‘Verity’ Star Dakota Johnson Reveals On-Set Secret for Steamy Scenes

On screen, love scenes are designed to appear effortless, filled with heat, chemistry, and spontaneity. However, the reality behind the camera is often quite different, involving crew members, marked positions, and numerous takes under bright lights. Few actors understand this gap better than Dakota Johnson, who has spent a decade filming some of the most talked-about intimate scenes in modern cinema.

Johnson rose to fame as Anastasia Steele in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ trilogy, a franchise known for its desire and controversy. She has also starred in projects like ‘Madame Web’ and the romantic comedy ‘Materialists’, earning a BAFTA nomination along the way. As the daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, she has always been open about her work.

Recently, an old conversation about intimate scenes resurfaced in the headlines. During an appearance on Amy Poehler’s ‘Good Hang’ podcast on June 10, 2025, while promoting ‘Materialists’, Johnson was asked how she prepares for bedroom scenes. With a laugh, she replied that she doesn’t need to prepare because she is always ready. This line has been widely shared this week, although the interview itself is over a year old.

Poehler laughed, and Johnson proceeded to share her thoughtful approach to intimate material. She explained that her preparation varies depending on the character, considering who the woman is meant to be to the audience—whether she is an idolized figure or something more relatable. Essentially, her focus is more on storytelling than seduction.

Confidence is another crucial element for her. She wants to feel good in her body if she is going to show it on screen. This attitude, she noted, comes from her mother, who instilled in her a sense of pride and love for her body and discussed topics like periods and sex openly.

The most notable part of the conversation was her revelation about her career. Johnson mentioned that on a film she shot a few months prior, she worked with an intimacy coordinator for the first time. She described the experience as great and said it transformed her perspective on a process she had previously taken for granted.

Her candid description of what a sex scene truly feels like was striking. Having performed many of them, she acknowledged that they are not sexy and often do not feel good, which is why having someone to choreograph and oversee the process was such a relief. She humorously noted that part of the job involves the absurd physicality of actions like slamming herself into a headboard.

Johnson pointed out that there were no intimacy coordinators when she and Jamie Dornan filmed the ‘Fifty Shades’ movies. While the franchise catapulted her to fame, it was also a challenging shoot. She has previously mentioned that she signed up for a very different version of the film than what ultimately made it to the screen, citing disagreements during production, including conflicts with the creative direction of the first movie, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.

This comparison underscores the significant changes in the industry. Intimacy coordinators have become more prevalent on film and television sets, and stars from shows like ‘Bridgerton’, ‘I May Destroy You’, ‘Sex Education’, and ‘House of the Dragon’ have spoken positively about their experiences. Johnson’s insights add a prominent voice to this growing conversation.

The clip continues to circulate due to its engaging tone. Johnson manages to be both funny and candid without being crude, treating the subject as a blend of humor and craft. For fans of ‘Fifty Shades’, it offers a rare glimpse into how one of its stars reflects on those years.

Moreover, it highlights a broader shift in Hollywood’s approach to vulnerability. Instead of portraying intimate scenes as glamorous, performers are increasingly characterizing them as technical work that benefits from structure and trust. Johnson’s remarks effectively convey this point with humor, which may explain why they resonate with audiences.

‘Materialists’, directed by Celine Song and featuring Johnson alongside Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, was the film she was promoting at the time. This A24 romantic dramedy provided her another opportunity to discuss love on screen, although the conversation about love scenes ended up stealing some of the spotlight.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!