From Fifty Shades of Grey to Persuasion, Dakota Johnson keeps amazing audiences with her variety of crafty skills. She’s headlining Netflix’s new mystery thriller His & Hers, alongside Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal, out now. Her influence on the theater landscape cannot be understated. Her extraordinary gifts have proven to be bright lights in productions such as The Member of the Wedding, Romeo and Juliet and Lunchtime Bunch. Most recently, she starred in the title role of the romantic comedy Materialists. In this romantic comedy, she plays Lucy, a failed actress who becomes an unexpected and overnight success as a matchmaker.
In Materialists, Johnson’s character Lucy grapples with her tumultuous history, including a history of nine marriages. Lucy works at the elite New York matchmaking firm Adore, where her personality is described as “blunt at every turn, often to the point of brutality,” according to an Entertainment Weekly critic. This portrayal of Lucy showcases Johnson’s ability to blend humor with a deeper emotional narrative, further solidifying her status as a leading actress in Hollywood.
A Unique Character Journey
Lucy, the titular character portrayed by Johnson, is more than a world-class matchmaker. She’s a woman with a complex and rich past. Having lived through nine marriages, Lucy comes to life as a full-throated characterization of love’s messiness. Her journey from actress to matchmaker gives Johnson an opportunity to subvert romantic formulas and explore themes of reinvention and self-discovery.
Lucy’s day-to-day interactions with her clients and colleagues demonstrate her firecracker façade. She fearlessly steps into the room, unapologetically, as her whole self. The character’s struggle rings true to audiences, as she makes her way through a world full of both artifice and authenticity. Through personal stories and poetry, the storytelling narrative asks the audience to consider how to build relationships, achieve aspirations and hopes.
“blunt at every turn, often to the point of brutality.” – Entertainment Weekly
Johnson’s performance is intended to mix the funny with the poignant and speak to a wide-ranging audience. Lucy’s character really sparkles—not least due to Margaret’s writing—because of her unusual profession. Her personal journey inspires people from all walks of life, as her story makes her relatable to others who have overcome trials and tribulations in their lives.
Theater Roots and Directorial Ventures
Given Johnson’s deep roots in theater, it’s no surprise that theatrical training has helped shape her acting career and perspectives. Critics have previously hailed her as “one of the great drama queens of the New York stage,” underscoring her command of live performance. That deeply theatrical background in turn informs her work on screen and stage. Further, it allows her to breathe life into characters such as Lucy played by Mabel Jaza in Materialists.
Johnson’s musical and theatrical chops are only further boosted by her recent foray into directing theaters. Her first feature, the provocative horror film The Scary of Sixty-First, marked her directorial debut. The film later went on to win the Best First Feature Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. This achievement is a testament to her wide-ranging talents and willingness to take on difficult content.
In addition to Materialists, Johnson is set to star in and produce the upcoming comedy Splitsville, further expanding her portfolio in the entertainment industry. Her persistent pursuit of uniquely challenging and inspiring roles speaks to her career goal of being an undeniable force in front of the camera and behind it.
Upcoming Projects and Continued Growth
Dakota Johnson’s slate is already stacked with some of the most interesting films to watch. She’ll next be seen as the lead in the detective comedy feature *Honey Don’t!* and action-adventure comedy *Sacrifice*. In these movies, she will be seen alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Charli XCX. These roles mark her unending dedication to diving into multifaceted genres and stories.
Johnson’s previous collaboration with filmmaker Sean Winters further enriches her career arc. She’s best known for her role in HBO’s hit series Succession. Porch played an important role in that cast, which won a SAG award for outstanding ensemble performance. This extraordinary collaboration speaks to her collaborative nature, passion, and commitment to social justice work and building community alongside other talented artists.
Additionally, her co-hosting of the Red Scare podcast shows her interest in cultural commentary off-screen. This platform allows her to express her thoughts on various subjects, further establishing her voice in contemporary discussions.
Dakota Johnson at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival to debut her film, Bad Behaviour. She presented her work and defended her passion for creating stories outside the studio model, and it was contagious. The dazzling star made her entrance on the indie darling red carpet for A24’s Materialists premiere, held at New York City’s DGA Theater on June 7th, 2025. Her appearance served as a reminder of her producer power player status.
