Although Dakota Johnson is the daughter of famous actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, she faced a challenging path to success. When she expressed her desire to become an actress, her parents gave her a tough dose of reality by cutting off her financial support because she decided not to attend college.
After graduating from high school, Johnson applied only to Juilliard but was rejected. She described the audition process as “awful and terrifying” and wasn’t devastated by the rejection because she didn’t want to attend college, especially at a small school. However, her father had a strict rule that financial support would only continue if she stayed in school, and when she chose not to, he stopped funding her.
Dakota Johnson Faced Rejection and Cut-Off Funds Before Breaking Through in Hollywood on Her Own TermsOvercoming Rejection, Hardship, and Independence: Dakota Johnson’s Path to Hollywood Breakthrough Success
At 19, Johnson began auditioning and landed a small role in The Social Network. She took on minor roles in several films such as Beastly and 21 Jump Street before her breakout in Fifty Shades of Grey (2015). During those early years, she struggled financially, sometimes unable to pay rent or buy groceries, occasionally needing help from her parents despite their tough love stance.
Don Johnson has spoken openly about his decision to cut Dakota off financially when she refused to attend college. He explained that their family rule was clear: staying in school meant staying on the “payroll.” Despite this firm approach, Don praised Dakota’s resilience, noting that within weeks of losing financial support, she landed her first major role, proving her determination and talent.
Dakota Johnson is set to star alongside Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans in Materialists, a romance film directed by Celine Song, an Oscar nominee for Past Lives. The movie is scheduled for release on June 13, signaling the continuation of Johnson’s rising career after overcoming early obstacles.