She is about to strip down quite a bit as she tackles the role of Anastasia Steele in the much-anticipated big-screen adaptation of kinky novel 50 Shades Of Grey.
And it seems that Dakota Johnson is getting a running head start as she gets to work on her current movie, Cymbeline.
The 23-year-old actress was seen climbing through a window wearing just a pair of knickers and a grey vest over a lacy bra as she filmed scenes alongside co-star John Leguizamo in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Dakota was filming inside what appeared to be a run down house in the area.
The actress’s upcoming drama is based on the play Cymbeline written by William Shakespeare, and also stars Ethan Hawke and Ed Harris.
Dakota was also seen wearing casual clothes throughout the day.
The daughter of Hollywood actress Melanie Griffith and actor Don Johnson, was casual in a loose-fitting white T-shirt and a pair of ripped denim Daisy Dukes.
She’s not shy: The actress had no qualms about getting around in her smalls for her scenes
Wearing barely any make-up on her complexion, she wore her flaxen tresses out in a natural wave.
The actress padded around the set in a pair of slip-on flats and carried a grey knitted sweater in her hand.
Dakota and new co-star Charlie Hunnam will take on the roles of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, respectively, in the anticipated big-screen adaptation of the sexy novel.
Ready to ride: The actress was seen carrying a bright yellow motorcycle helmet in her hands
The news was tweeted by author E.L. James on Monday morning: ‘Good moaning all. Hold on to your hats…’ she wrote shortly before making the announcements.
Dakota previously appeared in The Social Network – in which she shared a love scene with Justin Timberlake – and had small roles in 21 Jump Street, The Five-Year Engagement and Beastly.
It’s thought producers cast Dakota because they wanted a young, up-and-coming actress to play the role of virginal Anastasia, who embarks on an intense voyage of sexual discovery with her S&M-loving boss Christian.
Dakota’s mother Melanie was certainly thrilled about the news, taking to Twitter to share her excitement.
‘My beautiful child Dakota has been chosen to play Anna Steele in 50 Shades!!! Look out world! Here she comes!!!’ she wrote.
Charlie, who is 33 years old and British, stars in the dark biker series Sons Of Anarchy as Jackson ‘Jax’ Teller and also appeared in Guillermo del Toro’s robot epic Pacific Rim.
The castings closed waves of rumours about who would take on the roles – Emma Watson, Imogen Poots, Armie Hammer and Ian Somerhalder, among many others, were at one time tied to a main role on the film.
Producer Michael De Luca tweeted on Monday that Dakota and Charlie showed great promise when they auditioned for the roles together: ‘Auditions were stunning, incredible chemistry!’ he wrote.
The duo had to do a ‘chemistry read,’ meaning a scene on video, and Charlie also had several tests with various actresses; he seemingly wanted to know who his co-star was before committing to the project, according to The Wrap.
But since news of the castings emerged, there has been considerable backlash against Dakota and Charlie playing the roles.
Many have taken to Twitter to slam the choices and an online petition on Change.org has even been created in an effort to get the lead roles recast.
The petition reads: Matt Bomer is the PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF CHRISTIAN GREY AND ALEXIS BLEDEL IS THE PERFECT ACTRESS TO REPRESENT ANASTASIA STEELE and if THEY ARE NOT, NOBODY WILL BE And I read the whole trilogy and I can assure that Matt is the perfect actor for this movie and Alexis too.
‘So please PLEASE, all of the GREYsessed and Bomerettes in the world NEED those actors.
‘They always will be for us the Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. WE CAN DO ANYTHING GUYS, ANYTHING.’
The petition has so far reached 20,000 signatures and is still counting.
Meanwhile, it was business as usual for Matt Bomer, 35, as he filmed scenes in New York for his USA Network series White Collar on Tuesday.
Matt looked handsome in a dark suit and, of course, white-collared shirt alongside his co-star Tim DeKay, 50.
Fifty Shades Of Grey will be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy), based off the adapted script by Kelly Marcel (Terra Nova).
The novel is the fastest-selling paperback of all time and has sold more than 70 million copies worldwide.
Controversial for its depictions of sadomasochistic sex and more, Fifty Shades Of Grey marked the rise of ‘mummy porn,’ or racy reading intended for mainstream, often middle-aged women.
The film is currently slated for release in August 2014.
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- Dakota Johnson Is Clearly Ready For ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ As She Shows Off Her Underwear For ‘Cymbeline’ (socialitelife.com)
- Dakota Johnson Nabs the Coveted Role of Anastasia in ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ (streetfashinog.wordpress.com)
- Dakota Johnson to Star in ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ (variety.com)
- British actor Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson land lead roles in saucy Fifty Shades of Grey movie (dailyrecord.co.uk)
- Griffith ‘proud’ of daughter Dakota (breakingnews.ie)
- Fifty Shades Of Grey cast revealed (news.com.au)
- Sexy Shades of Dakota Will Hit the Screens (guardianlv.com)
- Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson to star in Fifty Shades of Grey (thetimes.co.uk)
- Things you didn’t know about Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson (dnaindia.com)
- Dakota Johnson Spotted After Anastasia Steele Casting News! (justjared.com)