To be sure, none of the films in the trilogy are good — the sequels get progressively worse — but Johnson was delightful company, engaging fully in the slightly hot shenanigans while sporting a slyly mocking sense of humor about the whole thing. It was hard to like those movies, but it was very easy to like her, in large part because of how the franchise positioned Anastasia as an innocent woman seduced by this dark, dashing stud with a sex dungeon. Johnson recognized that such a fantasy, which had attracted so many readers, was ludicrous but also deeply pleasurable — she managed to play along with the fairytale while also methodically dismantling it. Along the way, Dornan became her unwitting straight man and comedic punching bag. Christian might be loaded, but he wasn’t nearly as cool as Anastasia. There was a lot of skin revealed in those movies, but only Johnson showed a bit of wit.
Despite the brutal reviews, the “Fifty Shades” series went on to gross $1.3 billion, making Johnson a leading lady. She parlayed that into starring roles in superb arthouse fare, teaming up with interesting auteurs such as Luca Guadagnino (“A Bigger Splash” and “Suspira”) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Lost Daughter”). Even when the film itself was mediocre, like her twin 2022 Sundance pictures “Cha Cha Real Smooth” and “Am I OK?,” she brought something disarming and vulnerable to the proceedings. (If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard of the latter, it’s because WB has buried it, in keeping with their recent habit of drastic cost-cutting measures.)
As an actor, there’s no question Johnson has major chops — she has an effortless ability to project openness and immediacy — but the truth is, none of those later films have had nearly the reach of “Fifty Shades.” And so, what has kept her most in the limelight in recent years has been the memes that have sprung up in response to her public appearances.
Her two most famous viral moments don’t need much introduction, but for those who have forgotten: In 2019, she went on “Ellen” and refused to put up with Ellen DeGeneres’ passive-aggressive ribbing about not being invited to Johnson’s birthday party. Johnson’s immortal response — “Actually, no, that’s not the truth, Ellen” — set the stage for an epically awkward talk-show appearance, which earned the admiration of many, especially those who love when celebrities cut through the fake chumminess and those who were tired of DeGeneres’ then-glowing reputation as the Queen of Nice. (Later, when reports of DeGeneres’ dysfunctional workplace first started making the rounds, Johnson’s face-off with the host resurfaced, held up as proof that the actress had known DeGeneres was a phony long ago.)