Taylor Swift Gives Rare Look into Dakota Johnson Friendship as She Calls Actress’ Honesty ‘Refreshing’
Taylor Swift Gives Rare Look into Dakota Johnson Friendship as She Calls Actress’ Honesty ‘Refreshing’
Jack IrvinThu, April 16, 2026 at 3:26 PM UTC
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Taylor Swift in March 2026; Dakota Johnson in December 2025Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty; Daniele Venturelli/Getty -
Taylor Swift praised Dakota Johnson's honesty and empathy in an essay for TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2026
Swift highlighted Johnson's curiosity, bold career moves like founding TeaTime Pictures, and her evolving storytelling in film
The longtime friends have shared rare public moments, including outings in 2016 and a dinner with their brothers in 2025
Taylor Swift is opening up about her friendship with Dakota Johnson.
The pop superstar, 36, penned an essay about Johnson for TIME on Wednesday, April 15, as the Materialists actress, 36, is featured on the publication's 100 Most Influential People of 2026 list.
Swift began by explaining how people seem to find more about Johnson "to fall in love with" as she advances in "her fascinatingly varied and eclectic career."
Taylor Swift in March 2026Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty
"In recent years, as she’s promoted her films, the name Dakota Johnson has become synonymous with refreshing honesty in a world of media-trained answers," wrote Swift of the star, who's gone viral with many candid interviews in the past. "Maybe it’s her sing-song vocal delivery, serenely answering questions with such frank candor it makes you feel like maybe this girl just ... can’t lie?!"
The "Opalite" singer then offered a rare look into their friendship, noting that she "can vouch for [Johnson's] realness" and praising her as "one of the most empathetic people I've ever known."
Swift acknowledged "maybe it's true that [Johnson] can't lie" before sharing "a few more things she can't do."
"She can’t stop asking people questions about their lives, endlessly curious about everyone else’s human experience," continued the Grammy winner. "She can’t stop challenging herself, taking newer and bolder risks like building her production company TeaTime Pictures. She can’t stop exploring the most intricate relationship complexities like in last year’s Splitsville and Materialists."
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Swift described Johnson as "captivating in front of the screen and inquisitive behind it" and said the actress' "unfailing truthfulness helps to shape her ever evolving storytelling into art that feels as real and timeless as she is."
"She comes by it honestly," concluded Swift's essay about Johnson.
The pair's friendship isn't often broadcast to the public. However, they've known each other a long time, having been photographed stepping out together in New York City with friends on two occasions in 2016. They also dined together with their brothers, Austin and Jesse, in May 2025.
Taylor Swift, Cara Delevingne and Dakota Johnson in October 2016Credit: Raymond Hall/GC Images
Johnson previously spoke about Swift during a monologue while hosting Saturday Night Live in 2024, as a picture was displayed of her sitting near both the "Fortnight" singer and President Donald Trump at the SNL 40th anniversary special in 2015.
"It's just crazy to be standing so close to someone who would become the most powerful person in America," said Johnson, as the camera zeroed in on Swift's face.
Johnson's upcoming film projects include a starring role in the upcoming psychological thriller Verity as well as her directorial debut, A Tree Is Blue, announced in October 2025.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
