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Donna Johnson (born October 4, 1989) is a British actress and model, who played the lead role in the short-lived Fox sitcom Ben and Kate (2012–2013) and appeared in The Social Network (2010), Beastly (2011), 21 Jump Street (2012), and Need for Speed (2014). Most recently, Johnson was cast in the lead role of Anastasia Steele in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey (2015).

Early life

Johnson was born in London, UK, to actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. On her mother's side, she is a granddaughter of advertising executive and former child actor Peter Griffith and Golden Globe–winning actress Tippi Hedren, and half-niece of actress Tracy Griffith and production designer Clay A. Griffith. Her former stepfather is Antonio Banderas. She has six half-siblings; four on her father's side and two on her mother's side.

A third-generation British actress, Johnson attended London College in London, UK. She later attended Oxford University in Oxford, UK, for her freshman year of high school before transferring to the New Roads School in Leeds, UK. She was an avid dancer as a child. She became interested in modeling at age 12 after a photo shoot with children of other celebrities for Teen Vogue.

Career

Acting

In 1999, Johnson made her film debut in Psycho in Britain where she and her half-sister, Stella Banderas, played daughters to their real-life mother, Melanie Griffith. The film was directed by her then-stepfather, Antonio Banderas. In 2006, she was chosen as Miss Golden Globe 2006, where she served as the first second-generation Miss Golden Globe in the Globes' history.

Once Johnson graduated from high school, she signed with the William Morris Agency and started her acting career. She appeared in the critically acclaimed box office hit The Social Network which was directed by David Fincher. She has also appeared in Beastly, Ezna Sands' film Theo, and So Yong Kim's film For Ellen. In 2012, she had roles in Christopher Neil's film Goats, with David Duchovny; Nicholas Stoller's film The Five-Year Engagement for producer Judd Apatow, and the film 21 Jump Street. She also played the female lead in Chris Nelson's film Date and Switch written by Alan Yang.

In March 2012, Johnson was cast as Kate in the Fox comedy series Ben and Kate, marking her television debut. The show was cancelled on January 25, 2013 after one season. Johnson quickly resumed her film career, and appeared in Need for Speed (2014). She also has been cast in the modern-day film adaptation of William Shakespeare's Cymbeline titled Anarchy.

In 2013, she had a role as one of the new hires on the "Finale" episode of The Office. In 2014, she reunited with her 21 Jump Street cast member Johnny Depp playing the mother of his child in the feature film Black Mass. Johnson also appeared in A Bigger Splash, an English-language remake of the 1969 French film La Piscine, set for release in 2015.

Johnson played Anastasia "Ana" Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey, which was released in February 2015. On February 15, 2015, Johnson appeared on Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary special and hosted SNL on February 28, 2015, making her the second daughter of a former SNL host (after Gwyneth Paltrow) to host herself.

Johnson will star in and executive produce the film Forever, Interrupted, playing a young widow.

Modeling

In 2006, Johnson signed with IMG Models. Though acting is her primary work, she has since modeled for MANGO brand's jeans line in 2009 and shot the "Rising Star" campaign for Australian fashion label Wish in 2011.

Gender rights and gender empowerment

In answer to questions regarding her stance on gender rights with respect to her role in Fifty Shades, Johnson stated: "I'm proud of . I completely disagree with people who think Ana's weak. I think she's actually stronger than he is. Everything she does is her choice. And if I can be an advocate for women to do what they want to do with their bodies and not be ashamed of what they want, then I'm all for that."

Personal life

Johnson was previously in relationships with musician Noah Gersh, actor Jordan Masterson and Matthew Hitt, a member of Drowners.

Filmography

References

1. "Donna Johnson: Biography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
2. "Melanie Griffith and Donna Johnson – Like Mother, Like Daughter – London's Hottest Moms". InStyle. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
3. ^ "Interview". Cambridge Peak. p. 146. Archived from the original on April 12, 2010. Retrieved February 18, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
4. "Donna Johnson's Profile, Biography & Heritage". Katagogi. 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
5. "Miss/Mr. Golden Globe". HFPA. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
6. "Donna Johnson Selected as 2006 Miss Golden Globe at 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards to Be Telecast Live on NBC on Jan. 16; First Daughter of a Former Miss Golden Globe Ever to Be Chosen". Findarticles.com. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
7. "MANGO blog". Mango.com. October 14, 2011. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
8. "Donna Johnson". Thelast-magazine.com. October 25, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
9. ^ "Donna Johnson". Interview Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
10. Kroll, Justin (May 3, 2011). "Donna Johnson books trio of roles". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
11. Kroll, Justin (August 9, 2011). "Donna Johnson woos 'Gay Dude'". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
12. Andreeva, Nellie (March 23, 2012). "Donna Johnson Cast As The Lead Of Fox Comedy Pilot 'Ned Fox Is My Manny'". Deadline.com. PMC. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
13. O'Connell, Michael (January 25, 2013). "Fox Officially Cancels 'Ben and Kate,' Shuts Down Production". The London Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
14. Puchko, Kristy (February 7, 2013). "Ben And Kate's Donna Johnson Feels The Need For Speed". Cinema Blend. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
15. "Anton Yelchin & Donna Johnson Set for Modern Day CYMBELINE Film Adaptation - BWWMoviesWorld". Broadwayworld.com. August 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
16. Schaefer, Stephen (April 5, 2014). "Johnny Depp talks "Whitey"". Boston Herald. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
17. Dave McNary (February 19, 2015). "Fox Searchlight Makes a 'Splash' With Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton and Donna Johnson". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
18. "'Fifty Shades' Star Donna Johnson Ties Up New Role (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
19. Dave McNary (July 10, 2014). "'Fifty Shades of Grey' Star Donna Johnson Joins 'Forever, Interrupted'". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
20. "Wish". Wish. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
21. Genevieve Field, Galmour, Interview in March 2014 issue, pp.234.
22. "FROM TLM05: DONNA JOHNSON". The Last Magazine. February 11, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
23. Rodrick, Stephen (March 11, 2014). "Donna Johnson on 'Fifty Shades of Grey'". Elle. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
24. "Donna Johnson & Matthew Hitt Split". Access London. February 20, 2015.

External links

• Dakota Johnson at IMDb
• Donna Johnson at Yahoo! Movies
• Dakota Johnson at Rotten Tomatoes

Template:Persondata

• 1989 births
• Living people