Dakota Johnson has revealed one of the unexpected things she did while preparing to play Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey.
Keep reading to learn more.
The revelation Dakota Johnson made came during an episode of Hot Ones Versus, where her Verity co-star Anne Hathaway asked her about the most ridiculous or embarrassing thing she had done for a role.
“I grew my pubic hair,” Johnson replied, explaining that the film required her to appear fully nude. More than a decade after the movie’s release, her admission has reignited a familiar debate about body hair, beauty standards, and whether women actually need to shave their pubic area.
Dakota Johnson has shared other behind-the-scenes secrets from ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’
Dakota Johnson became internationally known for playing Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades franchise, which followed the complicated relationship between her character and Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan.
The films included numerous intimate scenes, requiring the actors and production team to make decisions about nudity, choreography, and what would actually appear on screen.
Johnson previously revealed that a body double was used for one particularly uncomfortable scene involving a character being struck with a belt.
“There was a close-up of a bum getting hit with a belt,” she told the Daily Star. “That was not my bum, because I didn’t want to get hit with a belt.”
Her latest revelation concerns a different aspect of preparing for the role. During Hot Ones Versus, Johnson explained that she grew out her pubic hair because the first film included a full-frontal scene.
The decision was specific to the character and the demands of the production, but it also raises a broader question: what do medical experts actually recommend when it comes to pubic hair?
A gynecologist explained why pubic hair is completely natural
According to Dr. Holly W. Cummings, an obstetrician-gynecologist, many women feel embarrassed about their pubic hair, even during routine medical appointments.
In an article for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), she recalled that patients often apologize for not having shaved before an examination.
Dr. Cummings emphasized that pubic hair is a normal part of the human body.
“Natural” she said, “we are mammals, after all,” she continued, describing pubic hair and the emotions people often associate with it.
The pressure to remove it is closely linked to cultural expectations around beauty and femininity. For decades, advertisements, films, social media, and adult entertainment have helped popularize the idea that a completely hairless body is the preferred standard.
However, medical experts say there is no requirement to remove pubic hair for hygiene reasons.
What happens when you stop shaving?
Pubic hair serves several functions, including helping protect the sensitive skin around the genital area.
Dr. Eden Fromberg, a New York City-based holistic gynecologist, previously explained to Vogue that pubic hair helps protect delicate areas and supports the local microbiome, which plays a role in maintaining a healthy balance of microorganisms.
It can also reduce friction against sensitive skin during physical activity and intimacy.
Removing pubic hair is a personal choice, but shaving and other hair-removal methods can sometimes cause irritation, razor burn, ingrown hairs, or small cuts. These effects can be particularly uncomfortable around sensitive skin.
Allowing pubic hair to grow naturally does not mean neglecting personal hygiene. Experts distinguish between removing hair for aesthetic reasons and keeping the external genital area clean.
There is also no medical requirement for women to maintain a particular style or length of pubic hair. Some prefer to shave, others trim, and many choose not to remove it at all.
Does pubic hair actually help prevent infections?
Pubic hair provides a degree of physical protection for the skin, although it should not be considered a guaranteed barrier against infection.
Dr. Cummings has explained that hair can help protect sensitive areas from dirt and friction. Pubic hair also traps sweat and natural oils, which can contribute to body odor.
That odor does not automatically mean someone is unclean. It is a normal part of how the body functions, although a sudden or unusual change in odor, especially alongside itching, pain, or unusual discharge, can warrant medical advice.
In the last few years the conversation about women’s bodies and expectations of the ideal body has been really heavy.
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