Dakota Johnson says working with close friend Taylor Swift was great ahead of Patient Zero premiere
Dakota Johnson says working with longtime friend Taylor Swift turned out to be simple. The actor spoke ahead of the world premiere of Swift's "Patient Zero" music video on 27 September during the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. She stars in the video alongside Swift and Colin Farrell.
Swift also directed the video. Johnson discussed the project in a Fan Girl Nation interview recorded on 24 September alongside her Verity co-star Josh Hartnett, as reported by Billboard. She described Swift as a friend for a really long time and said the two are very close. They decided to work together. "It's great."
Johnson added that she usually advises against working with friends. This time was different. She said she and Swift work really well together.
"Patient Zero" is taken from The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, which arrives on 25 September. The expanded version adds new material to Swift's album The Life of a Showgirl and was announced earlier in the week. Swift confirmed on Thursday that the full video would debut during the VMAs on Sunday, as reported by Variety.
A 13-second teaser released on 24 September gave a first glimpse of Johnson and Farrell in character, according to People. A second preview was described as enigmatic in its presentation of the two co-stars. In an Instagram caption announcing the video, Swift wrote, "About a year ago, you guys did a truly unfathomable thing. Something that completely blew my mind," as reported by the Associated Press.
Johnson, 36, has been described as a low-key member of Swift's inner circle, in reporting by E! News. That friendship has largely stayed out of public view. The interview marks one of her fullest public comments on it.
The awards show that will host the premiere is organised by MTV to honour music videos and performances from the past year. The "Patient Zero" premiere is scheduled as a world premiere, meaning this will be the first public screening. Viewers will see the complete video directed by Swift for the first time on 27 September.
For fans, this means a rare overlap of roles. Johnson is stepping onto Swift's set, while Swift is working behind the camera as well as in front of it. With Farrell also cast, the video brings three screen careers into one short-form story built around the new track.
