Dakota Johnson made a surprise return to Saturday Night Live during the show’s latest episode.
The actress joined Lily Allen for her musical guest performance on the Dec. 13 episode. Josh O’Connor served as host for the evening.
Johnson appeared in character as Madeline from Allen’s song of the same name. The track comes from Allen’s latest album, West End Girl.
The Performance
Allen performed “Madeline” with Johnson sitting behind a sheer curtain on stage. The song tells the story of a woman confronting another woman who slept with her husband.
Johnson stepped out from behind the curtain before the song finished. She delivered lines as the character Madeline while Allen sang.
“I hate that you’re in so much pain right now … He told me that you were aware this was going on and that he had your full consent,” Johnson said as Madeline.
“If he’s lying about that, then please let me know. Because I have my own feelings about dishonesty. Lies are not something that I wanna get caught up in.”
Johnson kissed Allen on the cheek and the pair hugged to close the performance. Johnson has hosted SNL twice before.
Allen’s Personal Album
Allen also performed “Sleepwalking” from West End Girl during her appearance. The album draws from her split from actor David Harbour.
The lyrics detail relationship frustrations. Allen sings about trusting someone who wasn’t honest and feeling blamed for problems in the marriage.
PEOPLE confirmed Allen and Harbour separated in February after four years of marriage.
“Her marriage has been crumbling, and they have split,” an insider told PEOPLE at the time.
The Relationship Timeline
Allen and Harbour first sparked romance rumors in 2019. The Stranger Things actor and the “Smile” musician married in Las Vegas in 2020.
Allen’s two daughters from her previous marriage to Sam Cooper joined the ceremony.
Allen released West End Girl in October. The album features lyrics inspired by her marriage breakdown, though Allen has said some songs are written “in character.”
She told Perfect Magazine the words “could be considered autofiction” – a genre mixing autobiography and fiction.
Album Themes
West End Girl explores themes around open relationships and trust. Allen described the record as documenting her life in a new city and the events that led to where she is now.
Song titles include “Pussy Palace” and “Nonmonogamummy.”
The album features lyrics about exploring an open relationship despite hesitation. Allen sings about learning the arrangement wasn’t what she initially thought.
Saturday Night Live airs weekends on NBC.
