Dakota Johnson gets blunt about 'ugly' Hollywood: 'Financiers can be shady'

Dakota Johnson has finally decided to lift the curtain on the ugly and brutal side of the industry she works for.

The 35-year-old actress reflected on her two decades in the industry. She says her time spent in the industry helped her experience both the highs and the deeply disappointing lows.

And according to Dakota, one of the darkest realities comes from behind the scenes, the actress claimed while speaking at the Red Sea Film Festival.

“Financiers are really shady sometimes,” she admitted, without naming names. “As a producer, it can be heartbreaking. As an actress, it can be heartbreaking too.”

Her comments arrive as she celebrates her directorial debut, A Tree is Blue, which is set for a 2026 release. 

The experience, she hinted, showed her just how brutal the business can be once you step out of the actor “bubble.”

“With acting, I feel like I’m in a bubble,” she said. “Producing shows you what’s behind the curtain and it’s really ugly.”

Still, Dakota insists the process is worth it. Despite the challenges, she says both acting and producing remain “incredibly fulfilling,” and she’s grateful she’s now able to explore both fully.

The Madame Web star also revealed that producing wasn’t just a career choice it was a long-held desire influenced by her famous parents, Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson.

“I always wanted to be a larger part of the project,” she explained. “To make my own projects and explore parts of my artistry that other people weren’t seeing.”

Dakota’s film A Tree is Blue will be ready to hit cinemas in 2026.