A Look Back at Dakota Johnson’s Starry (and Musical) Dating History

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Dakota Johnson may have been born into Hollywood, but she’s managed to keep her love life largely out of the spotlight over the years. Still, the Verity actress has been linked to several notable names, from fellow actors, to famous musicians—including Coldplay’s frontman.

On screen, Johnson has taken on a range of romantic roles, from her steamy breakout as Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey to a professional matchmaker in Materialists. And more recently, she’s added a starring role in Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” music video, as well as one in the psychological romantic thriller Verity, to her roster.

Off screen, Johnson’s own romantic history has almost as much range, but with a bit more subtlety. From her years-long relationship with Chris Martin to the latest rumors linking her to Machine Gun Kelly, take a look back at Johnson’s complete dating history—or at least what we know of it.

Jordan Masterson (2012—2014)

Earlier in her career (aka her pre-Fifty Shades of Grey days), Johnson dated fellow actor Jordan Masterson. The pair reportedly began dating in 2012 and kept a relatively low profile throughout their roughly two-year relationship, aside from a handful of joint red-carpet appearances.

They split in 2014, though the reason for their breakup was never confirmed. At the time, however, reports alleged that Masterson, who was a Scientologist, was uncomfortable with Johnson taking on the role of Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey because of the film’s BDSM scenes.

Matthew Hitt (2014—2016)

In 2014, Johnson began dating Welsh model and musician Matthew Hitt. The pair were first linked in July of that year, when they were spotted out together in New York City. Their public dates in the city continued, and they were often photographed holding hands and occasionally coordinating outfits.

The two split in June 2016, just one month after attending Met Gala after-parties together. A source told Just Jared at the time that the pair had been dating “on-and-off for the past two years,” but struggled to spend enough time together because of their busy work schedules, especially as Johnson had been in Vancouver filming the Fifty Shades trilogy.

Chris Martin (2017—2025)

Johnson’s longest relationship yet was with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, whom she dated on and off for nearly eight years following his divorce from Gwyneth Paltrow. The pair were first publicly linked in 2017, but despite the duration of their relationship, they kept their romance remarkably private, never walking a red carpet together and rarely being photographed out in public.

The couple did share one notable professional collaboration in 2020, when Johnson directed Coldplay’s “Cry Cry Cry” music video, marking her directorial debut. “I am so grateful I was given the opportunity,” she told Extra of the experience. “I was working with such incredible artists in every department. I felt extremely privileged to make that video.”

By 2021, Johnson and Martin had moved into a home together in Malibu, California. In an interview with Elle U.K. that year, Johnson explained why the couple preferred to keep their relationship out of the spotlight. “We’ve been together for quite a while, and we go out sometimes, but we both work so much that it’s nice to be at home and be cozy and private,” she said. “Most of the partying takes place inside my house.”

Johnson also developed a close relationship with Martin’s children, Apple and Moses, as well as his ex-wife, Paltrow. In a 2020 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Paltrow spoke warmly about Johnson, saying, “I love her, I can see how it would seem weird because it’s sort of unconventional. But I think, in this case, just having passed through it iteratively, I just adore her. ” Years later, in a 2024 interview with Bustle, Johnson offered a rare glimpse into her relationship with Martin’s children, referring to them as her stepchildren and saying, “I love those kids like my life depends on it, with all my heart.”

She also sang high praise of Martin, sharing in the same interview how much she enjoyed watching him perform with Coldplay. “I love watching him. I could watch him every day,” she said. “I feel like, I don’t know… I’m watching my most favorite being do his most favorite thing.”

The couple first sparked engagement rumors in late 2020, when Johnson was spotted wearing an emerald ring on her left hand. Neither of their representatives confirmed the reports at the time, but in 2024, People reported that the couple had actually been secretly engaged for years. A source told the publication that they “got engaged years ago but were in no rush to get married.”

After multiple breakup rumors throughout their on-and-off relationship, however, People reported in June 2025 that Johnson and Martin had split again, with a source saying: “It feels final this time.”

Role Model (2025—2026)

Following her split from Martin, Johnson began dating musician Role Model, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury. According to TMZ, sources spotted the pair “huddled over a candlelit dinner over the holiday,” in December 2025, and said the two appeared “very close.” Over the next few months, they were photographed together several times, holding hands and grabbing dinner in Los Angeles.

Johnson later made a surprise cameo on Role Model’s track “Love I You,” during the song’s spoken bridge, in which she and Pillsbury have a flirty conversation.

He sings, “Hey, I think you’re perfect.”

She answers, “You say that to everyone.”

He responds, “‘Kay, well, is it working?”

The actress admits, “Yeah, but don’t tell anyone.”

In an interview with Nylon, Pillsbury opened up about how Johnson’s feature came to be. “I had a lot of names to pick from for that, and then Dakota came to the studio one day, and Mason [Stoops, guitarist and producer] was like, ‘Why don’t you do it?'” Pillsbury recalled. “I was like, ‘Stop! We’re not mixing work and relationships.’ She was like, ‘I’ll do it,’ and stood right up and got in the booth and knocked it out better than we could have imagined.”

But by August 2026, People reported that the pair had broken up “a while ago.” Neither Johnson nor Pillsbury’s representatives responded to requests for comment.

Machine Gun Kelly (2026)

After reportedly connecting at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding on July 3, Johnson and Machine Gun Kelly reportedly began a romance. In September 2026, after the two were photographed arriving together at Swift’s New York City apartment, People reported that they “have been hanging out and seeing each other under the radar for months now.” The source also said “it’s a very new start, but they’re smitten with each other right now,” while another added that things were “casual.”

Days later, another source told Us Weekly that things between the pair were getting serious and they had been “FaceTiming every day for the last month.”

That same source noted that Johnson flew to Milan to support MGK as he made his runway debut in September. “Everyone knew this was actually serious when Dakota traveled to support Colson [Machine Gun Kelly’s real name] in Milan. Dakota has a thing for musicians and is a hopeless romantic. Colson has this charm about him, which she was drawn to and she is really into him,” the source said.

While hosting Saturday Night Live on October 3, Johnson also joked about her history of dating musicians during her monologue. “I went through two very public, very lame breakups with two very awesome musicians. Looking for a third,” Johnson said, which may have been a cheeky nod to all those MGK rumors.

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