Fifty Shades Freed’s Dakota Johnson reveals why she LOVES ‘sexual, powerful’ roles

The actress is perhaps best known for playing the lead in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, which came to an end with Fifty Shades Freed back in February of this year after making more than $1.3 billion at the box office.

The films were renowned for their sexual content, and – despite their poor reviews – they built up a rock solid fanbase.

“Playing sexual characters is interesting to me,” the star told Tatler.

“I find it powerful… I’ve always been fascinated by women who are in touch with their sexuality, who are proud of it, who are not passive about it.

“I don’t think that in order to be respected and in order to feel powerful that you need to be sexless.”

She went on to highlight the difference in attitudes towards behaviour of men and women – on-screen and off.

“If you’re forthright [as a woman], if you’re bossy, and you say what you mean and mean what you say, then sometimes you might be called a bitch or a diva. Which is wild.”

Johnson starred opposite Jamie Dornan in the films, and he too is continuing to be recognised for his work in them.

In a recent interview, he revealed a somewhat inappropriate request he received from a fan on a golf course.

“Once, after I’d played golf, a woman came up to me and asked for her breasts to be signed. Seriously,” he told the Irish Sun.

“I didn’t do it.”

He added: “I was so aware of how that photograph would look, particularly if you got a certain angle.

“So I said, ‘I respect that you want me to do that, but I’m going to respectfully decline.’ I signed the book instead.”

Both are very busy: Johnson is currently promoting her films Suspiria and Bad Times at the El Royale, both of which are out over the next two months.

She’ll continue the dark streak with a role in psychological horror Transgression early next year, alongside Armie Hammer and Zazie Beetz.

Dornan, meanwhile, has shot scenes for Robin Hood – due out this November.