Good Hang with Amy Poehler - Dakota Johnson

Episode Date: June 10, 2025

Dakota Johnson's dog, Tokyo, is the real star of this episode. Amy hangs with the 'Materialists' star and talks about whether pets should be allowed in the office, dreams about asparagus, and texting with Sandra Bullock. Host: Amy PoehlerGuests: Blake Lee and Dakota JohnsonExecutive Producers: Bill Simmons, Amy Poehler, and Jenna Weiss-BermanFor Paper Kite Productions: Executive producer Jenna Weiss-Berman, coordinator Sam Green, and supervising producer Joel LovellFor The Ringer: Supervising producers Juliet Litman, Sean Fennessey, and Mallory Rubin; video producers Jack Wilson, Chris Wohlers, and Aleya Zenieris; audio producer Kaya McMullen; video editor Drew van Steenbergen; and booker Kat SpillaneOriginal Music: Amy Miles Athleta.com Designed for the Power of SheOne-time use. Not combinable. Subject to change Get anything delivered on Uber Eats. www.ubereats.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, everyone. Welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Very excited to introduce my guest, Dakota Johnson. Just an amazing actress and truth teller. And this is actually the first podcast she's ever done that she told us. So we're very honored to have her here. We talk about a lot of fun stuff today. We talk about analyzing our dreams. We talk about her receiving the Razzie for the movie Madam Webb. We talk about her new movie, The Materialists, coming out with Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. So we really get into it, a bunch of great stuff. And we always like to start these interviews with a Zoom from a friend of our guests or a fan of our guests, someone who's going to give me a question to ask them. So joining me now is Blake Lee. He is an actor. You may recognize him from Parks and Rec.

He played Derek, the boyfriend of April Ludgate, who also had a boyfriend. So they were a Threple. and that confused Leslie. Nope. So Blake Lee is joining us. He is great friends with Dakota and he's going to fill us in and get us ready for this interview. Blake, hi. This episode is presented by Athleta. Summer is here. It's time to get outside and get active. And Athleta has just what women need to move the way they want. That's shorts for every type of run from a casual jog on the beach to a competitive road race. There's scorts for on the court and pants for cool stretching. And there's always a matchback bra and top to complete your outfit. For stylish, innovative, active wear, the choice can only be Athleta. Power of She. Shop now at Athletta.com. What do you say?

All I have the one that was a really good hey. I'm so thrilled you can do this. Hold on. Let me move my head there. Okay. Wait, do you have my book behind you? And this is the word always says. For listeners, Blake Lee is very nicely put my book behind him in his bookshelf.

And I should say he's also my editor. Yeah, exactly, exactly. You're welcome. Blake, let's talk for a second about how we met because I think some people will recognize you. But maybe you can let people know how we're friends, how we met. So Aubrey Ploss were good friends. And she brought me to a dance party. at some random club in Hollywood, and she was working on this.

It was the first season of the show, Parks, so no one had seen it yet. So you were all out. And I went dancing with you guys and just instantly fell in love with you. And I don't know if you remember this, but do you remember Aubrey, like, smashed a glass on her foot? Cut her foot. Cut her foot at this club. And so you and I, like, took her into this bathroom and we're giggling and we're, like, putting her foot in the sink and we're cleaning it. And it was just like, it was so, one of those, like, magical nights.

And then, like, two weeks later, Aubrey called me and was like, hey, so that show that I'm doing, like, my character is going to have, like, a gay best friend. And Amy was like, what about your gay best friend you brought dancing the other night? And then you changed my life because I got to do the show for, you know, a handful of times. And it was the best. And it's like, yeah, truly, I feel like every time I see you, though, I'm like, thank you, you changed my life. That was my first job It was acting job Yeah

And so it was so crazy to be like To have that I feel so lucky to That that was my first job And like it's like wild There's I still Random times people will like You're like

Are you the gay guy from Parks and Rec? It happened once like I was I was peeing at a urinal And some like Stranger was just peeing next to me And like looked over and he was like Wait are you on Parks and Rec This was years after

I'm just peeing next to him Talking about parks. I have to say, I'll never, as a woman with female parts, I'll never, ever understand the etiquette of standing and peeing next to someone. It's so intimate. It's really intimate. And most people are straight ahead, you know? I feel like most, that's the edict.

Well, yeah, yeah. I don't know. Most of the time, it's like you should, I think that that's like the universe thing I was like just straight ahead. But every once in a while, you get a, how are you doing? It's so weird. It's so weird. Because to be recognized in that moment, it's so vulnerable.

I mean, it's just, it's something else. It's funny. I know, it's funny. It's something else. Okay. So, we're talking to Dakota today, and I got to tell you, between you and me, I'm a little nervous and excited, because I'm, don't know Dakota that well. I am a huge fan of her work. I think she's an amazing actress.

She's so cool and speaks so slowly and has a vibe that I think is very mesmerizing, which is she seems to not worry too much about getting people's approval. But I might be projecting that. Before we get to your question, what do you think people get wrong about her? think that people think she might take herself seriously and she doesn't she's she really is like so goofy and so silly ben my husband was like saying like he was like when i was saying that i was doing this he was saying how like i get to see a version of her that not everyone gets to see because we're i i i don't know like i'm so goofy with her and like we're just stupid and and i think it's like I think that that's thing. I think people might think that she's like this really serious person and she's, she's not. She's so goofy.

It's so funny to say that because I, you know, came up with all these comedians and sketch performers and improvisers who everyone, you know, is like, are they just hilarious all the time? And you're like, no. Yeah. No. And then conversely, actors, you know, like, you know, serious actors. There's a lot of people that assume like they're very, very, very. introverted and take themselves and their work very seriously and that's not the case often. No, it's not. And I have to say I went I think, yeah, both times she hosted SNL, I was there and she,

I've never seen her happier. Like she was like, this is the best thing on the planet. I never want to do anything else. I want to be here every day. And it's that like being around funny people she just like gets off on that. I think she like is energized by like by funny people.

I love that. Okay. Really helpful to know. So what do you think I should, do you have a question you want me to ask her today? Okay. So my question is, what actors did she look up to that she wasn't related to? Ooh, very good. Yeah, because, you know, a lot of people, you know, you know, may not know that she comes from

very successful, talented parents that we'll talk about. Grandparent. And grandparents. Step parent. Yes. Let's just name it real quick. Tipy Hendon, grandmother, Melanie Griffith, mom, Antonio Bandaris, stepdad, Don Johnson, dad. That's a, that's a lot. So, yeah, other than them. Other than them, who as a kid were you like, I want? You know, who did you look up to? All right. That's perfect. That's all we need. It's so, so good. You're going to love her,

and I'm so excited to hear it. I am so excited to do it. Okay. Thank you. So much. I'm so... Have so much fun. Thank you so much, Blake. You look so cute. Is this, is that bookshelf behind you real or are you... Can you imagine?

It was just like a... Yeah, I'm in my little office. It's wallpaper? This is a bookshelf wallpaper? This is just flat. It's flat, yeah. Okay, thank you. I love you.

I love you. I'll see you soon. Okay, take care. Bye. Thanks, Blake. This episode is brought to you by Uber Eats. Summer is here, and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered by Uber Eats. What do I mean by

almost? Well, you can't get a summer blockbuster delivered, but you can get a block of cheese. A cabana, that's a no. But a banana, that's a yes. You know what I like to order from Uber Eats? Batteries. Don't eat batteries. But I often need batteries and you can get batteries from Uber Eats. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. For alcohol, you must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region.

See app for details. This is so fun. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Listeners, Dakota brought a puppy in. First time we've had an animal in the studio. Tell me about this animal person. She's my dog.

And they're, bye. New dog? Yeah, we rescued her on Saturday from the Santa Barbara Pound. I didn't plan on it. How many dogs do you have? Well, I had a dog for 17 years. He was 17. Oh, no.

And he died. Yeah, there you go. Oh, my gosh. She's a performer. Tokyo is checking out the mic. He died in December And I was like Oh, it's going to be a while

But then I saw her and I just She's like an angel What kind of dog is she? She's really cute Wow, you are being amazing Tokyo, for listeners Tokyo is trying to Get up on the mic

And also lick a little bit of the water Maybe, oh look, he's getting some of the water Wait let's get this ASMR She also hasn't peed in hours So brace yourself Okay Well we can always just hold her over the table and squeeze

That's normally what I do Over tables I'm happy that you brought By the way, hi Thank you for coming and doing this I'm so thrilled that you're here And I was just saying That like you and I have seen each other at different places

is. We know a lot of the same people, but we've never actually been able to have a one-on-one chat. No. I know. I'm thrilled that it's this. Me too. I actually was, I've never done a podcast, and I only wanted to talk with you because I feel quite safe. Yeah, I'm not going to, I'm going to take very good care of you. Yeah. This is, this podcast is, should be for the listener and for the guest, very stress-free. That sounds ideal for me. Yeah. Yeah. And Tokyo. And Tokyo. She is. Honestly, she has come alive on camera.

Yeah, Tokyo knows how to find the lens. She normally hides in the back of her crate. She's really timid. And now she's like, here I am. She's a show dog. She's ready to work. You're an actress. Just like your mom.

But you grew up with animals all the time, everywhere, right? Like your mom is a big animal person. Your grandmother was like a huge animal concert. Would you say conservationist? I guess you could say that. Would you say that about your family? She rescued lions and tigers and elephants at one point. Did you have lions and tigers around?

She did at her house, yes. Did you? My mom did growing up as well. Yeah, you did not. By the time I was alive, there was more safety involved. In general in the world. Well, sort of. Ish, yeah.

Ish, but certainly at Marmore's house, they were no longer inside the house. They were in their, still, she's 95. She turned 95 in January and she still had, excuse me, she's still. Tokyo is chewing the end of the microphone. She's teething. So, I mean, this is why sometimes, well, I mean, I don't allow. pets in my office. And it's caused a problem, I think, with some of the younger Jen. Why? Do you hate animals? I don't. I love them. But I don't have a pet. And I don't like pets

at work. But tell me why, Amy. Okay, okay. It's actually, that's actually a really good question. I feel like it's just a little too distracting when you're working. Okay. And I feel... So you're like a drill sergeant. Do you also keep the AC on full blast, like really cold? Yes, of course. It's 65 degrees in here.

To keep everyone awake? Yeah. To keep everybody up up. So they can produce, produce, produce. Do you not do that? No, I mean, I've thought about it because the women... At paper kite at my company, they have dogs. They have great dogs.

They want to bring them. And I'm even more of a hypocrite. When I had Suki, I was allowed to bring Suki into, when we were like writing our sketch show back in the 90s, I got to bring Suki into the Comedy Central office. But I'm going to say no thanks. That's you. Dogs are allowed in my office. So if anyone who works for Amy wants to come to talk. Tea time. Bring your dog. Bring your dog. But wait, so you grew up, but you're, do you say

more and more? More more. Swedish. Yeah. Her parents, full, full Swedes. My brother lives in Sweden and his kids speak Swedish. And so my nieces and nephews call their grandparents more and more and more far. And I got to meet your mom. When? I feel like we're sure you have. I got to see her at where a lot of blondes meet, which is at the hair salon. And one day, well, more than once, actually, I've been on the same sketch as your mom. And she's so lovely. And she did something really generous that day. She was talking to me about skincare and then went home and brought back all this skin care, like all.

all this cream and handed it out to everyone at the salon. It was really, really nice. That is so sweet. I know, it was really nice. It was very, very sweet. She beats me. Yeah. That's so sweet.

Is your mom a nice person like that? She's a generous nice person? She's extremely generous. She's always been extremely generous. If you said to her, I love your shirt, she'd take it off. Yeah. Mostly because she loves to be naked. and has great tips.

You California kids are something else. I mean, I know so many of you now, like Maya and Rashida and you, like people that grew up in California. Where did you grow up? Like outside of Boston. Okay. In a suburb. And there was like something about, I used to watch movies, like karate kid. And the kids would be in school in California.

And it was like, what the fuck is this life? Like their lockers are outside. Like, it's sunny. Yeah. And they walk outside from class to class. So I didn't fully grow up in California. I was always, like, my parents divorced when I was six, and they were both actors, or our actors. And my, so I'd spend the sort of divorce deal was two weeks and two weeks.

I was big at that time. So it was, I would do like two weeks on location wherever my mom was. two weeks on wherever my dad was. And that was a lot. He was living full time pretty much in Colorado just in Aspen for a long time. And then he moved to San Francisco. So the first full year of school that I did in a school, not like traveling with a tutor, was fourth grade. So when you think of your hometown, where do you think of? I think of Woody Creek, Colorado. What was that like? The best. Yeah. It was the best. We like rode dirt bikes all over. and I lived in Woody Creek, and there were two girls my age that lived up the road.

So those are the girls that I would know. One of them I don't keep in touch with as much, but if we saw each other, it'd be the same. But it was just fun. We'd ride horses to each other's house and tie them up outside or dirt bikes, and we'd snowboard. Well, I actually hated snowboarding so much. To grow up in Colorado and, like, hate skiing and snowboarding is. Yeah, I was just in Colorado. Tina and I just did a show at Red Rocks.

Fun. So fun. Although it was pouring rain and 32 degrees. Not fun. Still really fun. But everyone had, like, everyone had their outdoor gear so set. Yeah. Every single person had their, like, hand-ormers.

And it all comes in, like, a tiny little bag. It's just, like, folds up. And it was, like, pouring rain. And they were like, let's just go to the rain. Like, they knew exactly how to be outside. Yeah. They love. Yeah. I love outside. You love outside. But no skiing. How come? Because it sucks. Yeah. And it's cold and it hurts. Yeah. It really hurts. I have nightmares about skiing. I had one recently. I'm just remembering it now. Oh, tell us about it. Well, no. That's not interesting. When people talk about their dreams. It's like people talking about their improv shows, you're like, mm-hmm. And then what happened? Yeah. I'm fascinated by dreams because I think, I think,

were similar in that I love sleep. Oh, God, so much. And I know you do too. Yeah. And I've seen you talk about it. And to get to dreams, you have to get to sleep. Like, but I know that that sounds stupid, but most people don't dream. They don't sleep well enough to even dream, which is very sad. That is really sad. Yeah. I actually had a dream the other night. Sorry, that Yeah. Let's hear it. Let's hear it. Chris was like, that's a really good pitch for a movie. So Maddie Healy from the 1975. Yes, familiar. Was in my dream. Great. And he was murdering people. Yeah. And he was on the run. He was himself. He was Maddie Healy as himself. And when the people were looking for him, they were cops maybe or I don't know. he would turn into a piece of asparagus. And people would just run past him, like that kind of thing? No one would.

He'd just be like, so. This is a really good idea. It's a pretty good movie. It's like A-24 would be all over that. And I was trying to find him. I was like, Maddie, Maddie. And I just saw like these two kind of poles in a bed.

And I was like, Maddie? And the sheets came down, and it was him as an asparagus, and Angelina Jolie as an as an asparagus. What? She's in this, too? Let's make this movie. They were getting married. And then they left in a helicopter together as as as a sparra guy. That is such a weird-ass dream. You might be getting too much sleep. Because you get a lot of sleep. Let's ask America. Okay, so America, let's ask, Dakota, how much sleep do you get a night? if I am not working I can it's like somewhere between 10 and 13 hours incredible

incredible but like 10 is normal for me and any sleep aids do you take anything to go to sleep no incredible I that's aspirational because you've traveled so much and been around so much you must have a good sense of like how to acclimate quickly to wherever you are Do you think you do? I try to just not think about it. I heard Arnica is really good for jet lag. Smearing it where? Oh, in your vagina.

Put it right in your vagina. If you put Arnica up your bike. You wake up and you're in another country. You don't even have to get on the plane. It's crazy. This is a new trick. But you can swallow Arnica? Little pellets, yeah, like homeopathic.

Okay. Are you a homeopathic gal? Like, do you like? Yeah. Yeah. What kind of stuff do you like that is pellets and creams and stuff? I mean, I feel like that again is, and I mean, I don't mean to generalize, but it does feel like when I moved to California and I meet California kids, they love their homeopathic. They're like, I'm not vaccinated and I. Yeah, a lot of that. And a lot of, I never take. And I don't believe in medicine, but I do think. that, you know, tea tree oil will get rid of my gallstones or whatever. But do you, are you a homeopathic person? Do you do, do you take supplements? I take supplements. Yeah. I take, um, supplements like Xanax and, um, just like natural. Just natural things. Yeah. Um, but, uh, did you, like, can you, I know this is a weird question, but I wanted to talk about it. with you because what I love so much about you is the way that you're able to, like, handle silence? Mm-hmm. Yeah. How did you learn how to do that? I think I learned early on in interview situations

that if I speak out of context or, like, it doesn't go well. I think I just have been so scared of saying anything but answering the question or not, or trying to not answer the question. Very, very, like, honest, up front and truthful when you do answer questions. I don't find you evasive at all. No. Yeah. I'm not. So is that always been your...

Although, you know what? I did once do that lie detector test for Vanity Fair. I'm doing one again. Did you beat it? I lied. And I passed. Well, let's be honest. I mean, that's not a professional person.

person running. Do you think there's a real professional person? I mean, they have them dressed up as a suit, but we don't know. I've watched other people and they're like, that's a lie. And you see the thing, and I fully lied. And they didn't get you. No. Do you think you have low blood pressure? I really, yeah, I do. That must be it. Truly. I would be a good spy. You would. Yeah. I'll do that now. You heard it here first. You're in Tokyo. You're in Tokyo out on the road. Doop-to-boo. But it's Because there is some kind of, you're right, there's like an energy where I don't feel a grasping energy from you ever. No, that's kind.

Thank you. I don't want to have a grasping energy. Well, a lot of people don't want to have it, but they just do. Like, they just can't figure out, you know, it's like they're just managing their anxiety in that way and it comes out in that way. But I've always felt that about you, that you don't have. that or you're really good at managing it. I definitely have anxiety, but it makes me hyper-present. So maybe that's what it is. Oh, say more about that. That's cool. I don't know. It makes me just like,

I'm so here. I'm so, I'm not, my brain doesn't go to a million places trying to figure out what to say next. I'm just like very present. And that happens also on, you know, like talk shows or things I get nervous and I have to go on stage. I have terrible stage fight. Do you do? Oh my God. Shocked. Oh my. Like an awards show is my nightmare.

I have to do breathing exercises before. Like if I have to present something or give a speech, thinking about it, makes me sweat. What is it? What's the, like, what would be the nightmare you'd have about it? What's the fear? You'd say something wrong. No, it's like a physical manifest. It's like my kneecaps start quivering.

Yeah. And my voice gets kind of shaky. and I get like, say if I have to give a speech, I'll be like, I don't know how to read. You're like, I'm so sorry, I can't read. I suddenly don't know how to read. So what is it about the camera and acting in front of the camera where you don't get that feeling? I have no idea. Yeah.

I feel like very, very free and safe. It's really weird Do you think it's like From growing up on set You kind of explained that when you were a kid Sets were home base Yeah I mean I saw that I thought they were the most magical places You did oh my God

I loved being on set What did you like about I loved everything Like I just thought it was the coolest I loved the trailers I loved base camp I loved set I loved like the ring of when it would be rolling, and I'd be so excited to go in when the red light went off and go and see what my mom looked like and what clothes she was wearing. And I guess that's how it felt it started to build in my mind as a sacred space.

It was like a safe place to be wherever the cameras were in the scene. Because it is really. It's like a beautiful, magical space if you want it to be. And what was your first professional job? Well, I guess it was the social network when I was 18, 19. But I did a part in a movie that my mom was in when I was nine. And I took that very seriously. I was a professional.

You did. You analyzed your dreams. I worked with a dialect coach to have a little southern accent. And did you, what do you remember about that? Did you feel like you nailed it at nine? I think I nailed it. Yeah. I think I felt like I nailed it as well.

And I loved it. Yeah. So much. That's cool. Do you feel like it was in your blood? Like, do you always feel like ever since you were a little kid? Like it was like inevitable that you were going to be an actor? Yeah.

Yeah. I think so. Mm-hmm. Definitely for me. And it's funny. My siblings, my oldest brother acts sometimes. And he went to, he studied acting. And one of my sisters is an amazing sort of photographer. And my other sister wants to be a director. So it's definitely in our family. But like my mom, my dad, my grandmother, my grandfather, they were all actors. And like working actors, all with their own special magic sauce. I also am remembering, too, that I met your mom, I saw your mom again when your stepdad hosted

SNL because I was there. Antonio Banderas, your stepdad. What year was that? That was probably 2000 and I'm pretty bad with this kind of stuff, but it was pre-baby for me. So it was like 2000, maybe four, five, six, something like that. And delightful, so nice. smelled great. Yeah, always.

She wears Moose Descartier. I don't know if they make that anymore even. Moose DeCartier? Moose. That means the moose cart in English? And what did Antonio wear? Because he smelled great too. We don't know.

I don't know. But actually now I think he has his own cologne or like perfume line. And it's so cute and funny. to me. It's like Stallion by Antonio Banderas or something. Perfect. Or like, um, dark cloud. Yes. Sexy cloud. Sexy dark cloud. Sexy stallion. Yes. He did a scene, I did a scene with him and Chris Parnell on SNL that I loved where we were like describing wine and just describing like the adjectives of wine, which is very similar. And there was a where he's like, do I sense a hint of swordplay?

That's funny. You are so great on SNL. And I know you loved doing it. What did you love about doing it? I love S&L so much. Well, you know, I like, I mean, even moments sitting here talking to you, I'm like, I can't believe I'm sitting here talking to you. Come on. I know I'm serious. It's so, it was such a huge part of shaping like my, my, my. wanting to work in comedy at all and then the the fact that I've even gotten to do it once but twice I like that is the it's my favorite place in the world it's that same kind of thing of like I want to be in there yeah but are you nervous you're not so nervous okay great so nervous but push past in like a fit of glee absolutely I love it what do you love about it I think I love

how everyone is just trying to make the best thing and the funniest thing and everyone is so smart and the energy there is is like it's the most important thing anyone has ever done in their lives and yet it's just funny yeah it is like a theater camp vibe totally it's like oh no we have a show we have to do it yeah yeah and then i really like all of the like behind the scenes gossip and the like these people don't get along and this is really hard and everyone's really tired and drinking like going when I was there last year and going around in like the first couple days and meeting with all the writers and they had it was like 8 p.m. And everyone had just gotten there and like I can't imagine. I can't imagine that like everyone had

really big iced coffees that they just. Scott. Just starting. I know. That was like the hours of that show are like left over from cocaine days basically, I think. But they're just, it's crazy that you don't start writing or I mean, some people do, but the majority of people don't start writing until Tuesday night. And we even talk about there's this feeling that happens sometimes on Tuesday nights, which is this panic and you don't know where it's coming from. And then you're like, oh, this is just writing night fear. Yeah. And you walk around and everyone's pitching you ideas that they haven't even written yet yeah yeah but it's it's a magical place it's like Disneyland it's my most favorite place I've ever been I just I don't know what

it is I love it so much I watch it all the time I go back and watch your sketches I watch it all it's very weird I should stop I should go is is Tokyo asleep yeah Tokyo is completely fallen asleep. And I mean, listeners, you can't see, but it's just the cutest dog in the world sitting on Dakota's lap. So special. You really are making me think that do you know what's funny? Animals should still not be allowed in the workplace. Did you notice my nails? Oh yeah. I have a French manicure. Which is very not me. But Tokyo has one. I thought it would be funny if we had the same nail Oh yeah, Tokyo does have them

Oh, come on Oh my Oh, come on I think it's because she has a calcium deficiency Yeah But she has a little natural French Manicure Boy, she's cute

She's really cute Anyway. Why just survive back to school when you can thrive by creating a space that does it all for you, no matter the size. Whether you're taking over your parents' basement or moving to campus, IKEA has hundreds of design ideas and affordable options to complement any budget. After all, you're in your small space era. It's time to own it.

Shop now at IKEA.ca. So we do this thing where we talk well behind people's backs and we ask someone that knows our guest, you know, what they think I should ask you and how to ruin their life. We ask, yeah, we all get all the dirt. And I talked to Blake. Did you tell you? No, but I heard you were going to do that. And I think he thought it was a surprise. Oh, so he didn't tell you?

He didn't tell me. He's such a good boy. I know. He's such a nice person. What did you talk about? So Blake wanted me to ask you, who besides your family when you were growing up, who did you look up to as an actor, actor, an actress? Like, who did you, like, what actor and actress did you admire? Blake wanted to ask that?

Yes. Did he Google, like, most basic questions to ask an actress? Yeah. That's the question. You can say pass. Okay. No, I'll answer it. I, uh, recently I actually exchanged texts while I got a voice note from Sandra Bullock.

Wow. I know because I don't know if you know, but I won the Razzie for worst actress. Oh my God, you did? Congrats. That's a really good, there's a lot of good people that have won that. Thank you so much. What did you win it for? this really good movie called Madame Wendam.

Oh my God, yes. I don't know if you've heard of it. And did you accept the Razi? Oh, yeah. I asked if they'd send it to me. That's incredible. But Sandra Bullock sent me at voice not being like, I heard you are in the Razzie club and we should have brunch.

We should have like a monthly brunch. Because I guess she won that, when like the year that she won the Oscar as well. Are you kidding? It was like in the same year, I think. But I freaked. getting this message from her because that she's so iconic yes yes to me as like a movie stop i was like oh my god it was just crazy but but i i don't know like i i grew up being fascinated by first of all younger actresses that worked with my mom so like thorah birch

christina ritchie i was always like oh you can do that as like a teenager because i really wanted And then Diane Keaton, I was obsessed with, still obsessed with. And then like SNL, a lot of SNL. But, yeah, great question, Blake. I mean, can I talk about that Razzie thing for one more second, though? Because why I love talking about that with you is because I think, Your career is so super diverse and always interesting. And you pick really big movies and you pick small movies.

And it feels like you pick what you want to do. It feels like you really go with your gut about what you want to make. And I feel like you handling it that way is the most powerful and, like, interesting way because if we're lucky, we're going to have a really long career. Like, that's the goal, right? It's to stick around. Yeah. So this idea of like we have had our last, you know, our last best thing or that this thing didn't hit. But I don't know.

How do you ride the wave of that? Like you have a sense of humor, I guess, about your work. That's important. Yeah. It's so it's, I think about this a lot because, and I know you have experienced this because everybody is going through it all the time now. But you, you, like we don't have control over how something turns out. Yeah.

anymore no one does like very very few directors or actors like tom cruise maybe does yeah you know like but i don't i've signed on to a movie that is by the end of shooting it a completely different script than what i attached to and that is a wild thing to to like a crazy journey to go on as a as an artist because you're like, okay, I'm doing something like with my actual body and my actual mind and my heart, my emotions, I'm like using things. And, and it's just being taken and fucked with. But you can't do anything about it. Like, what am I going to do? Fucking cry about Madam Webb? No. No. I'm going to laugh about it. You're going to go to the Razzies and you're going to spike the, they don't have an in-person award.

I wish they did. They should. Oh, my God. I wish they did. That would be amazing if you went there and then you just gave an epic speech and then you just spiked the award. Oh, God. You just threw it down. Sandra Bullock said she asked for the award and like picked it up and then they called her and asked her to give it back because they only had one.

By the way, who is the Razzie committee? I know. I'd love to hear. I'd love to have the Razzie committee show themselves. I know. Sorry, I'm going to do a lip balm break. It's really a funny thing. But, I mean, I feel like you probably had to figure that out with 50 shades of gray, right?

Yeah. That was another thing. It was like, okay, this project. It's a big project. I'm signing on. And now I have to give up control. And now I'm in this. And this is going to be a lot of years of my life.

And I've got to figure out how to. Yeah, that was a wild journey. Very, very interesting. That was another version of signing on to something that was one thing, and it turned out to be another. But I'm so grateful. I was going to say, with time, how do you look at it now? I mean, I'm so grateful for that experience. The first movie with Sam Taylor Johnson directing was really extraordinary, as an experience extraordinary.

And I think the movie is as a good version of it as it could be. Yeah. But it was challenging. Like, it was, I signed on to a script that was different than what we ended up shooting. Right. Written by a different person. It was, you know, and then you're attached. Right.

Signed a contract, so you're in. Signed on to do it with a different actor. It was like a different thing. And then it all changed. And I was... just in it and um but it was so i was so young i was i think i turned 24 while we were shooting wow and i was so like brave i just feel proud of myself for being brave and being um interested in like i don't know it just felt wild and and it also like there were no

intimacy coordinators then or anything like that that was not that long ago too like that a lot has changed. Yeah. Yeah. And there was an expectation of just like figure it out yourself in real time in front of everyone. It's intense. Yeah. It was a lot. Who has been your favorite director, someone that you just think, you know, you've worked with a lot of great directors and a lot of great actors? Who's someone when you think about you think that was just that experience was so good. I loved it. I've had that a lot and I've had the opposite. a lot. Yeah. But I loved Celine's song.

She is... I love her. I'm so excited about this movie. A spectacular director. So people who don't know, she wrote and directed past lives with Greta Lee a few years ago and she is the... Did she write your new film or just...

She wrote and directed. The materialist. It's her second film and it is coming out. It's actually, I mean it's the reason why you're here. Let's be honest. That's true. It is June 13th. cute, June 13th. I've been trained. Tell me why you love Celine. She's an incredible director. She's amazing. She comes, well, her, she has a, her background is, she's a playwright. And I think there's a different sort of control that she has over what she wants, which is really such a relief.

Like, it's nice to work with somebody who knows exactly what they want from every single frame of the movie. I was like, oh, yes. Do you think she's, you mean she's had it in her head, she's like storyboarded it in her head, or she's just able to communicate what she wants emotionally? She's able to communicate what she wants emotionally. And we spent a couple months going through every line of the script. And she was like, what she means here is this.

And what do you think about, like we just talked about it. We talked through everything. And then on the day, we, it was like we had one brain. Have you ever directed? I have directed a short that Blake was in, actually. Do you want to do more? I would, yeah.

Yeah. Do you want to direct primarily? I like it right now more than acting, for sure. I think about you for things all the time. Really? We should we work on together? I love that. I have something that I think you would love.

Email it to me right now. I'll read it. Okay. I'll email it to you later. Okay, great. That would be so fun. love to work with you. I mean, I feel, well, we should talk about materialists because it is a movie about, you know, two men being in love with you. Congratulations on your first

documentary. Thank you. Well, Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans, and you, what is the movie about? The movie is about a woman who's a matchmaker in New York City, which is funny because Celine was a matchmaker in New York City for six months. This is where the movie comes from. She did it on the side to pay the bills because she was like a struggling playwright. So I play Lucy, who's the matchmaker, and she's just the best at her job and really good at sort of assigning people as mates based on pretty surface level criteria, like height and income and hairline. Like that's what people. are out there looking for. It's not about a soul connection. It's about like, do you, do you tick my boxes of what I want, what I think my life should look like? And she then kind of goes on her own journey of, what you would think is that she doesn't really have, she's not really invest in people's souls, but you realize she is and she cares about these people that she's working with and how their lives turn out and if they're happy. And then she,

has to kind of figure out for herself what is more important really truly in this life. Is it to achieve the life that you think you want? Or is it to actually be seen and loved? It's interesting. You say that because it feels like, oh, of course you want to be. Right? Of course. You want to be seen and loved. But there is something about in life how relationships help you get some get to be some version of yourself that you want like whether it's you want to be you want to have kids or you want to be married or you want to live in france or whatever is the version of the thing of your fantasy of your life relationships help you get that and you're right sometimes it's a trade off like i get this thing but i don't get this thing or i feel seen but

and loved but the person doesn't fit into some version of my dream life yeah or my ideal whatever what do when you have to do sex scenes like How do you psych yourself up for that? Amy, I don't have to. You don't? I'm like always psyched up for sex. You're psyched up. Yeah.

Fuck yeah. Siked up? Is that a thing? What do you mean? You have to like take off. But you know, like, today you're like 7.30 a.m. Let's do it. Like that's a lot.

It's hard. Let's go to pound town. Let's go to pound town. Everybody. Let's get the lights in here. It's a lot. Oh, God. You're psyched.

I recently did a movie a few months ago, and we had an intimacy coordinator on set, and it was the first time I've ever worked with one. And she was really great. It was so cool. What is she bad? Because I'm so used to just, you know, like, it's a sex scene. It's not like sexy. It doesn't feel. Most people don't know.

I'm being serious. Like, I'm not, like, no. A fake sex scene is a complete, it's like being an astronaut. Like, so few people have done it. That's really true. You're right. I'm sorry. It's okay.

It's not, you know. Okay. Let me, you want me to explain? Of course. Okay. So, a sex scene. Hold on. I got to write, I'm going to get this down.

You're going to take notes. Go ahead. When two actors pretend that they're having sex. Yeah. And you do all the things except have sex. Right. And you have to make sounds like you're having sex. Right.

And you're not yet. Yet. So when you approach a scene, you're like, today is the day. You don't feel stress. You feel like, how do you feel about it? And then what was the difference with this coordinator? it made it different? Because you're right.

You've done a lot and you know how to handle yourself during it, I guess, is what you're saying. Yeah. Well, first, I think it depends on, like, who is the character and who's the character supposed to be to the audience? Is she, like, a super idolized hot girl? Is she, like, a housewife? Is she lonely? Is she scared?

Is she conservative? You know, like, it doesn't... So that's obviously a character. worked or work. But then, so like certain prep, I guess, would go into it. Like, I want to feel good in my body. Yeah. If I'm showing my body, I've never felt, um, like my mom raised me to be really, really proud of my body and, and love my body. So I've always felt so grateful for that, especially in my work, because I can use it and it feels like real. How did she do that? Because I think a lot of mothers want to make sure they do that for their daughters, but they don't know how to do that in practice. Would it be the way she would speak about it with you? Or was there other ways that she made you feel that way? I think it was the way she spoke about it with me. And also, she was very, like, honest and open about body stuff and, like, getting my period. You know, like, really good.

about it. And like I have friends whose mothers never spoke to them about that stuff. And it's so hard and sad. Just got very warm on my lap. She may have peed on me. Oh my gosh, Tokyo. But I don't think so. It's okay. And listeners, Tokyo, not me. If you're not watching. It just got very warm on my lap. Amy peed on me. It was not me. Um, so, uh, she also talked to me about sex and like how precious and important and to you know whatever so i guess in my in my work i i i it's something that i feel brave with yeah and that i feel when it's when it's used the right way in a story it's important so i've always just like done the simulated sex but now with the intimacy coordinator was like do you want a pilates ball between you guys

for the thrusting movement. Just to get some core workout. And I was like, what? But then we're going to be like so far away from each other. And I was not, and we didn't end up using that. But a lot of it also is like, there are times when I've done a sex scene where I'm by myself, because I'm only in the frame. So I'm just like, like, gyrating on my own and moaning.

And looking at a tennis ball off camera. Yeah. Exactly. Or, like, slamming myself into a headboard. And then on the other side of the camera is, like, just a bunch of crew guys smoking cigarettes. Yeah, with their heads down. Okay, but I'm going to ask you a bunch of things very quickly. This is like a speed round, and I want you to tell me your thoughts.

Okay. Tokyo has woken up. Oh, wait, Tokyo's coming up. Oh, hi. Okay. Olivia Coleman. The best human on the planet. On the planet.

Yes. The film you guys did together isn't so good. Lost Daughters. So great. Oh, she's amazing. Just seems smart and funny and cool. She is the funniest person and so much fun. Yeah.

So much fun. Okay. And you love reading. I love reading. I do too. Do you have a number of books you try to read a year? Like, do you try to? My bedside table right now is maybe 27 books.

It's ridiculous. Great. They're just piles and piles of books. books that I'm trying to get through. A lot of them are like therapy books. And then stop it. And then I'm fired. I don't work for you anymore. I mean, this is exactly. I mean, this is what always happens, right? Is like, animals are super cute. And then they're animals. They can't help it. I mean, look how cute this dog is. I think you should get a puppy. Absolutely. I would rather get a kick in the face. A case of snakes than a puppy.

No. Dumb. And then, oh, Tokyo, you are very cute, though. You're very cute. I talked to you about Olivia Coleman. I have written down here, work-life balance. Right now I'm just scratching Tokyo. Okay. This dog is winning me over. This dog is. is really nice. I know. She's very nice. Go wee-wees.

Don't tell her to go we-wee-wee. Go-wee-wee. Go-wee-be-be-pe-be-ha. What are you listening to right now watching, checking out? That's like, when you want to check out and laugh, where do you go? What do you listen to you? Okay, this is a very weird thing that I've been doing. Okay, great.

Love it. I don't watch reality television. Same. I barely watch it. But I have found a show called Farmer Wants a Wife. Have you heard of it? No. Oh my God. It's a nightmare. Please tell me. It's a nightmare. Okay. A farmer like scrolls through a list of women and picks eight of them. They all come. There's four farmers. Okay. Eight women per farmer. Eight women per farmer? Yes. Then they go on a speed Speed date. Ten minutes per woman. Okay. And do they speed date on a farm or in like a studio? In like a barn set. Yeah. And then they see if they have a connection. And then he has to choose five women to bring back to his farm and date them all for six weeks. Oh my God. It's insane. First of all, I'm just horrified by the amount he gets to pick from. He gets to pick from five.

It's ridiculous. And do they, and is a lot of his choosing about what kind of, like, how is she going to help me with the farm? That's the crazy thing is he makes them do a lot of manual labor. This is nuts. And I'm like, what is going on? Well, he wants a wife. He wants a wife. Farmer wants a wife.

And they're like, you know, I really like that she's from the city, but I don't know how she'll do out on the tractor. It's so, I don't know what accent that was. I don't know where that farmer's from. That's your dialect coach. He's coming back, your nine-year-old. Yeah. Call her up. Yeah.

Whoa. Okay. And what do you like about watching it? Do you like because you're outraged by it? Yes. And I can't stop. I feel really uncomfortable, like deeply uncomfortable. But then I keep going. And do you get invested? Like, who is he going to pick? Yeah. And has there ever been any of the amount? There's drama between the girls, of course. Yeah. Do they sabotage each other at all? Like they definitely talk some shit. And they like gang up on each other. And some of them are just, they're just nuts. Yeah. And some of them are like, I'm like, oh, they'd be a good watch. I really get along. Do you ever get a vibe like, wow, they're going to be together. Sometimes. Like, it's a good match.

Farmer wants a wife. Okay. Dakota, thank you so much for doing this. Thanks for having me. Thank you for coming on your first podcast. That means a lot. And you are so great. And I just so appreciate you coming.

Thank you for having me. And Tokyo, thank you for coming. You're our one and only dog because we have to put a sign up outside after this. This is I'm so There's a lot going on Dakota thank you again Thank you

I loved spending the day with you Thank you I loved it Yay Let's do it every day Woohoo Okay that was really That was a great interview

Dakota is so fun and funny And she did bring a dog And I just I just want to say I love animals I think you should adopt animals from shelters I had a dog for a long time.

So don't let my resistance to having a dog on the podcast lead you astray. And speaking of strays, there's a lot of strays to adopt. So please adopt an animal today. But maybe just check with your boss about whether or not you should bring that animal to work. Because, you know, the answer might be no. But just please no. I just love animals. And Tokyo, thank you for coming on the podcast.

And we'll check in with you next time. Bye. You've been listening to Good Hang. The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and me, Amy Poehler. The show is produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite. For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaya Mickmullen, and Alea Zanaris. for Paper Kite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss Berman. Original music by Amy Miles.