Latest news with #ElleU.K.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dakota Johnson reveals the tough love that forced her into Hollywood hustle: ‘I was totally on my own'
Dakota Johnson Dakota Johnson may come from Hollywood royalty, but her path to stardom wasn't paved with privilege. The Fifty Shades of Grey actress is shedding new light on the rocky beginnings of her career, revealing that her father, actor Don Johnson , cut her off financially when she decided not to attend college. In a conversation with her Materialists co-star Pedro Pascal for Elle U.K., the 35-year-old actress recalled how her dreams of attending Juilliard were dashed — along with her financial safety net. 'I didn't get in,' she said, referring to the prestigious performing arts school, 'and my dad cut me off because I didn't go to college.' Left to figure things out on her own, Dakota dove headfirst into acting auditions. 'I think I was 19 when I did The Social Network,' she said, referencing her brief role in the 2010 film. That project opened a few doors, but stability was far from immediate. She began picking up minor roles, doing whatever it took to stay afloat. 'There were a few years where money was really tight,' Dakota admitted. 'I'd go to the grocery store and not have enough in my account. I couldn't pay rent sometimes.' Though she tried to stand on her own, she occasionally turned to her parents, Don Johnson and actress Melanie Griffith, for support. 'I'm very thankful they were there to help me,' she said. 'But it wasn't easy and it wasn't fun.' Dakota elaborated on this during a February 2024 appearance on Today, where she revealed the ultimatum her father gave her: go to college and receive an allowance, or pursue acting and be financially independent. 'I chose to act and he told me, 'Alright, you're on your own.' I was cut off.' To make ends meet, Dakota picked up modeling gigs and leaned on her mother during particularly tough times. 'She was the soft one,' she said affectionately. 'I had to ask her for help with groceries more than once.' While her last name certainly opened a few doors, Dakota made it clear that she still had to fight for her place in the industry. 'Auditioning is brutal,' she told Pascal. 'It's the worst part of the job.' Despite the rough start, Dakota's perseverance paid off. From a small role in Crazy in Alabama as a child to becoming a household name in the Fifty Shades franchise, she built her career from the ground up without a safety net.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's 2 Kids: All About Jack and Isabella
Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's two kids, Jack and Isabella, are getting a 'proper' British upbringing from their famous parents. The couple — who met at a party in 2009 — live in London with their son and daughter, who were born in 2017 and 2022, respectively. According to the supermodel, who grew up on a farm in Devon, it was important for both her and Statham, who is from Derbyshire, to raise their family in England. 'I've always wanted to raise my children in the U.K., for them to be educated here,' she told Elle U.K. in March 2021. 'There's not much grit in [Los Angeles].' Aside from desiring her children to be resilient and outdoorsy, Huntington-Whiteley has shared how moving away from Hollywood was essential to giving Jack and Isabella a sense of normalcy. 'We wanted our kids to have a childhood away from cameras as much as we could," she said in an October 2024 interview with The Telegraph. "We made a rule that we wouldn't share their faces on social media, and we're not going to walk down the red carpet with them.' Here's everything to know about Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's two kids, Jack and Isabella. Statham and Huntington-Whiteley welcomed their first child together, son Jack Oscar Statham, on June 24, 2017. A few days later, the model announced the news on Instagram. 'Our little man arrived! Jack Oscar Statham - 8.8lbs on Saturday June 24th,' she wrote alongside a black-and-white photo of his hand around her finger. In January 2018, she opened up about motherhood, calling it 'life-changing," in an interview with Harper's Bazaar U.K. 'It sounds so clichéd, but it's just been the most magical experience,' she said. 'Everything feels so special and sweet and wholesome and loving.' As for Statham, who she called 'the best dad,' she noted that starting a family has brought them closer together. 'I can't even put it into words,' she said. 'It's really a beautiful thing to watch.' When Jack was born, Statham and Huntington-Whiteley were living in Malibu, but the model always knew she wanted to move back to England. 'I miss the people. The British culture and humor,' she admitted to Grazia in November 2019. 'Since becoming a mother, I have found a growing desire to be close to my roots. I'm very proud to be British and I think the U.K. is a really special place to raise a family." That cultural pride was especially apparent during a Q&A session on her Instagram Stories in April 2020 when she boasted about Jack's burgeoning language skills. When one fan asked if he had an American inflection, she wrote back, 'I'm really proud to say he has a proper English accent and he does have the same booming loud voice as Jason, the pair of them are sooo noisy!!' Given their desire for privacy, it comes as no surprise that Statham and Huntington-Whiteley have been careful not to share too much about Jack on social media. 'I think he's the cutest thing in the world,' the proud mom told PEOPLE in November 2019. But while she may want to show him off, she's mindful that he 'might not want to have his face all over the internet.' During her Instagram Stories Q&A, however, she did share which of his parents he resembles more. 'He looks very much like me when I was young but with Jason's eye color!' she told fans. But Statham's eyes and loud voice aren't the only things Jack has inherited from his famous father — at least, Huntington-Whiteley hopes not. 'He's got that real groundedness and I love the fact he will pass that on to our child as well," she told Elle U.K.. Unfortunately, Jack seems to have gotten his dad's (and mom's!) stubborn side as well. 'I've never liked being told what to do,' she said. 'I see it with my son now." She continued, "And Jason's the same ... we're both incredibly headstrong. And now we've got this three-year-old headstrong little guy, so it can be combative in our household, for sure.' That being said, Statham has described himself as a "big softie" when it comes to his children. While speaking to Access Hollywood in 2019, the Hobbs & Shaw actor admitted that his then 2-year-old son was able to get away with more with him rather than his mom. "I think guidance is good and I think dads are always a little bit [less strict]," he said. "I always feel that mothers do a better job at [structure] than dads." In August 2021, Huntington-Whiteley revealed that she and Statham were expecting baby number two with a series of mirror selfies on Instagram. On Feb. 2, 2022, the couple welcomed their daughter, Isabella James Statham, who they affectionately refer to as 'Bella." "My heart is very full," Huntington-Whiteley responded to a fan asking in an Instagram Stories Q&A how she was adjusting to being a mom of two. 'Very happy and grateful to have two healthy babes.' In response to another fan, the Mad Max actress expressed gratitude for her family and noted that she was calmer with her daughter, saying, 'Second time round I feel much more confident and relaxed." For Huntington-Whiteley, one of the best things about welcoming another child has been watching Jack grow as a big brother. In August 2022, she shared a sweet video of her two kids playing on Instagram. 'My little loves,' she wrote. 'I knew these two would have a strong bond but I didn't know what the transition to big brother would look like. Six months in, nothing warms my heart more than seeing Jack with his baby sister.' She shared a similar sentiment in a June 2023 interview with CR Fashion Book. Whether Jack and Isabella are getting along or butting heads, she loves seeing their sibling bond grow. 'Watching your children together is the most special experience,' she said. Despite her love of being a mom, Huntington-Whiteley has acknowledged the difficulty of balancing her career with her children, telling PEOPLE in 2019 that it was "definitely a challenge." However, instead of feeling guilty about her time away from home, Huntington-Whiteley wants her work ethic to serve as an inspiration for her daughter. 'I want her to feel a sense of purpose and to be happy,' she told The Telegraph in 2024. 'I look at my life and I kind of think I'm there. I hope, as she grows up, that I can be a role model for her achieving whatever it is that she may want to.' Read the original article on People
