Dakota Johnson has undergone one of her most dramatic screen transformations yet. The actress is nearly unrecognizable as she steps into the role of a young Marilyn Monroe in Flesh Impact, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s upcoming 17-minute short film that reimagines the screen legend’s life through a fictional lens.
The 36-year-old star ditched her long brown locks and heavy fringe for the Hollywood pin-up’s iconic blonde curls, reportedly a wig, according to Vanity Fair. She also sported Marilyn’s signature beauty mark and bold red lipstick to embody the legendary actress.
© Photo credit: GenesisIn one still, Dakota donned a white button-down shirt, a matching pencil skirt, and jewelry to achieve the signature look of the Some Like It Hot star.
Meanwhile, Ellen Burstyn, 93, plays an imagined older version of Marilyn, exploring how her life may have looked if she had not died from acute barbiturate poisoning in August 1962 at the age of 36.
© Photo credit: GenesisWhat is Flesh Impact about?
Flesh Impact is a 17-minute short film written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal that celebrates Marilyn Monroe’s centennial by reimagining the Hollywood icon through a contemporary lens. Rather than telling a traditional biographical story, the film serves as a love letter to Monroe, exploring both the woman the world knew and the life she never had the chance to live.
Gyllenhaal said she approached the project as an opportunity to celebrate Monroe’s enduring legacy while reclaiming her story for a new generation. "I've always been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe. So, when Genesis first came to me with the idea of a celebratory project for her centennial, I knew I wanted to work together on bringing this story to life," Gyllenhaal said in a statement. She added, “With Flesh Impact, we showcase the timeless icon we know and love through a modern lens that reclaims her story.”
According to IMDb, the film follows “a mysterious elderly woman” who auditions at a small New York City black box theater. As she shares her acting credentials and experience, “hidden truths about her identity and misconceptions about her past begin to surface.”
Flesh Impact will have its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September, where Ellen Burstyn will also receive the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
© Dave BenettDakota is “emotionally attached” to her hair
Last October, Dakota, who dyed her locks black for Maggie’s 2021 film The Lost Daughter, revealed she always travels with a pair of scissors so she can trim her famous bangs. She told Vogue Germany, “I’ve had bangs since I was a kid. I cut them myself when I was about four, and I absolutely loved them."
Adding, “I’ve had them my whole life, except for when I was about 10 to 14. I just feel like myself with bangs. Would I be happy not to have to trim them all the time? 100 percent. But I also always travel with scissors, and I love to drink a martini while trimming my own bangs.”
© Gabriel KuchtaIn August that year, Dakota admitted she is “emotionally attached” to her hair. The Fifty Shades of Grey actress told Etalk, “Oh, God. You know what? I’m like obviously physically attached to my hair, but I’m very emotionally attached to it, and I should probably change things up, but I don’t think I will.”
