Dakota Johnson is about to become very, very famous.
Universal announced today that the young actress will play shy college student Anastasia Steele in the film adaptation of EL James’ fan fiction-turned-international best-selling erotic fiction series, Fifty Shades of Grey.
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The movie, to be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, is produced by Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca, who also produced The Social Network, which was one of Johnson’s first big screen credits. Career-wise, Johnson is probably best known for starring as the neurotic single mother in Fox’s short-lived sitcom Ben and Kate, which lasted only half a season in 2012. She also appeared in the 21 Jump Street movie reboot, as well as the series finale of The Office; she was Kevin’s replacement.
Johnson, who is a month shy of 24, should be well-equipped to handle the onslaught of attention that this new role should bring; she grew up near the spotlight, as the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. Her first role came in 1999, in her mother’s Crazy in Alabama, though she didn’t act again until 2010’s Social Network.
You may already know Charlie Hunnam, 33, as the motorcycle-driving badass in Sons of Anarchy. Soon he will also be known as Christian Grey, from Fifty Shades of Grey fame.
