Dakota Johnson is a name that has been dominating the global film industry for quite some time now. Rising towards a luminous stardom by delivering one after another flawless and original performance, she has carved out her unique niche in the world of films. Dakota is the daughter of celebrated actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, although that has not prevented her from making an original oeuvre on the screen in her own right. From performing as a child artist to doing supporting roles in other productions and finally getting a legendary breakthrough in her career as Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades Trilogy, Dakota Johnson has proven to be an illustrious and authentic achiever in the film industry.

Beginnings and early life

Dakota Johnson was born on October 4, 1989, in Austin, Texas, to a family deeply involved with the world of entertainment. While her mother, Melanie Griffith, is an Academy Award-winning actress, her grandmother, Tippi Hedren, is an iconic name in the film industry. This early exposure to the realm of the screens was a contributing factor to her later decision to follow the steps of her family and enter the spectrum of entertainment. The first of her many supporting roles was in Crazy in Alabama (1999), a film in which Dakota performed as a child artist. Incidentally, her mother, Melanie Griffith, also starred in this film, directed by Antonio Banderas.

Supporting roles before Fifty Shades

Once she was past the child actress stage, Dakota took on a host of supporting roles in David Fincher’s The Social Network (2010), Beastly (2011), Goats (2012), Phil Lord’s and Christopher Miller’s 21 Jump Street (2012), The Five-Year Engagement (2012), Date and Switch (2014), and Need for Speed (2014). She also took on a supporting role in Yong Kim’s indie film, For Ellen (2012), which premiered at the Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals. 

The Big Breakthrough

After performing extensively as a child artist and doing supporting roles as an adult for various films, some of which went on to be highly acclaimed, Dakota got her first big breakthrough in the very first movie of the Fifty Shades Trilogy, Fifty Shades of Grey. This film was released in 2015 and was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The film was an instant mega-hit, claiming $569.7 million in global revenue across screens. In this production, Dakota got to play the character of Anastasia Steele, which took her to the peak of stardom overnight after quite an extensive career playing supporting characters. Her diligent portrayal of the innocent yet curious Steele earned her international repute. She played Anastasia in the two later sequels of the 2015 film, one of which was released in 2017, known as Fifty Shades Darker, and the other, Fifty Shades Freed, released in 2018. Both of these films were directed by James Foley.

A career full of versatility

After her big breakthrough, Johnson earned international fame for her original and authentic acting performance. Her filmography stands as a solid testament to her amazing versatility as an actress. After her brilliant performance as Anastasia Steele, she has covered roles in various genres, including romantic dramas, suspense thrillers, and comedies. This is the period in which she delivered one successful project after another. Some of them are-

• Suspiria (2018): Dakota played the character of Susie Bannion in this captivating film of the psychological horror genre. This was indeed a challenging project that proved her flexibility as a performer and showcased her ability to tackle challenging and demanding roles with utmost grace and elegance. This production was directed by Luca Guadagnino.

• The High Note (2020): In her diverse array of characters, Dakota added yet another one in the 2020 production directed by Nisha Ganatra. Here, Dakota played the character of Maggie Sherwood, an aspiring music producer. In this role, Dakota skillfully displayed the musical talent and comedic abilities of her character.

• The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019): In this adventurous and heartwarming rendition, Dakota played Eleanor, a kind-hearted caregiver to a Down Syndrome patient, showcasing her artistic depth and capability to portray intense characters.

Conclusion:

Rising from a family deeply involved with the entertainment world, Dakota Johnson rose to fame with her breakthrough in the Fifty Shades trilogy. She delivered multiple performances across genres to showcase her versatility, depth of portrayal, and authenticity. Johnson has carved her niche on the global screen through original and profound portrayals. She deserves the millions of hearts she has won or broken.

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