Dakota Johnson: 'Fifty Shades Is Just A Love Story'

Dakota Johnson has described Fifty Shades Of Grey as "an incredible love story".

The actress daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith is playing the lead role of Anastasia Steele in the movie version of EL James' steamy novel.

And she says that beneath all the bondage and kinkiness there's a good old fashioned love story.

"I just really understand it," she told Entertainment Weekly. "I think it's an incredible love story and that's why it's affected so many people.

"[EL James] did a really good job of explaining how that just can happen sometimes and you have this chemical pull to someone.

"Adding in the sex makes it perfect. Sometimes you feel a little bit naughty and that's okay."

She also confessed that she had been desperate to land the part.

"[When I got the call and] they said 'You got the offer' and I couldn't speak," she said.

"I was just so relieved. I was crying and crying. Water was literally squirting out of my eyes because I had been so stressed out.

"And there's this giant Doberman Pincher laying on the bed next to me. And he just slowly fell asleep. It was so special and [this dog] didn't give a f**k about me and what I was going through."

The first pictures of Johnson and co-star Jamie Dornan in character were released last week.