Dakota Johnson Has Had Enough With Hollywood’s Toxic Work Culture, Reveals Directional Debut and Psychopath Plans

Published 07/06/2025, 1:15 PM EDT

Imagine Hollywood’s coolest under-the-radar queen who has got charm like a secret power. That is Dakota Johnson — equal parts sharp-tongued and effortlessly stylish, turning heads without even trying. She blew up playing Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey, but also crushed it in The Social Network, How to Be Single, and The Peanut Butter Falcon. Yet after a successful career and fame, Johnson is done playing nice with Hollywood's toxic drama.

Dakota Johnson has opened up about breaking free from Hollywood’s toxic grind, revealing bold plans for her directorial debut and a deep dive into chilling psychopath roles.

Dakota Johnson says goodbye to toxic sets and hello to the director’s chair

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While attending the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, where she received the President’s Award, Dakota Johnson revealed her directorial debut is a passion project she described as “very close to her heart,” featuring autistic actress Vanessa Burghardt. Speaking with Variety, Johnson declared, “I can’t waste time on toxic sets anymore,” reflecting her break from Hollywood’s unhealthy work culture. She also shared her desire to play a psychopath and star in an action film, saying she remains open to daring, complex, and unpredictable roles ahead.

The Am I OK? actress is clearly not okay with Hollywood’s toxic work culture. Dakota Johnson explained that she has no patience for arrogance or unkindness on set, believing creative spaces should thrive on collaboration, not ego. She embraces passionate debates but rejects hostility, insisting that a healthy environment where the best idea wins creates the most powerful art. And while Johnson takes bold steps in her career, her personal life still sparks quiet hope, with her mother believing she can reconcile her relationship with Chris Martin.

Dakota Johnson and Kate Hudson Ran Into Ricky Martin in Rome - And the Internet Officially Freaked Out

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin have called it quits after eight years, but Melanie Griffith is not giving up—rumor has it she is quietly working to patch things up.

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin split, Melanie Griffith still rooting for a reunion

Although earlier reports painted the breakup as mutual, new information hints it has been difficult for both Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin. According to the Daily Mail, an insider shared that Johnson’s mother, Melanie Griffith, refuses to accept the split. The source explained, “Melanie is desperately working behind the scenes to save Dakota's strained relationship with Chris,” believing they are meant for each other. Griffith reportedly views Martin “like a son” and feels her daughter is making a mistake by not meeting him halfway.

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Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin have weathered their fair share of struggles, with reports claiming they were engaged in 2020 before complications arose. Still, Melanie Griffith believes they are soulmates. Griffith has turned to Malibu’s healing community, pushing the pair toward non-traditional therapy focused on energy work and generational trauma. Meanwhile, Johnson, fresh off steering clear of Madame Web’s failure, is chasing a bigger Hollywood chapter—one that trades toxic chaos for creative power in the director’s chair.

Dakota Johnson and Kate Hudson Turn the High Seas Into a Hollywood Runway

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What do you think about Dakota Johnson’s latest revelation? Let us know in the comments below.

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Yusra Miraj Khan

667 articles

Yusra Miraj Khan is an Entertainment Journalist at Netflix Junkie. Specializing in Taylor Swift and the British Royal Family, she transforms modern mythologies into high-ranking, reader-first narratives. Since joining in early 2025, Khan has penned over 500 articles, known for their sharp decoding of Easter eggs and PR silences.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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