The Real Steele: The Unauthorized Biography of Dakota Johnson

Book excerpt: Those who don't believe in miracles should take a look at what brought Dakota Johnson from obscurity to the pinnacle of stardom as Anastasia Steele in the motion picture Fifty Shades of Grey. But who is Dakota Johnson? A surprisingly accomplished and driven actress. This is not some celebrity kid given a plum role because of her connections to old-world Hollywood. In The Real Steele: The Unauthorized Biography of Dakota Johnson you’ll see how she went from a life of tranquility and, yes, privilege at the feet of superstar parents Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, to a determination to succeed that has led her down many paths. First there was a career as an international model, then to growing recognition in a string of successful studio and independent films and, finally, to her big break in Fifty Shades of Grey, Johnson has proven a literal force of nature, always moving forward and always using a natural sense of positive energy to dissuade the naysayers who would line up to take her down. Through exclusive interviews with childhood friends and acting coaches, Marc Shapiro has put Johnson's life and times, much like the actress herself, in a straightforward and always enticing biography.