By SHEALYN PRATT
Movie sets and paparazzi are unfamiliar territory for most people, but for the children of Hollywood stars, they were simply childhood memories.
Nepotism is the practice of people in power giving advantages to their family members, regardless of qualification. The term “nepo baby” has become a popular phrase in the media, used to describe an actor or celebrity whose parents are also actors or celebrities.
For example, actress, model and singer Zoë Kravitz, who starred in the series adaptation of “High Fidelity,” is the daughter of award- winning musician Lenny Kravitz and Emmy nominated actress Lisa Bonet, best known for her role on “The Cosby
Show.”
Actress Maya Hawke, best known for her role in “Stranger Things,” is the daughter of actress Uma Thurman,
known for her collaborations with Quentin Tarantino and her role in “Pulp Fiction,” and actor Ethan Hawke, who
acted alongside Robin Williams in “Dead Poets Society.” Both of Hawke’s parents have been in the industry for
decades.
Or consider one of the most well known nepo babies: Drew Barrymore. Her Hollywood connections run deep into the 19th century, as both the Barrymore and Drew families have British-American acting dynasties. The one thing that all of these
actresses have in common is that they come from a lineage of people working in Hollywood. They were raised around cameras, noise, lights and drama. They are no stranger to red carpets or paparazzi.
Despite all of these women being monumental figures with accolades attached to their names, Dakota Johnson is a nepo baby in a lane of her own.
Johnson is an American actress and film producer. Many people know her from her role in the “Fifty Shades” trilogy, but she actually began her acting career when she was 10 years old in the 1999 film “Crazy in Alabama,” which starred her mother, Melanie Griffith.
Johnson’s stepfather, Antonio Banderas, was a film writer for the movie. Her biological father, Don Johnson, is no stranger to the camera either. He is best known for his role in the 1980s television series “Miami Vice,” which won a Golden Globe and received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
But being born into Hollywood did not mean Johnson remained in the shadow of her parents. She began a career of her own that would take her far behind family connections.
Dakota Johnson’s filmography consists of 34 credited roles, both in film and television. Her 2010 appearance in “The
Social Network,” in which she played Amelia Ritter, marked one of her early film roles. The film is a biographical drama following the creation of Facebook by Mark Zuckerberg. At the 83rd Academy Awards, “The Social Network” received eight nominations and won three, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Film Editing.
As her career continued, Johnson began appearing in increasingly recognizable films. Often supporting roles, before eventually landing the part that would make her a household name.
Two years later, Dakota appeared in another supporting role as Fugazy in “21 Jump Street.” Three years later, her identity as Anastasia Steele came to audiences in the “Fifty Shades” series.
Although this series became a defining role of Johnson’s early career, it was not the only role that demonstrated her range as an actress. She appeared in a number of other movies and series from 2018-2025. One of my favorite films she acted in was the 2024 film “Am I OK?” I mention this film because Johnson not only starred in it but also served as a producer, and it was when I saw the most depth in her as an actress.
The film follows Johnson as Lucy, a woman navigating her friendships, sexuality and adulthood. The story feels less like you’re watching a movie and more like you are getting a look into a friend’s life.
In 2019, Johnson launched her own production company, TeaTime Pictures. In many of her projects, she has served as both a star and producer. She recently starred in the upcoming film “Verity,” an adaptation of the Coleen Hoover novel published in 2018. “Verity” is a psychological romantic thriller that follows Johnson’s character, Lowen Ashleigh, as she navigates a ghost-writing job for an award-winning writer who loses her ability to create. There isn’t much else I can say about this novel without spoiling the entire thing. I finished reading the fast-paced story within two days, and there were moments that the words on the pages left me staring at my ceiling for 30-minute increments.
You may not know Dakota Johnson’s name off the top of your head, but whether it is her nepotism or her talent, she has made a name for herself both in front of and behind camera.
With that, Johnson’s career raises a larger question about the nepo babies of Hollywood: how much should an actor’s family name matter when evaluating the career, they have built for themselves in the industry?
That can really be said for any of the previously named actresses. Nepotism has such a strong negative connotation. When I think of nepotism, I truly think about the legacy that some of these actresses are leaving behind in Hollywood.
Whether you’ve seen any of these actresses’ work in films, seen them on the runway, know of their parents or maybe don’t know them at all, one thing can’t be denied: these women are part of Hollywood legacies that continue to shape the entertainment industry.