Dakota Johnson is opening up about the rocky start to her acting career — and the moment her father, Don Johnson, cut her off financially. In a candid interview with Elle UK, the Fifty Shades of Grey star revealed she was denied admission to Juilliard, the only college she applied to, which led to her being taken off the "family payroll."

“I didn’t get in and my dad cut me off because I didn’t go to college,” Johnson, 35, told co-star Pedro Pascal. “For a couple of years, it was hard to make money.”

The actress recalled struggling to pay rent and even buy groceries early on, despite eventually landing a small role in The Social Network at 19. Raised in a globe-trotting, unconventional environment, Johnson said college never felt like the right fit. Her perseverance paid off — she’s since built a successful career on her own terms.