Melanie Griffith’s Daughter Dakota Is a Stepmom of Two at 34 – Her Stepdaughter Looks Taller than Her

• Dakota Johnson, renowned for her captivating performance as Anastasia Steele in the “Fifty Shades” series, effortlessly bridges the gap between her illustrious career in Hollywood and a personal life filled with love, family, and rumored engagements.
• At 34, her journey is not just one of cinematic acclaim but also of navigating the complexities of relationships and blended family dynamics.
• This article delves into Dakota’s rumored engagement to Chris Martin, her seamless integration into a blended family, her close relationship with Chris’s ex, Gwyneth Paltrow, and her reflections on motherhood and family life against the backdrop of her storied lineage in the entertainment industry.

Dakota Johnson at the World Premiere of “Madame Web” on February 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images

Dakota Johnson at the premiere of “Black Mass” at the 72nd Venice Film Festival on September 4, 2015 in Venice, Italy. | Source: Getty Images

Dakota Johnson is an actress, producer, and director. She started acting as a child and has been in over 30 movies. She is notable for her role as Anastasia Steele in “Fifty Shades of Grey.” She reprised the role in “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed.”

Dakota Johnson at the Film Independent screening of “The Lost Daughter” on November 14, 2021, California. | Source: Getty Images

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin’s relationship has captivated public attention, not only for their deep connection but also due to the swirling rumors of an engagement, marked by the repeated sighting of a distinctive emerald ring on Dakota’s finger.

In December 2020, there were pictures of her wearing an emerald ring. The ring looked like an engagement ring on her ring finger. The ring fueled engagement rumors. Pictures of her wearing it surfaced again in March 2021.

In November 2023, jewelry designer Jessica McCormack posted a picture of Dakota. She was wearing the same engagement ring. The ring looks like one of the brand’s signature emerald-cut rings. In the caption, the designer wrote, “fav colour after diamonds  #mondaymuse.”

Further igniting these rumors, a source revealed in March 2024 that the couple, having been inseparable since the beginning of their romance six years ago, had indeed taken the next step in their relationship some time ago, choosing to keep the news within their close circles.

Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson seen leaving The Corinthia Hotel during the 65th BFI London Film Festival on October 13, 2021, in London. | Source: Getty Images

A source said four months later, “The couple got engaged a while ago and have kept the news private. But now they are being open about it with their circles. They have been besotted with each other from day one so taking this next step was inevitable.”

This private commitment reflects their desire to savor this phase of their lives without rushing into wedding plans, emphasizing the depth and seriousness of their bond.

Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson during the friendly match between FC Barcelona and Girona FC on July 24, 2021, in Barcelona, Spain. | Source: Getty Images

Dakota, 34, comes from a family with roots in the entertainment industry. Her father is actor, director, and producer Don Johnson. He has over 100 acting credits. He is known for his roles as Rick in “Kenan,” and Richard Drysdale in “Knives Out.” He was in “Knives Out” with Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, and more.

He also acted as Frank in “The Other Woman.” Other cast members were Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Nicki Minaj, among other stars. Among his notable films is “Django Unchained.” The actor starred alongside Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Don and Dakota Johnson at The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Hollywood Reporter party at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2019. | Source: Getty Images

Dakota’s mother is Melanie Griffith, an actress and producer. She has over 80 acting credits. She has had roles in “Days Out of Days,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Dirty Diana,” “Twins,” “Stuart Little 2,” and more.

Melanie Griffith and Dakota Johnson at the 87th Annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2015, in Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images

Dakota’s parents divorced, and both remarried and have other children. While she is the only child of her parents together, she grew up having a blended family. The actress once opened up about her family dynamics.

She said, “I grew up in a family that was so big, and I just believe in the saying ‘Blood is thicker than water.’” But, she talked about the saying’s origins. She noted that the connections one chooses are more solid than the connections people are born to.

Melanie Griffith, Dakota Johnson, and Don Johnson at the New York premiere of “How To Be Single” on February 3, 2016. | Source: Getty Images

Dakota remarked that chosen families can be as vital as birth families, if not more. She noted, “I have four brothers and two sisters, and my two sisters are not blood-related to each other, but they are sisters and they call each other sisters and they are always together. And my two older brothers are not blood-related to each other. And they are brothers.”

Dakota Johnson, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith at the New York premiere of “And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself” on August 18, 2003. | Source: Getty Images

Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Stella Banderas, and Dakota Johnson at the Los Angeles premiere of “Shrek 2” on May 8, 2004. | Source: Getty Images

The actress believes that irrespective of their trials, they would still be a family. She also mentioned how most of her family are artists. The actress noted, “Even the kids, they’re extraordinarily talented people. So you just are dealing with complex people. You grow and you embrace.” Even when you chase them away, call them back with love.

She is now in a blended family as an adult. She explained that because she grew up with the blended family dynamics, it felt natural. She emphasized that she wouldn’t want it any other way. She loves it and finds it very honest and authentic, with no one hiding anything.

Dakota has been in a relationship with Chris Martin. He is an English singer, musician, songwriter, and philanthropist. He gained fame as the lead singer, pianist, rhythm guitarist, and one of the founders of the rock group Coldplay.

In early March 2024, she spoke about their relationship. She called him her favorite being. When asked if she felt a particular way when watching him on stage, the actress said, “I don’t know. I love watching him. I could watch him every day. […] I’m watching my most favorite being do his most favorite thing.”

Chris is also a father of two. He shares his children from his relationship with his former partner, Gwyneth Paltrow. Gwyneth is an actress and businesswoman who has a good relationship with Dakota. In November 2018, a year into Dakota and Chris’s relationship, they spent time with his ex-wife.

Chris Martins with baby Apple on May 25, 2004 | Source: Getty Images

Moses Martin and Chris Martin at a basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers on January 5, 2016 in Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images

The couple had reportedly spent Thanksgiving on the East Coast with Gwyneth and her husband. Apple and Moses also participated in the celebration. It marked the first holiday Dakota had spent with Chris.

On October 5, 2019, Gwyneth took to Instagram to wish Dakota a happy birthday. She posted a picture of Dakota. In the caption, she wrote, “Happy 30th birthday to this absolute gem .” Four years later, Gwyneth hosted an Instagram question-and-answer session.

Dakota is open to having kids someday.

She spoke about her love for Dakota. Gwyneth reportedly stated, “We’re actually very good friends.” She had also declared her love for her fellow actress. She said, “I love her so much. She’s an adorable, wonderful person.”

This was not the first time Gwyneth declared her love for the actress. In a 2020 interview, she expressed, “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.”

Gwyneth Paltrow and Dakota Johnson at the front row for Gucci Love Parade on November 2, 2021 in Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images

In November 2023, Gwyneth invited her fans to ask her a question on her Instagram stories. A fan asked her to share a photo of herself with Dakota. The businesswoman responded with a picture of her and Dakota holding hands. The pair stood in the middle of the road wearing jackets, jeans, and sneakers.

Screenshot of Gwyneth Paltrow and Dakota Johnson holding hands, dated November 2023 | Source: Instagram/etalkctv

Dakota and Chris’s relationship has been going strong. They have not addressed the engagement rumors, but Dakota sees herself as a stepmom to his children, Apple and Moses Martin.

She once referred to Moses as her stepson while narrating a story his friend had told her about school. While she talked about the kids, Dakota said, “I love those kids like my life depends on it. With all my heart.” The actress has been several times spending time with her stepkids.

In May 2019, there were photos of Dakota and her stepdaughter, Apple, in Malibu as they grabbed coffee. Dakota wore a green cardigan with ripped jeans and sneakers and held their dog. Apple sported a blue buttoned cardigan paired with plaid shorts. She was barefoot as she carried their coffee.

In December 2019, Dakota went on a family trip with Chris and his children. Gwyneth was also on their blended family vacation. The family reportedly vacationed in Aspen. In one of the pictures paparazzi took, Apple looked taller than her stepmother as they grabbed coffee. It was unclear if Gwyneth’s husband, Brad Falchuk, also made the trip.

Shortly after their trip, new photos of Chris, Dakota, and Moses appeared. They were enjoying a casual date night. The trio all wore hooded tops. Chris and Dakota matched in black outfits, while Moses wore a mint green top and a pair of blue pants. They had reportedly gone to the movies.

In March 2020, reports of Chris, Dakota, Apple, and Moses at Disneyland surfaced. The family reportedly went there to celebrate Chris’s 43rd birthday. Eight months later, there were photos of Chris, Dakota, and Moses enjoying lunch. They were in East Hampton.

In June 2023, Dakota was pictured spending time with her blended family. On this occasion, she was spotted with Chris and Moses after they had grabbed pizza for dinner before taking a stroll. During their walk, Dakota and her stepson had their arms over each other’s shoulders as Chris tried to take a picture of them.

Although she sees herself as a stepmom, Dakota is open to having kids someday. On the topic of motherhood, she said, “I’m so open to that. I’ve gotten to this place where I really want to experience everything that life has to offer.”

With being a woman, Dakota sees the experience as a crazy, wild, and magical one. However, she noted that she is down for it if it’s meant to happen for her.

Dakota’s experiences in a blended family have shaped her current family dynamics. They have also shaped her future aspirations. Her relationship with Chris and his children has brought her fulfillment and joy. She found these in embracing the complexities of past and present family life.