Mon Jul 07 18:30:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Dakota Johnson expresses her aspirations to take on more diverse roles, including action films and portraying a “psychopath.” She also plans to make her feature directorial debut with a “small” film, collaborating with Vanessa Burghardt, the autistic actress who played her daughter in “Cha Cha Real Smooth.” Johnson emphasizes the film’s personal significance and her desire to protect it. As a producer, she is drawn to projects that are visually and emotionally provocative, especially those featuring complex, nuanced, and potentially anti-heroic female characters.

**News Article:**

**Dakota Johnson Sets Sights on Action Roles, “Psychopath” Characters, and Directorial Debut**

Karlovy Vary – Dakota Johnson is charting a course for exciting new territory in her career. Speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, the “Materialists” and “Madame Web” star revealed her desire to branch out into action films and tackle the challenge of portraying a “psychopath” on screen. “There are roles that I dream of playing,” Johnson stated. “I would love to play a psychopath, would love to do an action film.”

Beyond acting ambitions, Johnson announced her plans to step behind the camera for her feature directorial debut. She will reunite with Vanessa Burghardt, the autistic actress who starred as her daughter in “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” for a project that is described as “small” and “very close to her heart.” Burghardt penned the script.

“I think I will direct a feature, a very small one, hopefully soon. And it’s really close to my heart and very close to [my production banner] TeaTime,” Johnson shared. “We’re making it with Vanessa Burghardt, who played my daughter in ‘Cha Cha Real Smooth.’ She’s an incredible autistic actress.”

Johnson, who previously directed the short film “Loser Baby,” expressed her protective feelings toward the project, citing a lack of confidence until working with Burghardt. “I’ve always felt that I’m not ready to direct a feature. I don’t have the confidence, but, with her, I feel very protective and I know her very well. I can see this world, so I just won’t let anybody else do it. That’s the real answer.”

As a producer through her TeaTime banner, Johnson gravitates towards projects that are visually and emotionally provocative, especially those featuring complex and nuanced female characters. She expressed a particular interest in stories featuring women who might be considered “anti-heroes” or even those who commit “atrocious” acts, as long as their anger resonates with the audience. With ambitious goals both in front of and behind the camera, Dakota Johnson is poised for an exciting new chapter in her career.

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