Dakota Johnson recently opened up about her struggles after being rejected from prestigious Juilliard, revealing that she was cut off financially and emotionally by her father, actor Don Johnson. The actress, who was 19 when she started landing small roles in films like ‘The Social Network,’ faced a tough time making ends meet as an aspiring actress.
Johnson admitted that she had to rely on financial assistance from her parents during her early days in the industry, which made the auditioning process even more challenging. She described the Juilliard application process as “awful and terrifying,” with two-day long auditions that left her feeling anxious.
The rejection from Juilliard was a turning point for Johnson, who had initially struggled to commit to traditional college life. Having grown up traveling and immersing herself in different cultures, she felt constrained by the idea of being confined to a single location. This experience ultimately led her to pursue acting as a career path, which has since become successful.
Johnson’s candid conversation with her ‘Materialists’ co-star Pedro Pascal for Elle UK sheds light on the difficulties she faced at the beginning of her acting journey, and how it shaped her into the actress she is today.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/dakota-johnson-dad-cut-off-money-college-1236401586