Dakota Johnson embarked on her acting journey with a steely determination, colored by fifty shades of self-reliance, when she officially stepped into the limelight. Having faced rejection from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, the daughter of actors Don Johnson and his ex-wife Melanie Griffith, chose to carve her unique path in Hollywood, sans a penny from her father's pocket.
"I missed out on Juilliard, and my dad severed financial support because I opted against college," the 35-year-old confided to her 'Material Girl' co-star Pedro Pascal during an interview with Elle UK, published on May 14. "That's when I began auditioning. I recall being 19 when I landed a role in 'The Social Network,' followed by a series of minor gigs thereafter."
Dakota, who made her cinematic debut as a child actor alongside her mother in 'Crazy in Alabama,' directed by her mother's then-husband Antonio Banderas in 1999, and later shared screen space with Justin Timberlake in 'The Social Network' (2010), eventually starring in the 'Fifty Shades' trilogy, vividly recalls the financial struggle post her father's financial cutoff.
"For a spell, making ends meet was an uphill battle," she shared with Pedro. "There were instances when I'd head to the market with an empty bank account or struggle to pay rent, prompting me to seek help from my parents."
Continuing her narrative, Dakota said, "I'm deeply thankful for my parents' assistance during those trying times. But let me tell you, the audition process is nothing short of grueling."
Dakota has previously opened up about her solo Hollywood struggle post-high school, after her father withdrew financial support. "He made it clear, 'College means an allowance for you,'" she recounted in a February 2024 'Today' interview. "I told him, 'I'm set on acting.' And he replied, 'Alright, you're on your own then.' I was financially independent no more."
To make ends meet while pursuing her acting dreams, Dakota took up modeling. "There were moments when I couldn't even afford groceries and had to turn to my mom for help," she revealed. "She was the compassionate one."
Don Johnson has also shed light on the college ultimatum in the past. "We have a family rule," the 'Nash Bridges' veteran shared on 'Late Night With Seth Meyers' in 2021. "Stay in school, and you stay on the payroll."
He recounted approaching Dakota towards the twilight of her high school years, inquiring if she wanted to visit some colleges. "She promptly said, 'No way, I'm skipping college,'" he recounted. "I responded, 'Okay, you know what that entails. No more paycheck, so how will you manage?' She assured me, 'Don't you worry about a thing.'"
