Dakota Johnson has been living and breathing Hollywood since childhood: The daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, she’s never had any doubts about her chosen profession. That certainty has fueled compelling performances, from her breakout role as Anastasia Steele in the “Fifty Shades” films, to “A Bigger Splash,” “Suspiria,” “Bad Times at the El Royale,” “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” and “The High Note.” Johnson joins Backstage for a lively discussion about audition anxiety, kid actors, and what she’s learned from playing a wife and mother dying of cancer in her newest film, “Our Friend,” now in select theaters and available on-demand.
8 Award-Worthy Films That Arrived Later in the Year You grew up in the industry. Did you have a specific moment you were bit by the acting bug?
Just forever, my whole life. I grew up on set. It’s weird ’cuz my mom is actually here right now. [Laughs] I grew up around actors all the time, on sets all the time. I don’t think I ever wanted to do anything else.
How did you first get your SAG-AFTRA card?
Oh, gosh. How did I get my SAG card? My mom just answered, she said, “You got it from ‘Crazy in Alabama.’ ” I did [that movie in] 1999 and got a SAG card ’cuz I had a speaking role. I played my mom’s daughter in that, which was a really tough role. [Laughs] I really had to dig deep for that one.
Do you have a worst audition horror story to share?
I had a lot of really bad auditions. I have pretty bad anxiety sometimes so it’s usually my problem if the audition goes badly. But I can’t think of a specific one that was horrible. I mean, I’ve left a lot of them not feeling very good about myself.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done to get a role?
I’ve flown myself places, I’ve written letters.... Explaining why it means so much to me and why I would love to be a part of a project, mostly. I’m really fond of a letter.... I think it’s important, it means a lot to have personal connection to your work and then connect with people you’re working with.
Do you prefer fighting for a role rather than just being offered one?
Yeah, it depends on the experience, but sometimes that’s nice to do. If there’s a role that’s incredible and many people want it—I don’t know, it’s an interesting industry! I truly believe that roles go to the right person, always. I don’t feel like the jobs I’ve lost, like, “Oh, God, it should have been me.” I don’t feel that way, I think everything happens for a reason especially in the arts.
Which project was your “big break,” the turning point from auditions to more offers?
After “50 Shades” started to come out, that happened for me. And honestly I’m so grateful because auditioning is a really horrible experience. [Laughs] If you can have as good a time as possible, then great. But it’s also nice to not have to do that all the time. I still do have to fight for stuff...it’s not over. It never ends.
What did your recent role, playing Nicole Teague in “Our Friend,” add to your acting skills?
As an actor, it just reinforced my belief that the connection you have with the people you’re working with, and the safety that you feel on set, is deeply important. And I think for myself, it just kind of taught me it’s very important to be so gentle with humans and their humanity, no matter what they’re going through or who they are.
What advice would you give your early career self?
I feel like I’m still in my early career. I don’t know if I have the advice to give myself yet.
What about advice for kid actors, like you used to be?
[My childhood was] normal kid stuff. “Can I go out?” “Leave me alone.” But some kids are really good kid actors, and we need kids in movies and shows, so I feel like, do what your heart wants. If you feel like going outside and playing, then do that. If you feel like being on a movie set, then do that. But don’t be forced into anything you don’t want to do when it comes to being a human. Obviously your parents are going to tell you what to do, but the part of parents forcing their kids to work if they don’t really want to, just because they’re super cute or something, that fucking kills me. I hate that. But then there are some kids who just love it and just want to be there all the time and I’m like, go for it, dude. Run like the wind.
How to Become a Child Actor What are the performances every actor should see and why?
Gena Rowlands in “A Woman Under the Influence.” And Jim Carrey—in “The Grinch.” [Laughs] He should have won an Oscar for that movie. Oh, and “Mary Poppins,” obviously. Those are my three.... You can get absolutely everything from those three performances.
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