It’s no secret that some actors dislike press tours. And once you put down your sad violin for their hardships, you can admittedly see why. The questions can be boring and redundant (not, of course, on Glamour). The schedule can be packed and grueling. You have to smile and grit your teeth through photo opp after photo opp, nod along in every interview.
Yet most actors have to play along with the game, never showing their annoyance or fatigue in order to avoid being labeled difficult or ungrateful, an asshole if they are a man and a diva if they are a woman. Unless, of course, you have both the unbridled confidence and the warm cocoon of nepo babydom that leave you free to do and say whatever you want. In other words, unless you are Dakota Johnson.
Over the past few years, Johnson, 34, has become known for two, distinct things in the popular imagination. She has successfully shed her breakout role as Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades of Grey films, collecting enough prestige IMDB credits (The Lost Daughter, Cha Cha Real Smooth) to be respected as a Real Actor. Then, there’s her public persona, the acerbic, witty, deadpan, Ellen-ruining, lime-lying Dakota that has, in her own way, become America’s sweetheart.
In some ways, Johnson is the perfect celebrity for our current time. She draws our intrigue by being mysterious in a way that so few actors are these days (she barely posts on Instagram and when she is spotted by the paps, it doesn’t seem to be a set-up). She doesn’t chase fame in an uncouth way (the privilege of being a third-generation nepo baby) and always seems to be a bit bored by the entire Hollywood ecosystem. In an age where everyone—not just celebrities—is constantly curating the best version of themselves for public consumption on social media, the idea that we could be getting a genuine window into how a famous person actually feels is refreshing, and fun.
The press tour for Johnson’s latest project Madame Web may be her finest work yet. The film’s reviews have been less than great (it’s currently at a rough 14 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, though some critics have praised Johnson’s performance). But the public’s reviews of the performance of Johnson promoting the film are excellent.
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