- Dakota Johnson, renowned for her captivating performance as Anastasia Steele in the “Fifty Shades” series, effortlessly bridges the gap between her illustrious career in Hollywood and a personal life filled with love, family, and rumored engagements.
- At 34, her journey is not just one of cinematic acclaim but also of navigating the complexities of relationships and blended family dynamics.
- This article delves into Dakota’s rumored engagement to Chris Martin, her seamless integration into a blended family, her close relationship with Chris’s ex, Gwyneth Paltrow, and her reflections on motherhood and family life against the backdrop of her storied lineage in the entertainment industry.
Dakota Johnson attends Feed the Children Benefit party at Planet Hollywood on March 26, 1998 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Dakota Johnson is an actress, producer, and director. The Hollywood star started acting since she was a child making her debut at age ten. She has been in over 30 movies.
She is notable for her role as Anastasia Steele in “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The celebrity reprised the role in “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed.”
Melanie Griffith, Dakota Johnson, Alexander Bauer, and Antonio Banderas at the Los Angeles premiere of “Batman & Robin,” 1997 | Source: Getty Images
Dakota comes from a family with roots in the entertainment industry. Her mother is Melanie Griffith, an actress and producer who has over 80 acting credits. She has had roles in “Days Out of Days,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Dirty Diana,” “Twins,” “Stuart Little 2,” and more.
As for her father, he is actor, director, and producer Don Johnson with over 100 acting credits under his belt. He is known for his roles as Rick in “Kenan,” and Richard Drysdale in “Knives Out,” starring opposite Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, and more. He also acted as Frank in “The Other Woman.”
Dakota Johnson, Melanie Griffith and Stella Banderas at the premiere of “The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea,” 2000 | Source: Getty Images
Dakota’s parents divorced, and both remarried and have other children. Her mother was once married to actor Antonio Banderas from 1996 to 2015. While at the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Film Awards Gala in 2020, Antonio reminisced over his relationship with his former stepdaughter Dakota.
Melanie Griffith, Dakota Johnson, and Antonio Banderas at the 72nd Annual Academy Awards on March 26, 2000 | Source: Getty Images
“She was 5 when I met her, when she became my family. I almost changed her nappies. She’s my daughter, I love her. I’ve been with her on my shoulders, traveling all around the world,” he divulged.
Antonio Banderas and Dakota Johnson on a yacht during the Copa del Ray regatta on August 6, 2000 | Source: Getty Images
While she is the only child of her parents together, she grew up having a blended family. The actress once opened up about her family dynamics.
Melanie Griffith, Dakota Johnson, and Don Johnson at the New York premiere of “How To Be Single” on February 3, 2016. | Source: Getty Images
She said, “I grew up in a family that was so big, and I just believe in the saying ‘Blood is thicker than water.’” But, she talked about the saying’s origins. She noted that the connections one chooses are more solid than the connections people are born to.
Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Stella Banderas, and Dakota Johnson at the Los Angeles premiere of “Shrek 2” on May 8, 2004. | Source: Getty Images
Dakota remarked that chosen families can be as vital as birth families, if not more. She noted, “I have four brothers and two sisters, and my two sisters are not blood-related to each other, but they are sisters and they call each other sisters and they are always together. And my two older brothers are not blood-related to each other. And they are brothers.”
The actress believes that irrespective of their trials, they would still be a family. She also mentioned how most of her family are artists. The actress noted, “Even the kids, they’re extraordinarily talented people. So you just are dealing with complex people. You grow and you embrace.” Even when you chase them away, call them back with love.
Don and Dakota Johnson at The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter party at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2019. | Source: Getty Images
At 34, Dakota is now in a blended family as an adult. The public figure explained that because she grew up with the blended family dynamics, it felt natural. She emphasized that she wouldn’t want it any other way. She loves it and finds it very honest and authentic, with no one hiding anything.
Melanie Griffith and Dakota Johnson at the 87th Annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2015, in Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images
Dakota has been in a relationship with Chris Martin. He is an English singer, musician, songwriter, and philanthropist. He gained fame as the lead singer, pianist, rhythm guitarist, and one of the founders of the rock group Coldplay.
The couple’s romance has captivated public attention. Not only for their deep connection but also due to the swirling rumors of an engagement, marked by the repeated sighting of a distinctive emerald ring on Dakota’s finger.
In December 2020, there were pictures of her wearing an emerald ring which looked like an engagement ring on her ring finger. This fueled engagement rumors. Pictures of her wearing it surfaced again in March 2021.
In November 2023, jewelry designer Jessica McCormack posted a picture of Dakota wearing the same engagement ring. It looks like one of the brand’s signature emerald-cut rings. In the caption, the designer wrote, “fav color after diamonds 💚 #mondaymuse.”
Further igniting these rumors, a source revealed in March 2024 that the couple had indeed taken the next step in their relationship some time ago. They chose to keep the news within their close circles.
Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson seen leaving The Corinthia Hotel during the 65th BFI London Film Festival on October 13, 2021, in London. | Source: Getty Images
A source said four months later, “The couple got engaged a while ago and have kept the news private. But now they are being open about it with their circles. They have been besotted with each other from day one so taking this next step was inevitable.”
