cry," which featured her boyfriend Chris Martin.

In 2020, Dakota starred in the comedy-drama film The High Note. She played a character working in the music industry. Critics had different opinions on her performance. Some said she was "lovely," while others called it "maybe her best and certainly most lovable performance."

In 2021, she co-starred in The Lost Daughter. This film was directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and based on a popular novel. In 2022, she starred in a Netflix movie based on Jane Austen's novel Persuasion. She also co-produced and starred in several other films. These include Am I Ok?, where she played a lesbian character, and Cha Cha Real Smooth, where she played a young mother. She also appeared in Daddio, playing a passenger who has a deep conversation with a taxi driver. Her acting in these films received positive reviews.

In November 2023, Dakota Johnson signed with a new talent agency, Creative Artists Agency. In 2024, she played the main role in the superhero film Madame Web. This movie is part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe.

Personal Life

Dakota Johnson has been in a relationship with Coldplay's singer Chris Martin since October 2017. They live in Malibu, California.

Dakota enjoys tattoos and has many of them. She is also a brand ambassador for the luxury fashion brand Gucci. In 2018, she joined 300 women in Hollywood to create the Time's Up initiative. This group works to protect women from unfair treatment.

Dakota is a big reader. She started her own book club in March 2024.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music video

Awards and Nominations

Dakota Johnson has received several awards for her acting. She won the Robert Altman Award as part of the cast for Suspiria. For her role in a popular film series, she received 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