Dakota Johnson Shows Off Her Sexy Side: Check Out the Fifty Shades of Grey Star's Hottest Pics!

Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Art of Elysium

That's a mighty fine color on you, Dakota Johnson.

The actress can come off as a little shy at first glance (perfect for Anastasia Steele), but the 23-year-old has a fiery, sexy side as well (perfect for Anastasia Steele post-Christian Grey).

Whether she's getting cheeky on a windowsill in a tiny pair of underwear or strutting a gorgeous gown on the red carpet, Johnson embodies all the traits needed to bring the lead character from the erotic Fifty Shades of Grey books to the big screen.

LOOK: Meet the stars of Fifty Shades of Grey

Though Johnson's participation in the adaptation has received mixed reactions (an online petition asks that she be replaced by Alexis Bledel), the former Ben & Kate mom, Melanie Griffith, was ready to defend her daughter.

"My beautiful child Dakota has been chosen to play Anna Steele in 50 Shades!!! Look out world!" Griffith, 56, tweeted on Monday, Sept. 2. "Here she comes!!! #proudmama."

Judging by these sexy pics, Dakota's going to do just fine.

(E! and Universal Pictures are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

PHOTOS: Take a look at all of Dakota Johnson's sexy pics!

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Scarlett Johansson's Engagement Ring—Spotlight on the Star's Vintage Bling

Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Bling bling!

Congratulations are in order for the lovely Scarlett Johannson and her handsome French journalist fiancé Romain Dauric, and she's got the incredible diamond ring to prove it!

The actress flaunted her sparkly token of affection on her ring finger at the Venice Film Festival while promoting her latest film, Under the Skin, and we couldn't take our eyes off that rock!

Now this is what we call love!

The gorgeous Art Deco ring is certainly impressive and unlike anything we've seen before in recent celebrity engagements. 

NEWS: See Ashley Tisdale's enormous diamond ring

Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images for Maserati

The beautiful design has an ornate vintage-inspired vibe to it, featuring three round-cut diamonds laid vertically to create an eye-catching rectangular shape.

Scarlett has always differentiated herself from the Hollywood set with her unspoken charm and undeniable beauty, so it's only fitting that her engagement ring is just as rare and retro-inspired.

While we've seen enormous diamond baubles on Ashley Tisdale and Teresa Palmer in recent weeks, but we have to say we're suddenly smitten with pieces that reflect a bit of old-fashioned elegance like Scarlett's stunner.

Similarly, Kate Bosworth showed off her new dazzling wedding bands this week, which also echo the same aesthetic sentiment. 

What do you think of Scarlett Johansson's engagement ring?

PHOTOS: See celebrity engagement rings 

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Why This Is the Best Dancing With the Stars Cast Ever (Plus, Our Pick for the Season 17 Winner)

ABC/Craig Sjodin

Welcome to the best season of Dancing With the Stars ever.

Unlike past seasons, where the best we could say is that it could always be worse, this season we're saying it couldn't get any better! Sure, if you're going to get technical, it could be better, if any big stars actually signed on to compete. Angelina Jolie, you wanna cha-cha? 

But this season has working actors who are currently relevant. And that's close enough! Which brings us to our first, possibly most controversial point: Is Amber Riley the most "famous" star the show has had?

PHOTOS: Check out the hottest Dancing With the Stars contestants ever

We're using star in the classical Hollywood sense of the word here. Someone with a bankable talent, who has (recently) worked in something (fairly) legit. Amber was a series regular on one of the most popular shows of the decade, Glee, for three seasons and was reoccurring for one more.

Sure, it's a slippery slop into obscurity when you're written off of Glee, but Amber's character, Mercedes, hasn't been, technically. She's returning for at least one more episode in the upcoming season, with the possibility of being in more left open. Plus, even if she were officially written off, her show was on within the past year. That's more than most other contestants who can say.

Anyway, it's something to think about. 

As far as nonstar stars, the bread and butter of the DWTS world, Snooki is more relevant than most reality stars that have competed on the show. She has her own series on MTV and a handful of other moneymaking enterprises. She's someone we still talk about and not because she was the latest victim of a death hoax. Or because she died.

NEWS: Dancing With the Stars' Anna Trebunskaya pregnant with first child!

As for stars of the past and the general category of "miscellaneous" persons that DWTS curates, this season banks fairly newsworthy people: Valerie Harper will be one to watch and will surely make it past at least the first elimination, with America guaranteed to root for her in light of her recent battle with brain cancer (which is now close to being in remission).

And Leah Remini, who this summer has single handedly taken on Scientology. Perhaps she can reenact her dramatic exit from the church via an interpretive dance? That's on our wish list, for sure.

And the biggest get of all: Bill Nye, the Science Guy!

Can you believe Bill Nye is going to be on Dancing With the Stars?!!!

NEWS: Valerie Harper is competing on DWTS—is it too much?

Now, for some early predictions. Please...

First Eliminated: Bill Engvall. Though the comedian probably has quite a few fans in Middle America, we're expect that his dance moves (or lack there of) will lead him to an early demise.

Most Dramatic: Elizabeth Berkley. We're basically expecting a toned-down version of Showgirls. Look alive, FCC.

Biggest Surprise: Snooki. While she may be best known for grinding on guido gorilla juiceheads in the club, Snooki has a history in cheer and dance that we think will serve her well.

Winner: Bill Nye

What? We can dream, right?!

Real Top Three:

3. Christina Milian

2. Keyshawn Johnson

Winner: Corbin Bleau

Pop star, football player, former Disney kid. It basically predicts itself.

PHOTOS: Check out the entire cast of Dancing With the Stars, Season 17

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Beecher woman among 4-H stars at Will County Fair

Linda Scharnhorst, a couple generations of offspring, and young Beecher neighbors were gathered at the west end of the horse barn at the Will County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, talking about hay making.

Then, the subject of her induction into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame at the recent Illinois State Fair came up.

She's been described as a long-time leader of the Prairie 4-H Club in the Beecher area. "Thirty-one years," she recalls.

"It's longer than that, Mom," said daughter, Courtney Selucky, "Thirty-three."

Maybe so, Scharnhorst admits. "I went through it with all my kids and started on the grandkids."

"I was shocked to get the award," she said of the honor. "I never thought about that. I just enjoy working with kids and their projects. I believe there is a project for every kid and most of them succeed."

She, her husband, Don, and their daughters have helped those kids succeed and that's a major part of what county fairs are all about.

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Beecher woman among 4-H stars at Will County Fair

Linda Scharnhorst, a couple generations of offspring, and young Beecher neighbors were gathered at the west end of the horse barn at the Will County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, talking about hay making.

Then, the subject of her induction into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame at the recent Illinois State Fair came up.

She's been described as a long-time leader of the Prairie 4-H Club in the Beecher area. "Thirty-one years," she recalls.

"It's longer than that, Mom," said daughter, Courtney Selucky, "Thirty-three."

Maybe so, Scharnhorst admits. "I went through it with all my kids and started on the grandkids."

"I was shocked to get the award," she said of the honor. "I never thought about that. I just enjoy working with kids and their projects. I believe there is a project for every kid and most of them succeed."

She, her husband, Don, and their daughters have helped those kids succeed and that's a major part of what county fairs are all about.

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Cyclists raise money for Sandy relief under the stars

LONG BRANCH — With the view of the Atlantic Ocean in front and a starlit, evening sky above them, nearly 200 spin-cycling enthusiasts entertained passers-by on the boardwalk at Pier Village last night with a high-intensity workout to raise money for Sandy relief and diabetes research.

Billed as Cycling Under the Stars, the event was hosted and led by fitness instructor Franci Cohen and Gold?s Gym in Long Branch. Participating cyclists and event sponsors raised $8,000 for the Hurricane Sandy NJ Relief Fund and the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure.

Cohen, who teaches fitness classes at gyms in Brooklyn and Long Branch, helped attendees work up a sweat for their causes with a routine that included simulated mountain climbs, downhill racing and weight-lifting.

The beat of pop and dance music pumped. Glowing neon lights flashed. Fog crept across the stage.

?Spinning is a very popular exercise ... many people love to ride,? Cohen said. ?To ride outdoors is fantastic, but under the stars, even more so.

?To do it for a great cause, one that specifically affects New Jersey itself, Hurricane Sandy relief, what could be better than that?? she said.

One hundred stationary bikes were set up on the boardwalk for two, one-hour sessions held Tuesday evening. The cost of each session was $36.

?It?s an intense spin,? said 17-year Red Bank Catholic senior Margaret Rooney of Brielle. ?We go hard.?

Rooney and a group of seven friends turned up for the opportunity to train with Cohen and kick in some funds to the two causes.

?She (Cohen) is a really great teacher but she is very tough to keep pace with,? said Ronette Mansour, 21, a summer resident of Long Branch.

Heavy rainfall during the day almost forced the organizers to hold the event indoors. But the rain clouds dispersed in time for the 8 p.m. kick-off.

?It couldn?t be more perfect. We spoke at one o?clock and it looked like it was going to clear up and be a cool night. And it turned out to be very comfortable for the event, not too hot or muggy,? said Mark Steinfield, owner of Gold?s Gym at Pier Village.

Event sponsors were Jersey Pump, Fuel and Danskin.

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Video: "Blue Jasmine" stars on working with Woody Allen

"Blue Jasmine" stars on working with Woody Allen 2:23 July 23, 2013

"Blue Jasmine" stars on working with Woody AllenCate Blanchett leads an all-star cast in Woody Allen's latest drama, "Blue Jasmine." At the film's New York premiere, Blanchett and her co-stars, Andrew Dice Clay and Peter Sarsgaard, spoke to CBSNews.com's Ken Lombardi about working with the legendary director.

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