We all love Anastasia Steele but do you know what's better than that? The actual actress, Dakota Johnson! In real life, she's not the quiet, timid woman she portrays in 50 Shades of Grey; her love life is far from boring. While Johnson has had her fair share of heartbreak, it's something that she's opened up about in various interviews and been fairly honest with.
Unlike other actresses, she's not about the rumors or relationship drama and she herself admits that when she falls, she falls hard. So what's it like inside of the love life of Dakota Johnson? We're going all the way back to the first relationship that went public and following her down the trail of love to her current relationship, with none other than Coldplay's Chris Martin. Here's how the real Ms. Steele deals with life, love, heartbreak, and romance.
15 For Years Before 50 Shades, She Dated The Lead Singer From The Drowners
While they were pretty heavy in love, their relationship, sadly, didn't last. She and Matthew Hitt dated for roughly two years before breaking things off, but that wasn't the end of their relationship. They were back together once again in 2015, only to end things one final time when she switched the focus to her acting career.
14 They Ended Things Because She Was Spending So Much Time Filming
It's tough dating a rockstar and many will attest to the fact that band schedules and concert tours definitely don't do romance any favors. However, when Johnson landed the role as Anastasia Steele, she, too, had her own scheduling conflicts that interfered with her relationship. Thus, things were ended for the second, and final, time.
13 After That, She Admitted She Can't Do "Casual" Dating
In an interview with Vogue, the actress held nothing back, saying that basically things just happen. She also added that she was heartbroken and would likely be for a long time and that she doesn't "do casual very well." Then again, who really does do it well?
12 According To The Actress, Her Love Life Is "Intense" When She's With Someone
In that same interview, the actress said that her "feelings, even the good ones, get so intense that they hurt.” This is true of many people, but it's eye-opening to hear from someone who's always in the public eye being so open. It's not easy being so vulnerable all the time.
11 In 2018, She Began Dating Another Well-Known Rock Star
Despite her heartbreak, Johnson has since found love. Yet another rockstar, Chris Martin, became part of her romantic life back in 2018. The two are still together and seem completely in love, mostly keeping to themselves and not allowing the outside world to have much of an influence on them.
10 Her Major Relationships Have Been On-Again, Off-Again
Unfortunately, part of being famous includes constantly being in the public view, whether for good or bad reasons. Johnson has had her own share of loveless specs written regarding her love life, and many of them recorded the ups and downs of her serious relationships.
9 Rumors Followed Her (Very Serious) Relationship With Chris Martin
Speaking of rumors, the actress has not been free of them yet. In preparation for a party, the couple had purchased pink and blue balloons and, of course, fans were convinced that it was some kind of gender reveal. It was later revealed that it was nothing but a birthday party and that the couple had no plans of announcing a pregnancy.
8 Despite Her Feelings Toward Love, Settling Down And Having Kids Are Far From Her Mind
This is something that became clear midway through her relationship with Martin. Although he and the actress are in a very serious relationship, the future is still wide open for Johnson, who is putting her career and personal life before any thoughts of settling down.
7 This Led To Her Initial Breakup With Martin
While there was plenty of speculation over why the two called it splits (including rumors about Martin's ex), none of them were true. The matter was actually far more simple than that - while Martin was in a place to settle down, Johnson was not yet ready to think about what the future held for them.
6 The Couple Had Some Relationship Help From A Surprising Source
When this all transpired, of course, the couple's friends were involved. However, they also got some helpful encouragement from Gwyneth Paltrow, who also happens to be the ex of Martin. She's also a good friend of Johnson's and according to the couple, Paltrow wanted nothing more than for them to work things out.
5 She's Not About Going Out And Would Rather Stay In With Her S.O.
We don't blame her for this one! The couple isn't seen going out very often and that's because they seem to like keeping things pretty low-key. Rather than attending big events, they're prone to inviting friends over and keeping things casual. Not everyone enjoys getting fancy and going out, you know.
4 Even Though She's Known For An Intense Role, Her Relationship Style Is Pretty Laid-Back
Portraying the role of Anastasia Steele doesn't have much to do with Johnson as a person, and though she might have found some common threads, in reality, she's a laid-back person. Extravagant outings and constant attention don't seem to be something she seeks, in her Hollywood life or her personal life.
3 Johnson And Martin Have Matching Tattoos: An Infinity Symbol
The two were spotted with these matching tattoos on separate occasions and fans were the ones who put two and two together. While it's not entirely clear whether or not the tattoos were done together, there's no denying that the couple is sporting the same infinity symbol design.
2 Previous Relationships Are No Issue For Her, She Embraces Martin's Kids And His Ex
Drama-free, and that doesn't just go for Hollywood. Johnson has been seen with Matin's kids, whom he had in a previous relationship with actress Gwyneth Paltrow, and for good reason: They're family! There's no shade here and they all get along just fine, with no hard feelings or awkwardness.
1 Her Family Is Front And Center In Her Relationship
While many people desire the approval from their family about who they choose to date, Johnson can rest assured knowing that her parents love her significant other. They've spoken of him in more than one interview and it's nice to see their families so involved.