Showing us all exactly what post break-up revenge looks like, Dakota Johnson has spent the last months flirting, holidaying, hanging out with her gal pals and generally appearing to have a really good time following her split from Chris Martin.
Last week, the Fifty Shades star was pictured looking stunning in a white bikini as she laughed with pal Kate Hudson aboard a yacht in Ibiza, where the pair had also spent an evening dining with Ricky Martin at a local restaurant.
And their girls’ trip comes just weeks after we recently reported how Dakota has already found herself the centre of attention amid a circle of eligible bachelors, including her Materialists co-star, Pedro Pascal.
The actress, 35, is reportedly the one to have ended their eight-year romance, with insiders later alleging that Chris’ reluctance to set a wedding date had been the root cause.
But now it seems the tables may have turned for ‘commitment phobe’ Chris, 48, with a source now telling Closer how the Coldplay frontman has been left feeling pretty sorry for himself as the Splitsville actress continues to show him exactly what he’s missing.
And now they say that the iconic celebrity couple could be set to reunite if Dakota agrees to give Chris another chance.
The insider tells us, ‘Chris is absolutely lost without her. He didn’t realise how much he depended on Dakota until she walked away, and now he’s struggling in a big way.
‘He’s been trying to call her, sending messages, trying to start things back up but she’s not really responding the way he’d hoped.
‘He’s been pouring his heart out to mutual friends, asking what he can do to fix things. He’s doing anything he can to get back in her good graces and is begging for one more shot.’
Chris and Dakota were first linked back in 2017 – three years after Chris’ split from ex-wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he shares Apple, 21, and Moses, 19, and their romance was later confirmed by Dakota’s mum, Melanie Griffith who admitted, ‘I adore him!’
The smitten couple’s families then blended together, with Dakota gushing that she loves Chris’ children ‘like my life depended on it’. Gwyneth returned the compliment, gushing, ‘I love her'.
According to insiders, Chris also popped The Question ‘years ago’.
However, the duo appear to have been ‘on/off’ on several occasions due to their conflicting work commitments, with insiders revealing after their split that Chris had, for reasons unknown, refused to set a date for the Big Day.
Fans later praised Dakota for being ‘brave’ to end their romance, with one commenting, ‘If Martin didn't want to set a date then good for her to keep it moving...she has a right to be married and consider children if so inclined. Letting go is the smartest thing she's ever done.’
But the source says that, despite his reluctance to tie the knot for a second time, the insider says Chris had assumed that he and Dakota would get back together.
They say, ‘They’ve broken up before and always gotten back together, that’s their pattern. Chris is having a hard time accepting that won’t be the case this time. If he had his way, they’d already be back together. But she’s not budging.
‘Chris thought she’d come running back like before, but no. It’s even harder because she’s not staying home in hiding, she's out there living her best life and being very unapologetic about it.
‘She’s focused on her career, her friendships, and enjoying this new chapter solo. She’s loving the time on her own. Traveling with friends and not having to answer to anyone, it’s very freeing.’
Chris first prompted speculation that the pair’s split may not be permanent when it was reported that he’d encouraged fans to go and see Dakota’s latest movie.
‘Be kind to yourself, be kind to each other. Don’t forget to see Materialists. We love you!’ he shouted into a crowd in California, just days before their break up was made public.
And now the source says Chris is so heartbroken that he’ll do almost anything to get Dakota back. So much so, that they say he’s made a complete U-turn and is determined to set a wedding date once and for all if she’ll give him one last chance.
The insider says, ‘Dakota living her best life is definitely rubbing salt in the wound. He’s heartbroken, barely sleeping, and convinced he made the biggest mistake of his life by letting her go.
‘He says he’ll marry her this year if she gives him the chance. He’s even pleading his case with her family, saying he’s serious about making things right. He knows he hurt her by being so noncommittal before, but he swears that’s changed.’
And the source says a promise to be her future husband could win over Dakota, who they say still ‘really loves him’.
‘Marriage was a big sticking point for Dakota so it’s certainly possible that will do the trick,’ the insider says.
‘If marriage is genuinely on the table, that could change everything. One of Dakota’s frustrations is that she always felt like she was giving more in the relationship but now it’s Chris doing the chasing and making all the effort, it’s totally reversed.
‘She does share a lot of history with him, and no doubt she really loves him. She has said many times he’s her soul mate so it’s very possible that she’ll find it too hard to hold out.’
But after being burned before, the source says Dakota is likely to make Chris work hard and prove to her that his promises are not just hot air as a result of her showing him she can live without him.
They say, ‘If Dakota does take him back it won’t be right away. She’s having a great summer, she’s not looking to rush back and if there’s any chance at all to win her back, he’s going to have to prove this isn’t just a phase.
‘She’s been burned before, and she’s not interested in repeating the same mistakes. But if Chris shows up consistently and proves he’s serious, a reunion isn’t off the table.’