How did the Fifty Shades trilogy change Dakota Johnson’s life?

Numerous best-selling books have been showcased on the cinema screens with a few new additions in the past few years. From The Godfather to The Hunger Games, the best-selling books have stood as some of the best films made in the history of cinema. Among numerous other names, the success of one book-turned-movie that can barely be matched is the Fifty Shades trilogy. 

Based on EL James’ novel, the Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan starrer Fifty Shades of Grey turned out to be a hit. However, the success of the movie was nothing when compared to the difficulties both stars and the crew members faced while filming it. With the release of Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed in the future years, the success and the filming rose together. 

With the numerous erotic scenes featured in the movie, it is safe to say that the environment throughout the development of the trilogy was pretty tight. Dakota Johnson had a lot of her body exposed to the camera almost throughout the movies. However, thanks to her hard work, her career sky-rocketed since the release of the movies. 

Johnson played the movie as Anastasia Steele, a literature student whose life changed after she substituted her friend to interview the successful Christian Grey (played by Jamie Dornan). Her work in the trilogy gained her massive fame and lined up some interesting opportunities that has made her one of the most successful actors in the industry. 

Dakota Johnson has often mentioned how the trilogy changed her personal life forever. For starters, the movie brought her into the limelight and gave her access to the giants in the industry for future opportunities. With the massive lessons of experience she gained throughout the trilogy, her career stock took a massive leap to prominence. 

Fifty Shades was also a ‘psychotic’ experience for Dakota Johnson

Filming the R-rated movies also had a list of cons for the How to be Single star. Dakota Johnson was also involved in the development of the Anastasia Steele character for the movies. However, her attempts were a lot harder than one would expect, thanks to the involvement of EL James in the narrative. 

In an interview with Vanity Fair a couple of years ago, Johnson revealed the truth of her experience working in the franchise. While the Persuasion star knew what she had signed up for, things weren’t the same on the set. The People’s Choice Award winner revealed that she wouldn’t have signed up for the film if she knew the consequences. However, she cleared that she had no regrets from doing the trilogy. 

“I signed up to do a very different version of the film we ended up making. There were a lot of different disagreements. I haven’t been able to talk about this truthfully ever, because you want to promote a movie the right way, and I’m proud of what we made ultimately, and everything turns out the way it’s supposed to, but it was tricky,” Johnson said.

“We'd do the takes of the movie that Erika (EL James) wanted to make, and then we would do the takes of the movie that we wanted to make… 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,” said the BAFTA Rising Star Award winner in her interview. 

Dakota Johnson is set to make her debut into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Madame Web in February 2024. Stay connected with Champagne and Shade to get the latest updates on Dakota Johnson.