Dakota Johnson recently shared an unusual experience from her early career that left her surprised. The actor spoke about a past audition where her polite behaviour was misunderstood and may have cost her a role. During an interview on Hits Radio, Dakota recalled attending a callback audition.
She did not mention the name of the project but explained how she entered the room and greeted everyone in what she believed was a normal and respectful way. “I went into the room and I shook everyone’s hand and introduced myself,” she said while describing the moment.
After performing her scene, she left the audition thinking everything had gone well. However, the feedback she later received was unexpected. According to Dakota, her actions were not taken in the way she intended. “And then I did the scene and I left. And the feedback I got was that because I had gone and introduced myself and shook everyone’s hand, that I was, like, pompous, that I was schmoozing and full of myself.”
She said this reaction confused her, as she could not understand how basic manners could be seen negatively. “I was like, what? I didn’t get the job because they said that I was being cocky.” Reflecting on the incident, she added, “I just had manners.”
Dakota Johnson appeared on the show while promoting her latest film Splitsville, which has been released in the United Kingdom after its earlier release in the United States in September. The film is directed by Michael Angelo Covino and explores relationships and marriage in a realistic way.
In the film, Dakota plays the role of Julie. She stars alongside Adria Arjona, Kyle Marvin, Nicholas Braun, David Castañeda and O-T Fagbenle. Talking about her role, she shared her interest in playing complex characters. “Sometimes it’s nice to play people who are deeply unhappy and messy,” she said. She further added, “People really identify with the messiness. And it’s so funny to me… I like that people are like, ‘Ooh, I like this movie because it’s real.'”
Looking ahead, Dakota will next appear in Verity, directed by Michael Showalter and based on a novel by Colleen Hoover. She will act alongside Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett.
Apart from acting, she is also preparing for her first film as a director titled A Tree is Blue, which is expected to begin production later this year.