Scarlett Johansson's Biography
Scarlett Johansson is a Hollywood actress who has starred in dozens of outstanding films. Her roles in movies such as "Lost in Translation," "Girl with a Pearl Earring," and "Match Point" have been recognized with prestigious awards.Childhood
Scarlett was born to Danish architect Karsten Johansson and housewife Melanie Sloan. She had a twin brother named Hunter, as well as an older brother and sister, Adrian and Vanessa. She was named after the heroine Scarlett O'Hara from "Gone with the Wind." The family lived in the heart of New York, in Manhattan. Scarlett's best friend was her maternal grandmother, accountant Dorothy Sloan. The Johanssons lived in an apartment complex for middle-income families, but they didn't consider themselves as such. "With four children, our parents relied on charity and received food stamps." This might have strained Melanie and Karsten's marriage. When Scarlett was 13, her mother moved to California with the older children, leaving her and her twin brother to live with their father. By that time, young actress Scarlett Johansson was already making a name for herself.Early Roles
Scarlett's parents tried introducing their children to the world of arts when they were still toddlers. The family took the twins to a commercial casting, but only their older brother Adrian caught the director's attention. However, this experience sparked a deep desire within young Scarlett to become an actress. Melanie, a die-hard film enthusiast with a particular love for musicals, supported her daughter's aspiration. When Scarlett turned 8, she was enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Manhattan. Initially placed in a group for gifted children, she showcased her skills so impressively within the first six months that she soon found the kids' circle too mundane and advanced to an adult group.In 1994, a 10-year-old Scarlett Johansson made her film debut in "North" alongside the budding actor Elijah Wood. In 1995, she worked with Sean Connery in "Just Cause," and in 1996 she played her first leading role in "Manny & Lo" (titled "Thieves" in the Russian release). Her performance earned her an Independent Spirit Award. Critics commented, "Scarlett radiates positive vibes. If she can navigate her teenage years without losing those vibes, she'll become a great actress." The talented young actress quickly carved a niche for herself in family-friendly roles: "Home Alone 3," which by then starred newcomer Alex D. Linz instead of Macaulay Culkin, "My Brother the Pig," where Scarlett shared the lead with Eva Mendes, and several similar projects. Scarlett Johansson's "child actor" phase culminated in the touching film "The Horse Whisperer" alongside Robert Redford. Portraying a girl who lost her leg in an accident, her performance was so genuine that Redford admitted the 13-year-old handled herself like a seasoned actress. However, to land this role, Scarlett was a bit mischievous. When Redford asked during the audition if she had ever ridden a horse, she replied, "Yes, of course!", referring to a toy rocking horse.
Acting Career
As time passed, Scarlett Johansson's roles deepened. The 2001 film "Ghost World" received a slew of praise, but only two of the three lead actors, Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi, received Golden Globe nominations, even though Johansson's character was equally beloved by audiences. The Coen brothers' film "The Man Who Wasn't There" made a strong impression on critics. The storyline between Billy Bob Thornton's character and young Birdy, played by Scarlett, received mixed reviews. However, Thornton was deeply impressed with their collaboration. Johansson's early filmography also had its odd moments, such as the horror film "Eight Legged Freaks", where her character had to fend off giant radioactive insects alongside Kari Wuhrer and David Arquette. 2003 was a pivotal year for the actress. On August 29th, Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation" hit the big screen. 19-year-old Scarlett played young Charlotte, who accompanies Bill Murray on a spontaneous trip through Tokyo. Sofia, the daughter of the famed Francis Ford Coppola, mentioned she chose Johansson for her unique, wise gaze, uncommon in young actresses, reminiscent of a 30-year-old woman. This heartfelt film about the challenges of adapting to a foreign country and the attraction between two very different people, united only by their shared language and a profound sense of loneliness, resonated with both critics and audiences, giving Johansson's career a significant boost. The premiere of Peter Webber's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" followed, introducing viewers to the story behind Johannes Vermeer's masterpiece. Colin Firth played the role of the Dutch painter, and Scarlett, according to the script, became the muse for the world-famous portrait. Thanks to "Girl with a Pearl Earring," the actress won a Golden Globe in 2004. A year later, Woody Allen released a new film – the drama "Match Point," which tells the story of a personal tragedy of former tennis legend Chris Wilton, who's hopelessly in love with Scarlett's character. The movie earned the actress another Golden Globe. In the same year, 2005, another significant movie featuring Johansson was released, radically different from "Match Point" in its mood. It's Michael Bay's dystopian blockbuster "The Island," where the actress appeared alongside Ewan McGregor. The film received a lukewarm reception, and the producers controversially blamed Scarlett, claiming she "could have played it sexier." In 2006, three top-rated films were released within a few months: "Scoop" with Hugh Jackman, "The Black Dahlia" with Josh Hartnett, and the Oscar-winning "The Prestige" with Christian Bale. In all these projects, Scarlett played the main female roles, and they were incredibly diverse: Sondra Pransky, the college student charmed by a British aristocrat, former prostitute Kay Lake, and magician's assistant Olivia Wenscombe. The next significant milestone in Scarlett's career was her role in the romance "The Nanny Diaries." The film told viewers about the adventures of Annie Braddock, a recent college graduate facing a challenging life dilemma: to dedicate herself to her passion for anthropology or sacrifice her dream for financial stability. While searching for answers, she works for a wealthy family led by Mrs. X, and along the way, starts a romance with the "Harvard Hottie" – played by Chris Evans. In 2008, Scarlett Johansson entered a new phase when superhero action movie creators took notice of her talent. Frank Miller was the pioneer, casting her in "The Spirit". She played the cool and unpredictable friend of Gabriel Macht's character, with Samuel L. Jackson taking on the role of the main villain. In 2010, the sequel to "Iron Man" premiered, quickly topping the charts thanks to the unmistakable charm of Robert Downey Jr. In this film, Scarlett Johansson first portrayed Natasha Romanoff, a former KGB agent nicknamed "Black Widow." Over the next five years, Scarlett reprised her beloved character's super abilities three more times: in "The Avengers" (2012), "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015), and the Captain America spin-off, "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014). In 2016, audiences saw Scarlett Johansson alongside George Clooney and Josh Brolin in the comedy "Hail, Caesar!" and heard her voice in Disney's adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book," where she voiced not the panther Bagheera, but the wise python Kaa. Simultaneously, she was filming "Captain America: Civil War," where her superhero colleagues were once again Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Paul Bettany, and other "Avengers." In March 2017, another blockbuster premiered featuring Scarlett Johansson: "Ghost in the Shell," a Hollywood adaptation of the namesake cyberpunk anime, telling the story of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg tasked with combating cybercrime. Alongside filming new Marvel movies ("Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame"), Scarlett ventured into voice acting for animations. She voiced the python Kaa in "The Jungle Book," the punk porcupine Ash in "Sing," and the dog Nutmeg in Wes Anderson's animated masterpiece, "Isle of Dogs." After the release of "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019, which concluded Natasha Romanoff's story and added $35 million to the actress's net worth, Scarlett Johansson and Marvel Studios continued their collaboration.In 2018, Scarlett landed the lead role in Rupert Sanders' "Rub & Tug". The title in English refers to a sexual service, often available for an additional fee from a masseuse. She was to portray the real-life transgender figure, Jean Marie Gill, who ran a massage parlor and brothel in the 1970s America. Born in a female body, Jean transitioned to a male and had a girlfriend. However, Scarlett withdrew from the role after backlash from the LGBTQ+ community. Activists claimed, "A transgender role should be played by a real transgender person." Both the actress and the film's creators heeded their advice.Natasha is a bit different than the average superhero. She has a different moral compass, even compared to Cap. She understands the balance between darkness and light. She doesn't have the same mindset as Cap. She sees the world differently, yet they share a common goal.
In August 2019, American audiences saw Scarlett in the festival drama "Marriage Story". Alongside Adam Driver, she portrayed the turbulent divorce of a couple whose lives turn into a high-stakes thriller because of a pack of lawyers. The film's creators released two trailers, each showing the situation from one spouse's perspective. Scarlett also played a key role in the satirical comedy "Jojo Rabbit" about a German orphaned boy with an imaginary friend who happens to be Adolf Hitler, albeit a very different version of him. For both "Marriage Story" and "Jojo Rabbit", Scarlett received Oscar nominations but didn't win for either role.
In 2021, the standalone film "Black Widow" premiered. Scarlett's fee for the movie was $20 million.
Music Career
At the beginning of her acting career, Scarlett appeared in music videos for Justin Timberlake and Bob Dylan. In 2007, Pete Yorn invited Johansson to collaborate on an album. Yorn admitted he was initially concerned Scarlett couldn't sing and even had a backup plan with Zooey Deschanel. However, those fears proved unwarranted – Johansson showcased a pure and powerful voice. Their collaborative album was titled "Relator". In 2008, Scarlett Johansson released her solo album "Anywhere I Lay My Head". The album consisted of cover songs originally by Tom Waits. Critics panned the album, calling it "the biggest disappointment of the year".Scarlett Johansson's Personal Life
In 2001, 17-year-old actress Scarlett briefly dated musician Jack Antonoff. After working on "The Black Dahlia" in 2004, she started a relationship with Josh Hartnett that lasted for two years. In mid-2007, Scarlett met Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds. From the first few words, they both felt their meeting was special. In less than a year, Ryan proposed to her. After a simple wedding, the couple bought a small, cozy house in Los Angeles and started their married life full of harmony and understanding. Unfortunately, this bliss lasted only two years. Due to their busy filming schedules, they spent less time together until they realized their feelings had faded. In 2011, right after breaking up with Ryan, Scarlett found comfort with Sean Penn, but she never hid the fact that their relationship wasn't serious. In September 2011, Scarlett found herself at the center of a major scandal when hackers breached her smartphone and released her private photos.In the fall of 2013, the actress revealed her new love interest: French journalist Romain Dauriac. They were introduced by their mutual tattoo artist named Fuzi. The couple planned to marry in January 2014, but due to Scarlett's pregnancy, they postponed the ceremony. On September 4, 2014, they welcomed their daughter, Rose Dorothy Dauriac (named after Scarlett's grandmother). On October 1, they exchanged vows. "Romain makes me smile every day," Scarlett said in an interview shortly after the wedding. However, by March 2017, Scarlett announced she was beginning the divorce process with Romain. Shortly after, she was seen with writer Colin Jost. The couple didn't hide their relationship and happily appeared together at various public events. Three months later, paparazzi caught her in an Italian restaurant. While enjoying her pasta, Scarlett sweetly flirted with a young man quickly identified as Kevin Yorn, a famous entertainment lawyer. At this time, Scarlett was still officially married. Leaving the restaurant, they strolled hand in hand. However, by spring 2019, the unpredictable actress decided to tie the knot with Colin. In May, Scarlett's agent confirmed she was engaged and eagerly preparing for the wedding.
In the early summer of 2021, rumors emerged suggesting Scarlett was expecting. She missed almost all events related to the "Black Widow" film release and avoided interviews. Eventually, her husband, Colin Jost, cleared up all speculation during a performance in Connecticut, confirming they were indeed expecting a child. The baby was born on August 18, 2021. The couple named him Cosmo. This is the first child for the "Avengers" star and the 39-year-old comedian.
Scarlett Johansson Now
"Black Widow" marked Scarlett's last Marvel film. She portrayed Natasha Romanoff for a decade, which she describes as a unique experience but says, "The chapter is closed. I've done everything I had to do." After "Black Widow", she worked with Wes Anderson on "Asteroid City". In this film, her character is a movie actress named Midge. Scarlett was pleased to collaborate with the director again, having previously voiced a character in his animated film "Isle of Dogs":It's always nice to return to where you're loved, and where you love everyone! It's especially nice when you're asked to play an actress instead of a dog.
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