The Fifty Shades star credits her actress mum Melanie Griffith with raising her to embrace her figure.
Dakota Johnson has credited her mother Melanie Griffith with giving her the confidence to embrace her sexuality – saying she was raised to be proud of her body and has carried that freedom into some of Hollywood’s most intimate roles.
The 36-year-old actress, who became an international star as Anastasia Steele in the sexually charged Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, says Melanie, 69, spoke openly to her about bodies and sex while she was growing up.
Dakota’s comments come as she prepares for the release of her latest provocative thriller, Verity, in which she stars alongside Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett.
Directed by Michael Showalter, 55, the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel opens in cinemas on 2 October.
Dakota was quoted by The Sun on Sunday saying: “I’m a sexual person. My mom raised me to be really, really proud of my body and love my body.
“So I’ve always felt so grateful for that, especially in my work, because I can use it and it feels real.
“I think it was the way she spoke about it with me and she was very honest and open about body stuff.”
Melanie, who won a Golden Globe for her performance in Working Girl, was also candid with her daughter about sex.
Dakota added: “She also talked to me about sex and how precious and important and you know, whatever.
“So I guess, in my work, it’s something I feel brave with and I feel when it’s used the right way in a story, it’s important.”
That approach became particularly relevant when Dakota was cast opposite Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey and its sequels Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.
The role required extensive nudity and simulated sex scenes and turned Dakota into a global star.
She later told Vanity Fair taking the role had been “scary”, adding: “I’m a sexual person and when I’m interested in something, I want to know so much about it.”
Dakota said: “That’s why I did those big, naked movies.”
She added of the experience: “If I had known at the time that’s what it was going to be like, I don’t think anyone would’ve done it. It would’ve been like, ‘Oh, this is psychotic’. But no, I don’t regret it.”
Her views extend beyond sexuality on screen to relationships themselves. Discussing non-monogamy with Deadline while promoting Splitsville, Dakota said she did not believe there was a single model for how people should conduct their romantic lives.
She said: “I don’t feel like there’s one right way to love or one right way to live your life.
“I think that relationships where people are able to grow together, and also separately, are so special and rare.
“I don’t think there’s any right way. If you want to have multiple relationships in your life, great.
“If you want to go really deep with one person, great.
“If you want to have both of those at the same time, great. Why not, really?”
Her own romantic life continues to attract attention following the end of her long relationship with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in 2025. More recently she has been linked to musician Role Model, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury and was recently photographed with Machine Gun Kelly.
Dakota Johnson praises famous mother for giving her love of her body
