Dakota Johnson Doesn’t Mince Words About How She’s Avoiding ‘Toxic’ Sets Moving Forward

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As a passionate cinephile, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Dakota Johnson‘s captivating journey in the world of cinema. She burst onto the scene with her mesmerizing portrayal in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” and since then, she’s graced indie masterpieces like “Materialists” with her spellbinding presence. In 2025, she’ll be making waves once again as a producer on the anticipated release “Splitsville.”

Johnson is not one to mince words, and her stance on work environments has been nothing short of crystal clear: she’s done with “toxic” sets. In other words, she’s standing firm against any environment that doesn’t foster creativity, collaboration, and respect. Here’s to hoping more stars follow in her footsteps, creating a brighter future for all artists on set!

In my recent visit to the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic, I had the privilege of listening to Dakota Johnson’s heartfelt conversation with Variety. She shared her experiences as a producer, revealing how this role has bestowed upon her a fresh authority and a dedicated purpose to cultivate harmonious, productive workspaces off-camera. Her commitment to such endeavors is evident in the care she invests in these business transactions.

If collaboration isn’t beneficial or harmonious, it’s not worth pursuing as we won’t progress. I can no longer invest my time in unhealthy, unenjoyable, or unrewarding environments. However, one advantage of [producing] is that I get to connect wonderful individuals and create something meaningful together.

The founder of TeaTime Pictures, known for handling diverse projects ranging from the challenging erotic scenes in the Fifty Shades series to independent films like Cha Cha Real Smooth and Am I Okay?, considers boundaries as more about creative liberty than just personal ease. Given that many actors have spoken out about less-than-favorable working conditions on set, her aspirations are indeed relatable. Johnson also makes it clear that an unhealthy work environment is not merely a subjective concept; she further explained:

I prefer to work with individuals who are open to teamwork rather than those unwilling to collaborate. It’s no secret that an environment filled with negativity can be harmful, and as artists, we have the ability to accommodate diverse personalities. While I appreciate passionate debates on set, I believe the best concept ultimately prevails. It’s not about competition; it’s about collaboration.

In essence, that final sentence encapsulates her aura and it has a strong resonance, much like a personal manifesto. Notably, the acclaimed actress revealed she’s now engaged in directing her first full-length film. This project is deeply meaningful to her, as she’s teaming up with Vanessa Burghardt, her co-star from “Cha Cha Real Smooth.” Johnson extols Vanessa for her exceptional acting skills, particularly as an autistic artist. She confesses that she hadn’t felt prepared to direct until this specific narrative and this particular partnership provided the motivation she required. The actress from “Suspiria” further expressed:

In my current role as a film producer, creating my own projects allows me to select every individual involved, which significantly impacts the final product.

Despite Dakota Johnson preparing for her directorial debut, acting remains very much on her agenda. Johnson has just completed work on the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s psychological thriller bestseller, “Verity,” which is set to stream exclusively on Prime Video. In an interview with Variety, she expressed a strong desire to portray a psychopath or lead in an action film, making it quite intriguing to imagine her tackling such roles!

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2025-07-07 18:09