There’s a scene in “A Bigger Splash” where Dakota Johnson, all tanned limbs and sly smiles, watches a performance by her much older lover’s ex. Her character, Penelope, is a study in contrasts: youthful naiveté laced with knowing sensuality. But it’s in that watching, that quiet observation, where you see it. A flicker of something steely beneath the surface. Confidence, yes, but not the loud, performative kind. This is different. Subtler.
We’ve come to expect a certain bravado from our on-screen heroines. The world-saving, quip-slinging variety. And while Johnson has certainly proven her mettle in those arenas (see: “The Lost Daughter,” where her raw portrayal of motherhood was both unsettling and deeply affecting), it’s her quieter moments that resonate. The ones where she’s not trying to prove anything at all.
Think of her in “Suspiria.” The way she inhabits the role of Susie Bannion, a young dancer who stumbles into a coven of witches, is nothing short of transformative. There’s a vulnerability, a fragility even, that belies the character’s growing power. And yet, Johnson never lets us forget that power is there. It simmers beneath the surface, erupting in bursts of raw, primal energy. A slow burn, not a sudden explosion.
It’s a quality that extends beyond her acting, too. On the red carpet, Johnson navigates the fashion gauntlet with a similar sense of self-possession. She doesn’t chase trends or court the paparazzi’s favor. Instead, she chooses pieces that feel authentic to her, whether it’s a shimmering Gucci gown or a simple slip dress. There’s a quiet confidence in her choices, a refusal to be defined by external expectations. And in a world obsessed with artifice, that’s incredibly refreshing.
It’s tempting, of course, to attribute this self-assuredness to her lineage. After all, she hails from Hollywood royalty. But that would be a disservice to Johnson’s own unique journey. She’s spoken openly about the pressures of growing up in the public eye, the scrutiny that comes with carrying a famous last name. And yet, she’s managed to carve out her own path, one marked by both artistic integrity and a refusal to be pigeonholed.
Perhaps that’s the most valuable lesson we can glean from watching Dakota Johnson on screen: the power of owning your own narrative. Of embracing your complexities, your vulnerabilities, even your flaws. It’s in those moments of unguarded honesty, of quiet self-acceptance, that true confidence shines through. And that, my friends, is a lesson worth learning.
Shop the must-have Taylor Swift outfits- https://www.cusuti.com/category/taylor-swift
Comments