Dakota Johnson is speaking out about becoming Anastasia Steele for the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey film adaptation, starring opposite Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey. She talked about where she was when she found out about landing the part and just understanding the story author E.L. James has created.
The 24-year-old relatively unknown actress and daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson said her audition was top secret. When she found out she got the role, she couldn’t stop both crying and laughing.
"The phone rang, and I remember looking out of this apartment to an apartment across the street. And I was looking at all of these people in their windows. And I thought, 'How funny would it be if I were watching people having sex right now?'" she told EW.
She continued that when they told her she got the part she “couldn’t speak,” adding "I was just so relieved. I was crying and crying. Water was literally squirting out of my eyes because I had been so stressed out. And there's this giant Doberman Pincher laying on the bed next to me. And he just slowly fell asleep. It was so special and [this dog] didn't give a f--k about me and what I was going through."
Of the books, Johnson said "I just really understand it,” Us Weekly notes.
She added, "I think it's an incredible love story, and that's why it's affected so many people. Erica [author E.L. James] did a really good job of explaining how that just can happen sometimes and you have this chemical pull to someone. Adding in the sex makes it perfect. Sometimes you feel a little bit naughty, and that's okay."
image: EW