Taylor Swift has publicly lauded the distinct authenticity of Dakota Johnson. In the latest edition of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People” list released this Wednesday (April 15), Swift contributed a heartfelt tribute to the actress, celebrating both her professional evolution and her grounded personality.
Describing Johnson’s career trajectory as “fascinatingly varied and eclectic,” Swift opened her essay by noting that the world is only beginning to truly understand who Dakota is. “It seems the more they learn, the more there is to fall in love with,” the 14-time Grammy winner observed.
Swift specifically highlighted the actress’s refreshing lack of pretense. “In recent years, as she’s promoted her films, the name Dakota Johnson has become synonymous with a rare, refreshing honesty in an industry often defined by media-trained scripts,” Swift wrote. “Maybe it’s her melodic vocal delivery, or the way she answers questions with such frank candor that it makes you feel like she is physically incapable of being anything but herself.”
“Beyond her integrity, she is one of the most empathetic people I have ever known,” Swift added. “She possesses an insatiable curiosity about the human experience, constantly asking questions and seeking to understand the lives of those around her.”
The musical icon also championed Johnson’s shift into production through her company, TeaTime Pictures, applauding her commitment to exploring the nuances of human relationships in projects like Splitsville and Materialists. “Captivating in front of the lens and deeply inquisitive behind it, her commitment to truth elevates her storytelling into something as timeless as she is,” Swift concluded.
While Johnson rose to international prominence via the Fifty Shades of Grey series—which notably featured Swift’s collaboration with Zayn Malik, “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever”—her current body of work reflects a more deliberate creative path. The friendship between the two stars has been long-standing, with the pair frequently spotted supporting one another during private outings in New York City.
This year’s TIME100 list also celebrates an array of musical talent, including JENNIE of BLACKPINK, Luke Combs, and Noah Kahan, with tributes provided by industry peers such as Gracie Abrams, Ed Sheeran, and Marcus Mumford.
