Jackson Lee / Splash NewsThere she is!
Dakota Johnson has been keeping a low profile since Charlie Hunnam abruptly dropped out of Fifty Shades of Grey last weekend—so low, in fact, that she's managed to avoid the paparazzi for days. The 23-year-old leading lady hasn't been hiding out at home, however. E! News has learned that the actress stepped out for lunch at Brick + Mortar in Santa Monica, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 17.
"She came in with a blond friend around the same age as her. She was wearing a three-quarter-length top, black jeans and flat shoes," a source says. "She had her hair in a ponytail and no makeup on."
Johnson ordered a kale salad and sat outside in the patio area. "She was in a really good mood, cheerful and laughing," the source says. "It seemed like she was really enjoying the conversations with her friend."
What a difference five days can make. Not long after Hunnam back out of the film, a source told E! News that Johnson also had reservations about the project. "Dakota is having a very hard time dealing with all the press," the source explained. "When she first got the role, it was way too much for her."
As producers scramble to replace Hunnam—the list of potential replacements grows longer by the day—Johnson is doing her best to stay positive. Her lunch outing is an example of that, as People noted. During the meal, the mag said, she "appeared to be in great spirits" and was "laughing easily."
Fifty Shades of Grey begins shooting in November.