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Dakota Johnson, known for her role in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” franchise, faced a different kind of challenge when she appeared in the finale of “The Office” in 2013. Despite surviving Christian Grey’s infamous red room of pain, her experience pretending to review expense reports on the set of “The Office” proved to be unexpectedly challenging.
While Dakota Johnson was not the biggest star to make a cameo in “The Office” finale, her appearance still generated attention, given her background as the daughter of Hollywood stars Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson. At the time, she was recognized for roles such as wearing Stanford underwear in “The Social Network” and starring in the short-lived Fox sitcom “Ben and Kate.”
In her brief appearance on “The Office,” Johnson played an accountant named Dakota, replacing Kevin Malone (Brian Baumgartner). However, her time on set was far from what she anticipated. Despite her admiration for the show, Johnson found herself feeling like an outsider amidst the established dynamics of the cast. She observed tensions and a lack of communication among some cast members, which contributed to her discomfort during filming.
During an interview on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Johnson candidly expressed her disappointment, describing her time on set as “the worst time of my life.” She elaborated on feeling ignored by the cast, likening her presence to crashing an unwelcomed birthday party. Despite this, she did find solace in meeting Rainn Wilson, whose character inadvertently created a job opening for hers.
Johnson’s remarks sparked criticism on social media, with some accusing her of being entitled and ungrateful for her opportunity on such an iconic show. However, Johnson later clarified that her comments were hyperbolic and that she could have expressed herself better. She reiterated her experience of feeling overlooked by the cast, emphasizing that they did not make an effort to engage with her during her time on set.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time Johnson felt ignored by co-stars, as she also recalled a similar experience with Jesse Eisenberg during lunch breaks on the set of “The Social Network.” Despite the backlash, Johnson’s candidness shed light on the complexities of working within established casts and the challenges of integrating into tight-knit groups in the entertainment industry.