Dakota Johnson on Directing Chris Martin's “Cry, Cry, Cry” Video

"I wrote the story and pitched it to the band like every other director did."

Dakota Johnson
(Image credit: Steven Pan)

Dakota Johnson is Marie Claire's summer cover star. In the issue, she talks about her upcoming movie, High Note, and the types of projects she enjoys working on. These days, that includes directing music videos for her boyfriend Chris Martin's band. A few months ago, Coldplay dropped their new music video, "Cry, Cry, Cry," but Johnson didn't get the gig solely because she's dating Coldplay's frontman.

“I wrote the story and pitched it to the band like every other director did, and they chose mine—not because they’re partial to me at all,” she tells Marie Claire with a laugh. Johnson and Martin have been dating since late 2017 and have kept their relationship very private.

The video she co-directed with documentary director Cory Bailey was released around Valentine's Day this year and took place in London's Rivoli Ballroom. It shows Johnson's attention to detail, no matter how big the project. She says she gave an extra look to every "every single detail," from the amount of confetti that would touch the dance floor to the color of their shoe laces.

"When I work, I'm constantly thinking about the job. It takes up so much of my brain," she explains. "Not all of my projects are only good messages, but all of them have a little bit of something that makes me feel like it's an okay thing to pour my heart into."

Read the full Dakota Johnson cover story here.


For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

Related Stories

Dakota Johnson

(Image credit: Getty Images)
Bianca Rodriguez
Audience Development Manager

Bianca Rodriguez is the Audience Development Manager at Future, covering fashion, beauty, and more for Marie Claire, Who What Wear US and Who What Wear UK. In addition to spearheading SEO content across brands—whether writing about wardrobe must-haves or strategizing how to make eye-catching content—she is also an avid reader with a deep love and knowledge for books of all genres. More often than not, you can find her lounging with a good book on the weekend.