It turns out generational differences aren’t just being noted in the corporate world, it’s happening in Tinseltown as well. At least, that’s if you ask millennial actress Dakota Johnson.
While promoting her latest film, Madame Web, the Fifty Shades of Grey star has spoken warmly of her younger costars but has been open about the distinction between herself and her Gen Z colleagues.
Also working on the Sony project is 26-year-old Sydney Sweeney, 25-year-old Celeste O’Connor, and 22-year-old Isabela Merced, often pictured walking red carpets together during the press tour for the superhero movie.
When asked by Seth Meyers on his late-night talk show how Johnson liked working with the Gen Zers, she responded: “I love them. And they annoy me.” Meyers asked if her annoyance was on a “generational level,” to which she agreed.
“I love them,” she repeated multiple times, adding she felt the oldest “all the time … like every second of the day. I’m not that much older than them.”
The actor—and daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson—added her younger castmates made sure she was “well aware” of the age difference. Johnson told E! News she had a “sisterly dynamic” with her younger team members, who left her out of a Gen Z group chat. “I don’t think they include me,” she said.
Widely seen differences
Johnson, who has also starred in films such as The Peanut Butter Falcon and Our Friend, is highlighting some of the many widely noted workplace differences between younger workers and their older counterparts—with Lloyds Bank revealing yesterday how highly Gen Z value their independence from the wider workforce.
The Lloyds study of 1,500 people found 80% of those surveyed want to launch their own business so they no longer have to answer to a boss. And compared with other generations, Gen Z—born between the late 1990s and early 2000s—are confident in their success, with 73% saying they were optimistic about their odds of going it alone.
Financial independence is the top reason cited by Gen Z freelancers for wanting to work for themselves, along with flexibility to focus more on hobbies and passions. They’re also not looking to traditional channels for advice on how to get the ball rolling. Lloyds Bank data found 26% of Gen Z are getting inspiration from TikTok for starting their own companies, and are nearly three times as likely (27% vs. 11%) as other generations to turn to online content creators for guidance on how to succeed.
More widely, it’s clear younger employees have different intentions in what they want out of their careers. They’re open about prioritizing work-life balance and contributing to companies that have strong moral and ethical values.
But they’re also struggling: Gen Z (currently between ages 11 and 26) are more likely to call in sick on account of mental illness than Gen X counterparts 20 years their senior. They’re also realizing how tough it can be to get a job—and sometimes can’t afford the commute when they do.
‘They were close … I was always working’
Although clearly a fan of her younger colleagues, Johnson isn’t the first big name to discuss the divide between Gen Z actors and older counterparts. Jodie Foster said in January that younger actors are “really annoying” to work with, telling The Guardian: “They’re like, ‘Nah, I’m not feeling it today, I’m gonna come in at 10:30 a.m.’”
Johnson said she witnessed “great camaraderie” among Sweeney, O’Connor, and Merced, describing it as “sweet and wonderful.” In an interview with Capital FM this month Johnson added: “Those three ended up becoming really close. I was always on set working, and they did have some days off, so it was great when they would come in.” Elsewhere, the star has showered the younger trio with praise, commending their work ethic and talent.
Studies have illustrated Gen Z’s commitment to their work—though not necessarily with the same focus on the corporate ladder as their colleagues. Alongside millennials, Gen Z have built up major side-hustle roles earning them $1,505 a month on average, according to a recent study by LendingTree.
And a freelance job isn’t just something they’ve picked up for now—a commitment to earning for themselves is something they want in the long term. The LendingTree study shows 48% of respondents intend to keep up the side hustle indefinitely, regardless of whether they land a higher-paying role, achieve a certain level of savings, or pay off debt.
