Despite her fame for starring in steamy on-screen roles, Dakota Johnson is opening up about the reality behind filming intimate scenes—and it’s far from glamorous.
The 35-year-old actress, best known for playing Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy (2015–2018), revealed on the Good Hang podcast with Amy Poehler that sex scenes are anything but sexy when the cameras are rolling.
“It’s not sexy. It doesn’t feel good,” Johnson said plainly.
Behind the Scenes of ‘Fifty Shades’
The Fifty Shades franchise, which helped catapult Johnson into stardom, featured numerous explicit moments—around seven sex scenes in the first film alone. But Johnson confessed that the behind-the-scenes experience was often awkward and technical.
“I’m Always Psyched Up for Sex Scenes”
When asked how she prepares for such scenes, Johnson shared, “I don’t have to. I’m, like, always psyched up for sex.”
The How to Be Single star, who recently appeared to confirm her split from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin after eight years together, emphasized that preparation varies depending on the character she’s portraying.
“Is she an idolized hot girl, a housewife, lonely, scared, conservative? That’s all part of the character work,” she explained.
Working with an Intimacy Coordinator
For the first time in her career, Johnson recently worked with an intimacy coordinator, which she described as a game-changer.
“It was so cool. I’m so used to just… it’s a sex scene. You do all the things except actually have sex,” she said. “And you have to make all the sounds like you’re having sex—but you’re not.”
Johnson also disclosed that in some scenes, she’s filmed completely alone for specific camera angles.
“There are times when I’ve done a sex scene by myself—just gyrating or slamming into a headboard with no one else in the shot.”
Embracing Body Confidence
Body confidence, Johnson says, plays a big role in making those moments feel authentic on screen.
“I want to feel good in my body,” she said. “My mom raised me to be proud of my body and love my body. I’ve always been grateful for that—especially in my work.”
She also touched on the importance of portraying sex in a meaningful way.
“My mom also taught me that sex is precious and important. So when it’s used the right way in a story, it can be powerful. That’s something I feel brave about.”
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