Dakota Johnson's Candid Revelations on the Challenges of Filming 50 Shades of Grey Scenes with Jamie Dornan

Delving into the Hollywood actress's experiences portraying Anastasia Steele opposite Jamie Dornan's Christian Grey in the 2015 erotic romantic drama.

Dakota Johnson, a fixture in Hollywood since 1999, gained global recognition through the 2015 film Fifty Shades of Grey. Portraying the sweet and innocent Anastasia "Ana" Steele, she embarked on a tumultuous romance with the BDSM-loving billionaire Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan.

In a revealing conversation, Johnson shared insights into the challenges faced while shooting the film under Sam Taylor-Johnson's direction. Specifically, she recalled the physical strain incurred during intimate scenes with Dornan in the infamous Red Room of Pain.

During a 2015 interview with mirror.co.uk, Dakota Johnson detailed the difficulties encountered while filming various scenes for 50 Shades of Grey. One particularly memorable incident involved Dornan throwing her onto a bed for a sex scene, resulting in her experiencing painful whiplash. Reflecting on the incident, she remarked, "I got whiplash once from him throwing me on the bed; so f***ing painful. And I wish we had a gag reel from the shoot." Notably, she revealed that the scene required 17 takes, leaving her with a stiff neck by the end of the day.

Recalling another mishap on set, Johnson shared, "One time we were doing a scene in Christian’s kitchen, and I [thought it would be funny] to hide in a cabinet. I pulled the handle, but it was not a real cabinet. The entire set came down on me."

Despite the challenges, Johnson admitted that the on-set injuries provided moments of relief and laughter during intense S&M scenes. She expressed, "The fact that I could laugh with [Jamie] was nice. Sometimes I did walk off the set feeling a bit shell-shocked. The drive home from work always helped me snap out of it. And a big glass of wine."

Dakota Johnson reprised her role as Anastasia Steele in the 50 Shades of Grey sequels—Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and Fifty Shades Freed (2018). While the first film depicted the initial meeting and blossoming romance between Johnson and Dornan's characters, the sequels explored the challenges they faced as a couple, including navigating newlywed life and expanding their family.