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Dakota Johnson, who played Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades franchise, appeared on the June 10, 2025, episode of the Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast. During her conversation, the actress recalled her experience of shooting Fifty Shades of Grey without an intimacy coordinator on the set.
"There were no intimacy coordinators then or anything like that," Dakota Johnson remarked.
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During the aforementioned episode, host Amy Poehler first raised the topic of Fifty Shades of Grey, stating that it was one of those films where the actress had signed the contract and given up "control" while being involved in the project. Johnson agreed in response, adding that the script she initially signed on for differed significantly from what they eventually shot.
The actress further revealed the lack of an intimacy coordinator on the sets of Fifty Shades of Grey, an erotic romantic movie, replete with mature content and explicit scenes. An intimacy coordinator is a professional responsible for ensuring that actors feel safe and comfortable during scenes involving nudity or simulated s*x.
Having such a professional on set is now considered standard practice while filming intimate scenes. However, Johnson, who starred in all three movie adaptations of E.L. James' Fifty Shades novels, noted that she had no such support while shooting these movies.
Nonetheless, the Suspiria actress shared that she was "grateful for that experience." It was her first film with director Sam Taylor-Johnson, and although the role was "challenging," it was also "extraordinary."
"I was so young… I think I turned 24 while we were shooting. And I was so, like, brave. I just feel proud of myself for being brave… I don’t know, it just felt wild," she added.
Dakota Johnson opens up about filming intimate scenes during Amy Poehler’s podcast, says she’s “always psyched up for s*x”
During the aforementioned Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast episode, Dakota Johnson offered a candid look into her approach to filming intimate scenes. In conversation with Poehler, the actress revealed that she didn’t go through extensive mental preparation for such scenes, explaining that over time, she had grown increasingly comfortable portraying vulnerability on screen.
"I don’t have to (prepare)…. I’m like, always psyched up for s*x," Dakota Johnson said.
To bring authenticity to her role, Johnson explained that she used a trick while filming sensual scenes. Before acting out the character itself, the Suspiria actress focused on understanding her character’s backstory and emotional landscape to figure out if her character was meant to be seen as highly s*xualized, reserved, lonely, or fearful.
This insight helped her navigate how her character would behave in intimate situations, allowing her to tailor each performance to the emotional truth of the role.
"First, it depends on who the character is and who the character’s supposed to be to the audience… is she like a super idolized hot girl? Is she a housewife? Is she lonely? Is she scared? Is she conservative? So that’s obviously character work," Dakota Johnson explained.
Beyond her professional techniques, Johnson attributed her comfort with on-screen intimacy to her upbringing. She credited her mother, actress Melanie Griffith, for fostering an open and body-positive environment. The actress shared that growing up, her mother engaged in conversations about s*x and body image with her, and that it helped her feel confident and empowered in her career.
She further explained that her mother helped normalize discussions about s*xuality and self-worth, creating a foundation of self-assurance for her.
"My mom raised me to be really proud of my body and love my body… I’ve always felt so grateful for that, especially in my work because I can use it and it feels real. It was the way she spoke about it with me. She talked to me about s*x and how precious and important it is,” Dakota Johnson added.
Johnson also noted that the last intimate scene she filmed was just a few months ago. This particular project marked the first time she worked with an intimacy coordinator, an experience she described as "great."
At present, Dakota Johnson is actively engaged in her acting career. Her upcoming film, Materialists, is scheduled for release on June 13, 2025. She is also set to play Lowen Ashleigh in Colleen Hoover’s film adaptation of Verity, set to release on May 15, 2026.
