The Surprising Connection Between Marilyn Monroe and Dakota Johnson

A genealogy deep-dive has connected two Hollywood eras in an unexpected way. Ancestry records now show Dakota Johnson shares a bloodline with the legendary star she's about to portray on screen.

Dakota Johnson and Marilyn Monroe apparently share more than a résumé full of iconic film roles — they're actual family, according to genealogists.

Dakota Johnson at The 16th Governors Awards held at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on November 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

The "Materialists" actress is set to star in a new short film centered on the Hollywood legend, which is scheduled to premiere at the 2026 Venice Film Festival this fall.

Researchers at MyHeritage, an online genealogy platform, uncovered the link and detailed it in a recent press release. "Their shared heritage traces back to Richard [Tydings] and Charity Tydings, 17th-century English settlers in Maryland," the statement read.

"Marilyn descends from their daughter Pretitia, while Dakota and [her father] Don Johnson descend from her younger sister, Mary," it continued. Put simply, Johnson and Monroe turn out to be ninth cousins three times removed, based on a family tree the organization compiled.

Marilyn Monroe poses for a portrait in circa 1952. | Source: Getty Images

MyHeritage also shared what sparked the search for a familial tie between the two stars in the first place.

"With a new film bringing Marilyn Monroe back into the spotlight, our research team wanted to see whether there was a deeper family connection," researcher Naama Lanski said in a statement.

"Discovering that Dakota Johnson and Marilyn Monroe are related turns the casting into a real-life family story."

Dakota Johnson attends the 2026 Time100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 23 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Johnson will portray one of two versions of Monroe in Maggie Gyllenhaal's short film "Flesh Impact." Ellen Burstyn will bring to life "a version of Monroe the world never got to see," while Johnson will embody the star at the peak of her fame.

A press release for the project described it as "a love letter to one of cinema's most enduring icons," adding that "the film honors Marilyn Monroe's singular power to challenge convention and captivate the world across generations."

Marilyn Monroe poses for a portrait in circa 1953. | Source: Getty Images

Late last month, fans were stunned by the first images of Johnson's transformation into the "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" star.

Her long brunette hair and bangs were gone, replaced by Monroe's signature blonde curls — along with the beauty mark the icon wore just above her lips.

"Flesh Impact" is set to debut in honor of what would have been Monroe's 100th birthday, with her estate reportedly giving its blessing to the project. The short is presented by auto brand Genesis.

Rounding out the cast alongside Johnson and Burstyn are Peter Sarsgaard — Gyllenhaal's Emmy-nominated husband, known for films like "Shattered Glass" and "September 5" — and Sepideh Moafi of "The Pitt."

"With Flesh Impact, we showcase the timeless icon we know and love through a modern lens that reclaims her story," she added.

Monroe was just 36 when she died in 1962. She was discovered at her Los Angeles home on August 5, and her death was ruled a barbiturate overdose.

More than six decades later, her influence on film continues to resonate with new generations of moviegoers around the world — and to draw those with the means to keep revisiting and reimagining her story.