‘Verity’ Star Dakota Johnson’s Candid Take on Filming Intimate Scenes Resurfaces as ‘Verity’ Hits Theaters

Dakota Johnson has never been one to shy away from bold roles. The actress, daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, rose to global fame as Anastasia Steele in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ franchise opposite Jamie Dornan, a trilogy known for its many steamy scenes.

Now, she is back in a provocative role. Johnson stars alongside Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett in ‘Verity’, the erotic thriller based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, which was released in U.S. theaters by Amazon MGM Studios on October 2 after premiering in London in September.

With ‘Verity’ bringing renewed attention to her work, Johnson’s past comments about filming intimate scenes are making the rounds once more. The remarks originally came during a June 2025 episode of Amy Poehler’s ‘Good Hang’ podcast, while she was promoting ‘Materialists’.

When Poehler asked how she gets herself ready for intimate scenes, Johnson jokingly replied that she doesn’t need to prepare because she is always excited about them. The pair burst into laughter as Johnson playfully riffed on her own phrasing.

The tongue-in-cheek response has resurfaced online and is once again delighting fans. Many have praised her trademark deadpan honesty and sense of humor. Johnson quickly followed her joke with a more thoughtful explanation. She said her approach depends heavily on the character and how that character is meant to come across to the audience.

On Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast in June 2025, while promoting Materialists, Dakota Johnson was asked how she psyches herself up for sex scenes. She said she doesn’t have to: “I’m, like, always psyched up for sex.” Poehler answered “Fuck yeah.” Johnson then riffed, “‘Psyched up?’ Is that a thing? Let’s go to pound town?” Poehler pictured the call time: “You’re like, 7:30 a.m., ‘Let’s do it’? That’s a lot.” Johnson stuck with the joke. She later walked it back to the practical side. A sex scene is not sexy and doesn’t feel good. Prep depends on the character—idolized hot girl, housewife, lonely, scared, conservative—and she wants to feel good in her body if she’s showing it. On a recent film she worked with an intimacy coordinator for the first time and called it a clear improvement. She also described solo coverage: gyrating alone or slamming herself into a headboard while the crew looks down. Confidence, she said, came from her mother, Melanie Griffith, who raised her to be proud of her body.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ https://t.co/6uerlh5Iwi

— Jantar The Botman🪼 (@Jantar127) October 9, 2026

She explained that she considers whether a character is idolized, lonely, scared, or conservative, describing that process as essential character work. Johnson also said she wants to feel good in her body if she is going to show it on screen.

During the same conversation, Johnson revealed that she had recently worked with an intimacy coordinator for the first time. She praised the coordinator as excellent and said the experience felt very different from what she was used to.

Johnson noted that intimate scenes are often far from enjoyable to film. She has previously pointed out that there were no intimacy coordinators during the ‘Fifty Shades’ era.

Her experience on those films was not always easy. Johnson has said the trilogy became something very different from what she originally signed up for, with plenty of disagreements behind the scenes.

Johnson credits her mother for the confidence she brings to vulnerable scenes. She said Griffith raised her to be proud of and love her body. According to Johnson, her mom was open and honest about topics like puberty and sex. That openness, she said, helped her feel brave when tackling intimate material in her work.

‘Verity’ has given Johnson another chance to showcase her range in a darker, steamier story. Directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay by Nick Antosca, the film pairs her with Hathaway, who also serves as a producer.

Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett star in an all-new trailer for #Verity. In theaters October 2. https://t.co/niq02J5nO5

— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) August 11, 2026

The movie’s release has sparked fresh interest in Johnson’s career and her candid interviews. Fans have been revisiting her past comments as they discuss her latest performance.

Johnson’s interviews often go viral thanks to her blunt and funny style. Her comments on intimate scenes show both her playful personality and the serious thought she puts into her craft. As ‘Verity’ continues its theatrical run, it’s clear that Johnson remains one of Hollywood’s most fearless and entertaining stars.

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