When the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey hit theaters, it took audiences by storm, introducing some to the world of BDSM and making a killing at the box office. The 2015 film's leading lady, Dakota Johnson, is now gracing the cover of Vogue UK's February 2016 issue. During her interview with the magazine, the actress reveals why she's thankful to have starred in the sexy movie and just how "brutal" Hollywood's acting industry can be.
While many fans might have received their first taste of of Johnson's acting chops during the erotic romantic drama, based on the 2011 novel of the same name, this wasn't her first time on the big screen. The 26-year-old scored minor roles in movies like The Social Network with Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, Beastly with Vanessa Hudgens and Mary-Kate Olsen, 21 Jump Street with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, The Five-Year Engagement with Chris Pratt and Emily Blunt, and Need for Speed with Aaron Paul.
Despite its content, Fifty Shades of Grey was a major success and ultimately led to several acting opportunities for the Austin, Texas native. Since the film's release, Johnson starred alongside Johnny Depp in the 2015 crime drama Black Mass. February will also be the month she releases her romantic comedy, How to Be Single, with a gang of funny women including Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, and Leslie Mann.
A photo posted by British Vogue (@britishvogue) on Jan 4, 2016 at 2:02am PST
"I'm proud of Fifty Shades of Grey. I don't need to distance myself from that," Johnson told Vogue UK. "The more work I do, the more the general public sees the different things I can do. Do I think it opened doors? Yeah. More people know my name."
Growing up and trying to succeed in Hollywood isn't easy. Johnson is the daughter of iconic actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. The famous lineage doesn't stop there. She is also the granddaughter of Golden Globe-winning actress Tippi Hedren and former stepdaughter to actor Antonio Banderas.
Despite her well-known surname, Dakota admits being a Hollywood actress isn't the easiest job in the world. After eliminating the glitz and glam of it all, the industry can be extremely tough. The actress revealed times of feeling like an outcast and even questioned whether she would continue acting.
"Why isn't my mother in movies? She's an extraordinary actress! Why isn't my grandmother in movies? This industry is fucking brutal," Johnson told Vogue UK. "No matter how tough you are, sometimes there's the feeling of not being wanted. It's absurd and cutthroat. Whenever I have downtime, I'm unsure that I will ever work again. I don't know what it is, but it's a definite thing that happens to me."
Fans can read Dakota Johnson's full interview with Vogue UK when it hits newsstands on Thursday (Jan. 7). Her new movie How to Be Single is scheduled to arrive in theaters on Feb. 12.
