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034 MAY 2015 JB Hi-Fi
visit Q&A DVD&BD
Dakota Johnson submits to the role of Anastasia Steele in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY.BLUE STEEL
This is a big film for you.
How did you get the role and
what does it feel like at this
point to be in your shoes?
Dakota Johnson: Well,
I auditioned for it – and
auditioned and auditioned...
It was a crazy process. And
sometimes it feels scary
because it is such a high profile
project and people have had an
eye on it for a while. It makes
you feel a little scared, watched
and judged. But I cannot live
my life wondering what people
are going to think of me. So
I am excited for it. I think we
have done a good job.
Did you hesitate at all to take
the part or did you just jump in?
I hesitated, for sure. But the whole time
I mostly was just really intrigued by it. I was
really interested by it. The emotional journey
that Anastasia goes through is something that I
have not seen in a movie in a long time. It was
interesting to me… And I wanted to try and
bring humour and strength to a woman who
most of the world views as a sensitive little
creature.
Why was that important to you?
Because I think that it is okay for women to
be sexual. I think that it is beautiful. And think
that it is especially beautiful that Anastasia
Steele has so much self-worth and grace and
strength, and then she discovers a sexual
side of herself. She tests her limits and her
boundaries. And I think that that’s important
to do in every aspect of your life… This movie
embraces sexual awakening in a way that it
is not a taboo subject. And it should not be.
If I can in some way bring a strength to the
character, that shows Anastasia
as an advocate for people
to not be ashamed of their
sexuality, whatever it is, then
that is great.
The film is directed by a
woman, the book is written
by a woman, and the
screenplay was written by a
woman. Do women do erotic fiction better
than men?
I think that a woman has a greater attention
span for the emotional undertones of a sexual
story. Erica (author E.L. James) and (director)
Sam Taylor-Johnson and (screenwriter) Kelly
Marcel – I think that they really captured the
things that made readers continue reading the
book. If it were all just sex scenes, you would
get kind of bored. You do not because you are
fascinated with the story between these two
people, the trust that they have, and the fact
that they completely, ultimately, love each other.
And that they both change for one another. I
think that the women behind the movie really
amplified that.
This movie embraces sexual
awakening in a way that it is
not a taboo subject.