It seems like Dakota Johnson is flipping the page to a whole new chapter in her life. About five months after her very highly publicized split from longtime boyfriend Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, the Fifty Shades of Grey star is reportedly open to dating again — and she’s doing it with a calm, content outlook.
A source close to Johnson recently told People magazine that the actress has been “slowly dating again and she’s happy.” The insider added that Johnson, who split from Martin this June, looks “lighter and more at peace” since the relationship ended. The two had been together for almost eight years and first sparked romance rumors in 2017 after being spotted together at several events in Los Angeles.
The on-again, off-again relationship, largely shielded from the public eye, had survived years of speculation about engagement and marriage. It had been reported that the couple had been secretly engaged “for years,” and when 2020 rolled around, wedding rumors began to circulate after Johnson was spotted with a ring. But at the time, sources close to the pair said they were “in no rush to get married.” Their eventual breakup wasn’t exactly a surprise to those nearest and dearest to them, either-friends shared that the two had been battling “the same issues for a while,” and the decision to split was a mutual and amicable one.
Following the split, Johnson let her guard down on NBC’s Today show when asked what she was looking forward to in a potential partner: “Like, not an a—h—?” The joke was followed by laughter, reflecting her candid humor and tendency to take lighter perspectives on things related to love and life.
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Not slowing down one bit on the career front, Johnson has an enviable slate of projects lined up. She will star in the upcoming psychological thriller Verity, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, to be released on October 2, 2026. In the beginning of this year alone, she starred in the rom-com Materialists and the ensemble piece Splitsville. Now, with A Tree Is Blue, a directorial debut co-starring Jessica Alba, Johnson is stepping behind the camera for the very first time. In this new phase, Johnson seems to be looking toward balance: finding substantial work while allowing her personal life to follow its course. For the time being, Dakota Johnson is embarking on a new chapter characterized by peace, growth, and the quiet confidence of a woman ready for whatever comes next.
