Dakota Johnson has a question: Where is the Ms. Rachel for grown-ups who could use a little help understanding sex?
In an interview with CNN’s Fiona Sinclair Scott, the actor and Maude co-creative director floated the idea while discussing whether onscreen sexual discovery translates into understanding our own desires.
“I don’t know, does there need to be like a Miss Rachel for sex ed?” Johnson asked.
Consider it a pitch for a different kind of continuing education.
Johnson’s question followed a conversation about Pillion, which she praised for its depiction of sexual discovery. Films can open up conversations, she suggested, but she questioned whether viewers carry those lessons into their own lives.
The distinction matters: Watching a character figure out what turns them on is one experience. Finding the words to explain what you want to a partner is another.
From Maude to the Sex Ed Classroom
Johnson’s interest in sexual wellness extends beyond the screen. She joined Maude as an investor and co-creative director in November 2020, with a role spanning creative direction, product development and initiatives focused on sustainability and education.
“Sexual wellness is a fundamental human right,” Johnson said in the announcement. Her stated ambitions included making quality products more accessible and weaving education into the company’s work.
In the CNN interview, Johnson said she had considered starting her own sexual wellness brand before being introduced to Maude founder Éva Goicochea. Existing brands, she explained, often struck her as tacky or diminishing toward female sexuality.
Goicochea also emphasized the need for education throughout adulthood, as people continue learning about intimacy at different stages of their lives.
An adult version of that classroom could leave room for questions about pleasure, communicating boundaries and navigating changes in desire—without treating uncertainty as something embarrassing.
Johnson’s Ms. Rachel remark was a question, rather than a programming announcement. But the premise has appeal: clear explanations, a welcoming teacher and permission to ask the basic questions.
Some of us would happily do the homework.