Amid reports of her rumored split from Coldplay’s Chris Martin after eight years together, Dakota Johnson is getting candid about modern romance. While discussing her latest film, Materialists, at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, the 35-year-old actress spoke candidly. She didn’t mince words about the dating scene. She quipped, “dating sucks.”

Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson, the rumored ex-girlfriend of Chris Martin, explored various aspects of the modern-day matchmaking scene. She learned these while working on the movie Materialists. The actress disclosed at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival that the movie’s director, Celine Song, was a professional matchmaker. Song’s real-life experiences inspired Lucy, Johnson’s character.

The Cha Cha Real Smooth actress said she talked to Celine Song about stories of different people. This was part of an “incredible research.” Johnson gushed, “She (Celine Song) felt people were more honest with her than they would be with their friends or family, or even their therapist.” (Source: Deadline)

She added that Song “found it so interesting that it was more about material aspects of living than it was about emotional, visceral, soulful aspects.” The BAFTA Rising Star Award winner declared her ultimate finding from the research. She noted, “And I also learned that dating sucks.”

Johnson further clarified, “I don’t have personal experience, but I know from friends of mine that trying to find your person is just difficult. It’s both beautiful and scary and I think it makes every human question their worth, which is sad.”

An instrumental part of modern dating is the use of apps or a professional matchmaking service. The How to Be Single actress seemed optimistic about these options, stating, “Some dating apps are incredible, and I know people that have gotten married and are so in love from them, and people who have been set up by friends or matchmakers.”

She concluded, “There’s no right or wrong answer to love.”

Meanwhile, Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin reportedly broke up in 2025 after eight years of an on-off relationship. A source close to the couple told People the breakup “feels final this time.” The paparazzi spotted the couple last time on May 16 in Malibu.