Dakota Johnson Reflects on Working with Justin Timberlake in The Social Network: “I 100% Had Preconceived Notions”
Dakota Johnson recently opened up about her experience working alongside Justin Timberlake in The Social Network, recalling the memorable moments of her first professional film role. In a video interview with Vanity Fair, Johnson, now 34, shared that she initially had “preconceived notions” about Timberlake before meeting him on the set, where they filmed an intimate scene together.
In The Social Network, the acclaimed 2010 film directed by David Fincher, Johnson played a Stanford University student who wakes up after a night with Timberlake’s character, Sean Parker. The scene, though brief, left a lasting impression on the actress, especially given the unusual circumstances of the shoot. Johnson, only 19 at the time, found herself in a somewhat surreal situation. “Are you kidding? I was just like 19 and straddling Justin Timberlake and like whipping him in the face with my hair,” she joked during the interview.
When asked if she had any preconceived ideas about Timberlake, Johnson admitted, “100% had preconceived notions.” However, those notions were quickly dispelled as she got to know him on set. “He was lovely and kind and really welcoming for a person that was just a stranger,” she said, fondly reflecting on her interactions with the multi-talented star.
The Fifty Shades actress also noted the rigorous nature of working under director David Fincher’s methodical approach. “Because this was The Social Network and David Fincher, we did this so many times,” Johnson explained, referring to the director’s reputation for shooting numerous takes of each scene. “It’s still there. I know all the lines. It’s happening now,” she joked, adding humor to the grueling process.
In the scene, Johnson’s character unknowingly introduces Timberlake’s Sean Parker to Facebook for the first time, sparking Parker’s interest in the budding social media platform. Though her screen time in The Social Network was brief, the experience left a lasting mark on Johnson, not only because it was her first major role but also due to the sheer number of takes involved. “Maybe I was traumatized,” she quipped.
Another amusing revelation came when Johnson shared that she wasn’t allowed to keep the red underwear her character wore in the scene. “They’re a good little booty short,” she said, clearly still amused by the memory.
The Social Network, which dramatizes the founding of Facebook and the legal battles that followed, featured an all-star cast, including Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield as Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Timberlake’s portrayal of Parker, the founder of Napster and early president of Facebook, was one of the film’s standout performances.
Johnson had previously reflected on her time on the set of The Social Network in a 2022 interview with Vanity Fair alongside Andrew Garfield. She reminisced about observing the film’s intense atmosphere, where Garfield and Eisenberg were engrossed in their roles. “I remember sitting down with you guys when you were having lunch one day, and you asked me loads of questions,” she told Garfield, fondly recalling the camaraderie on set.
Despite her limited screen time, Johnson’s experience on The Social Network helped lay the foundation for what has since become a successful and diverse career in Hollywood. From intimate moments with Timberlake to reflecting on her early acting journey, Johnson’s time on the iconic film set is clearly one she cherishes.
