Fifty Shades taught Dakota Johnson this valuable lesson
In an interview with Allure magazine, she explained everything she learned from her Fifty Shades of Gray experience:
Achieving fame is a dream of many, thousands of dreamers travel to Los Angeles to become Hollywood stars, or put their songs on the Internet in the hope of being "discovered" by a talent agent and launched into stardom. However, fame can come at a high cost. Many people adore you, but you live under public scrutiny, and that can be very hard for many celebrities, who end up putting up barriers to protect themselves.
Dakota Johnson could have been one of those famous. The Fifty Shades of Gray actress became a global star almost overnight thanks to the success of the romance trilogy. Before that, she had worked in supporting roles in movies like The Social Network and had a lead role in a FOX series, Ben & Kate, which was canceled after one season.
Going from relative anonymity to megastar may have been devastating for many, but not for Johnson. She learned a valuable lesson that can serve us all: she can be strong and vulnerable at the same time.
Dakota became a recognizable face in the world and had to get (literally!) in front of the eyes of millions of people, but she found a way not to let her fear become a shell. In an interview with Allure magazine, she explained everything she learned from her Fifty Shades of Gray experience:
Basically, I am open and warm.But when your life is exposed and when the movie that exposes your life is also exposing your emotions and your body it can be very scary. Throughout this experience I have learned that I can expose my heart and emotions, and still protect myself. I can still be vulnerable and strong. It's a constant struggle to try to understand how to make those things exist inside of me. I feel grateful for that.
How many of us put up walls when we feel fear or rejection? It's easier to close our hearts to avoid being hurt than to open up and take risks, but that's not a healthy habit. Trying to find a balance between personal protection and vulnerability can help us live fully, but without compromising our feelings. It's not easy, but it's worth it.
