Hollywood’s New Power Player
Scarlett Johansson has spent three decades evolving from child actor to one of Hollywood’s highest-paid stars, and now to director and producer shaping her own projects.
Born November 22, 1984, in New York City, Johansson gained critical attention with “Lost in Translation” (2003) at just 18, earning a BAFTA for her nuanced performance opposite Bill Murray.
The Marvel Era
As Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, Johansson became the heart of the Marvel Cinematic Universe across nine films from “Iron Man 2” (2010) to her solo film “Black Widow” (2021). Her portrayal brought depth to a character that could have been one-dimensional, making Black Widow a fan favorite.
Her lawsuit against Disney over “Black Widow’s” streaming release resulted in a landmark settlement and changed how studios handle talent contracts in the streaming era.
Acclaimed Dramatic Work
Johansson earned two Academy Award nominations in the same year (2020) for “Marriage Story” and “Jojo Rabbit,” a rare double honor. Her voice work as Samantha in “Her” (2013) is considered one of cinema’s great performances, despite her never appearing on screen.
Behind the Camera
In recent years, Johansson has moved into producing and directing, developing projects through her company These Pictures. Her directorial debut has been met with anticipation, as she joins the growing ranks of actors taking creative control.
With her production slate growing and acting career still thriving, Scarlett Johansson’s second act may be even more impressive than her first.