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Scarlett Johansson
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Scarlett Ingrid Johansson (/dʒoʊˈhænsən/ ⓘ;[1] born November 22, 1984) is an American actress, director and singer. Her films as a leading actress have grossed over $15.4 billion worldwide, making her the highest-grossing lead actor in history. Johansson's various accolades include a British Academy Film Award and Tony Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards.

Key Information

Johansson first appeared on stage in an off-Broadway play as a child actress. She made her film debut in the fantasy comedy North (1994) and gained early recognition for her roles in Manny & Lo (1996), The Horse Whisperer (1998), and Ghost World (2001). Her shift to adult roles came in 2003 with Lost in Translation, for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress. She continued to gain praise for playing a 17th-century servant in Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), a troubled teenager in A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004) and a struggling actress in Match Point (2005). The lattermost marked her first collaboration with Woody Allen, who later directed her in Scoop (2006) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008). Johansson's other works of this period include The Prestige (2006) and the albums Anywhere I Lay My Head (2008) and Break Up (2009), both of which charted on the Billboard 200.

In 2010, Johansson debuted on Broadway in a revival of A View from the Bridge, which won her the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play, and began portraying Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Iron Man 2. She reprised the role in eight films, leading up to her solo feature Black Widow (2021), gaining global stardom. During this period, Johansson starred in the science fiction films Her (2013), Under the Skin (2013) and Lucy (2014). She received two simultaneous Academy Award nominations—Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress—for the respective roles of an actress going through a divorce in the drama Marriage Story (2019) and a single mother in Nazi Germany in the satire Jojo Rabbit (2019), becoming one of the few actors to achieve this feat.

The world's highest-paid actress in 2018 and 2019, Johansson has been featured multiple times on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021 and 2025. Labeled a sex symbol, Johansson has been referred to as one of the world's most attractive women by various media outlets. She is a prominent brand endorser and supports several charitable causes. Divorced from actor Ryan Reynolds and businessman Romain Dauriac, Johansson has been married to comedian Colin Jost since 2020. She has two children, one with Dauriac and another with Jost.

Early life

[edit]
A red-brick three-story building with a tree outside it.
The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, where Johansson learned to act as a child

Scarlett Ingrid Johansson was born on November 22, 1984, in the Manhattan borough of New York City.[2][3][4] Johansson's father, Karsten Olaf Johansson, is an architect originally from Copenhagen, Denmark. Through him, she is a granddaughter of Ejner Johansson, an art historian, screenwriter and film director, whose own father was Swedish.[5][4] Her mother, New Yorker Melanie Sloan, has worked as a producer. She comes from a Jewish family who fled Poland and Russia, originally surnamed Schlamberg; Johansson has referred to herself as Jewish.[4][6] She has an older sister named Vanessa, who is also an actress, an older brother named Adrian, and a twin brother named Hunter.[7] Johansson also has an older half-brother named Christian from her father's first marriage. She holds dual American and Danish citizenship.[8][9] On a 2017 episode of PBS's Finding Your Roots, she discovered that her maternal great-grandfather's brother and extended family died in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust.[10]

Johansson attended PS 41, an elementary school in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.[11] Her parents divorced when she was thirteen.[12] She was particularly close to her maternal grandmother, Dorothy Sloan, a bookkeeper and schoolteacher. They often spent time together and Johansson considered Dorothy her best friend.[13] Interested in a career in the spotlight from an early age, Johansson often put on song-and-dance routines for her family. She was particularly fond of musical theater and jazz hands.[14][15] Johansson took lessons in tap dance, and states that her parents were supportive of her career choice. She has described her childhood as very ordinary.[16]

As a child, Johansson practiced acting by staring in the mirror until she made herself cry, wanting to be like Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis. At age seven, she was devastated when a talent agent signed one of her brothers instead of her, but later decided to become an actress anyway. After enrolling at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and auditioning for commercials, Johansson soon lost interest, stating "I didn't want to promote Wonder Bread."[17] She shifted her focus to film and theater,[18] making her first stage appearance with two lines in the off-Broadway play Sophistry with Ethan Hawke.[19][18] Around this time, Johansson began studying at the Professional Children's School, a private educational institution for aspiring child actors in Manhattan.[14]

Acting career

[edit]

1994–2002: Early work and breakthrough

[edit]

At age nine, Johansson landed her first paid role as a sketch character on an episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[20] Later that year, she made her film debut as John Ritter's daughter in the fantasy comedy North (1994).[18] She says that when she was on the film set, she knew intuitively what to do.[17] She later played minor roles such as the daughter of Sean Connery's and Kate Capshaw's characters in the mystery thriller Just Cause (1995), and an art student in If Lucy Fell (1996).[21] Johansson's first leading role was as Amanda, the younger sister of a pregnant teenager who runs away from her foster home in Manny & Lo (1996) alongside Aleksa Palladino and her brother, Hunter. Her performance received positive reviews: one written for the San Francisco Chronicle noted, "[the film] grows on you, largely because of the charm of ... Scarlett Johansson,"[22] while critic Mick LaSalle, writing for the same paper, commented on her "peaceful aura", and believed, "If she can get through puberty with that aura undisturbed, she could become an important actress."[23] Johansson earned a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female for the role.[24]

After appearing in minor roles in Fall and Home Alone 3 (both in 1997), Johansson attracted wider attention for her performance in the film The Horse Whisperer (1998), co-starring director Robert Redford.[18][25] Based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Nicholas Evans, the drama tells the story of a talented horse trainer, who is hired to help an injured teenager (Johansson) and her horse back to health. Johansson received an "introducing" credit on this film; it was her seventh role. On Johansson's maturity, Redford described her as "13 going on 30".[26] Todd McCarthy of Variety commented that Johansson "convincingly conveys the awkwardness of her age and the inner pain of a carefree girl suddenly laid low by horrible happenstance".[27] For the film, she was nominated for the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actress.[28] She believed that the film changed many things in her life, realizing that acting is the ability to manipulate one's emotions.[29] On finding good roles as a teenager, Johansson said it was hard for her as adults wrote the scripts and they "portray kids like mall rats and not seriously ... Kids and teenagers just aren't being portrayed with any real depth."[30]

Johansson later appeared in My Brother the Pig (1999) and in the Coen brothers' neo-noir film The Man Who Wasn't There (2001). Her breakthrough came playing a cynical outcast in Terry Zwigoff's black comedy Ghost World (2001), an adaptation of Daniel Clowes' graphic novel of the same name.[31] Johansson auditioned for the film via a tape from New York, and Zwigoff believed her to be "a unique, eccentric person, and right for that part".[32] The film premiered at the 2001 Seattle International Film Festival; although a box office failure, it has since developed a cult status.[33] Johansson was credited with "sensitivity and talent [that] belie her age" by an Austin Chronicle critic and won a Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.[34][35] With David Arquette, Johansson appeared in the horror comedy Eight Legged Freaks (2002) about a collection of spiders exposed to toxic waste, causing them to grow gigantic and begin killing animals and people.[36] After graduating from Professional Children's School that year, she applied to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, but was rejected, and decided to focus on her film career.[37]

2003–2004: Transition to adult roles

[edit]

Johansson transitioned from teen to adult roles with two films in 2003: the romantic comedy-drama Lost in Translation and the drama Girl with a Pearl Earring.[38] In the former, directed by Sofia Coppola, she plays Charlotte, a listless and lonely young wife, opposite Bill Murray. Coppola had first noticed Johansson in Manny & Lo, and compared her to a young Lauren Bacall; Coppola based the film's story on the relationship between Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep (1946).[39] Johansson found the experience of working with a female director different because of Coppola's ability to empathize with her.[40] Made on a budget of $4 million, the film grossed $119 million at the box office and received critical acclaim.[41][42] Roger Ebert was pleased with the film and described the lead actors' performances as "wonderful",[43] and Entertainment Weekly wrote of Johansson's "embracing, restful serenity".[44] The New York Times praised Johansson, aged 17 at the time of filming, for playing an older character.[45]

A photograph of Scarlett Johansson wearing a black dress and a pearl necklace.
Johansson attending the premiere of Girl with a Pearl Earring at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival

In Peter Webber's Girl with a Pearl Earring, which is based on the novel of the same name by Tracy Chevalier, Johansson played Griet, a young 17th-century servant in the household of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (played by Colin Firth). Webber interviewed 150 actors before casting Johansson.[46] Johansson found the character moving, but did not read the novel, as she thought it was better to approach the story with a fresh start.[47] Girl with a Pearl Earring received positive reviews and was profitable.[48] In his review for The New Yorker, Anthony Lane thought that her presence kept the film "alive", writing, "She is often wordless and close to plain onscreen, but wait for the ardor with which she can summon a closeup and bloom under its gaze; this is her film, not Vermeer's, all the way."[49] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly noted her "nearly silent performance", remarking, "The interplay on her face of fear, ignorance, curiosity and sex is intensely dramatic."[50] She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress[a] for both films in 2003, winning the former for Lost in Translation.[52]

In Variety's opinion, Johansson's roles in Lost in Translation and Girl with a Pearl Earring established her as among the most versatile actresses of her generation.[25] Johansson had five releases in 2004, three of which—the teen heist film The Perfect Score, the drama A Love Song for Bobby Long, and the drama A Good Woman—were critical and commercial failures.[53] Co-starring with John Travolta, Johansson played a discontented teenager in A Love Song for Bobby Long, which is based on the novel Off Magazine Street by Ronald Everett Capps. David Rooney of Variety wrote that Johansson's and Travolta's performances rescued the film.[54] Johansson earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama nomination for the film.[51]

In her fourth release in 2004, the live-action animated comedy The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Johansson voiced Princess Mindy, the daughter of King Neptune. She agreed to the project because of her love of cartoons, particularly The Ren & Stimpy Show.[55] The film was her most commercially successful release that year.[53] She would then reprise her role as Mindy in the video game adaptation of the film.[56] She followed it with In Good Company, a comedy-drama in which she plays a young woman who complicates her father's life when she dates his much younger boss. Reviews of the film were generally positive, describing it as "witty and charming".[57] Ebert was impressed with Johansson's portrayal, writing that she "continues to employ the gravitational pull of quiet fascination".[58]

2005–2009: Collaborations with Woody Allen

[edit]
Johansson on the campus of Columbia University during the filming of The Nanny Diaries, 2006

Johansson played Nola, an aspiring actress who begins an affair with a married man (played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers) in Woody Allen's drama Match Point in 2005. After replacing Kate Winslet with Johansson for the role, Allen changed the character's nationality from British to American.[59] An admirer of Allen's films, Johansson liked the idea of working with him, but felt nervous her first day on the set.[60] The New York Times was impressed with the performances of Johansson and Rhys Meyers,[61] and LaSalle, writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, stated that Johansson "is a powerhouse from the word go", with a performance that "borders on astonishing".[62] The film, a box office success,[63] earned Johansson nominations for the Golden Globe and the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress.[51][64] Also that year, Johansson starred with Ewan McGregor in Michael Bay's science fiction film The Island, in dual roles as Sarah Jordan and her clone, Jordan Two Delta. Johansson found her filming schedule exhausting: she had to shoot for 14 hours a day, and she hit her head and injured herself.[65] The film received mixed reviews and grossed $163 million against a $126 million budget.[66]

Two of Johansson's films in 2006 explored the world of stage magicians, both opposite Hugh Jackman. Allen cast her opposite Jackman and himself in the film Scoop (2006), in which she played a journalism student. The film was a modest worldwide box office success, but polarized critics.[67][68] Ebert was critical of the film, but found Johansson "lovely as always",[69] and LaSalle noted the freshness she brought to her part.[70] She also appeared in Brian De Palma's The Black Dahlia, a film noir shot in Los Angeles and Bulgaria. Johansson later said she was a fan of De Palma and had wanted to work with him on the film but thought that she was unsuitable for the part.[71] Anne Billson of The Daily Telegraph likewise found her miscast.[72] However, CNN said that she "takes to the pulpy period atmosphere as if it were oxygen".[73]

Scarlett Johansson with tousled medium length blonde hair loosely around her shoulders and face, looking to her right.
Johansson on the set of Vicky Cristina Barcelona in 2007

Also in 2006, Johansson starred in the short film When the Deal Goes Down to accompany Bob Dylan's song "When the Deal Goes Down..." from the album Modern Times.[74] Johansson had a supporting role of assistant and lover of Jackman's character, an aristocratic magician, in Christopher Nolan's mystery thriller The Prestige (2006). Nolan thought Johansson possessed "ambiguity" and "a shielded quality".[75][76] She was fascinated with Nolan's directing methods and liked working with him.[77] The film was a critical and box office success,[78] recommended by the Los Angeles Times as "an adult, provocative piece of work".[79] Some critics were skeptical of her performance: Billson again judged her miscast, and Dan Jolin of Empire criticized her English accent.[72][80]

Johansson's sole release of 2007 was the critically panned comedy-drama The Nanny Diaries alongside Chris Evans and Laura Linney, in which she played a college graduate working as a nanny. Reviews of her performance were mixed; Variety wrote, "[She] essays an engaging heroine",[81] and The New Yorker criticized her for looking "merely confused" while "trying to give the material a plausible emotional center".[82] In 2008, Johansson starred, with Natalie Portman and Eric Bana, in The Other Boleyn Girl, which also earned mixed reviews.[83][84] Promoting the film, Johansson and Portman appeared on the cover of W, discussing with the magazine the public's reception of them.[85] In Rolling Stone, Pete Travers criticized the film for "[moving] in frustrating herks and jerks", but thought that the duo were the only positive aspect of the production.[86] Variety credited the cast as "almost flawless ... at the top of its game", citing "Johansson's quieter Mary ... as the [film's] emotional center".[87]

In her third collaboration with Woody Allen, the romantic comedy-drama Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), which was filmed in Spain, Johansson plays one of the love interests of Javier Bardem's character alongside Penélope Cruz.[88] The film was one of Allen's most profitable and received favorable reviews.[89][90] A reviewer in Variety described Johansson as "open and malleable" compared to the other actors.[91] She also played the femme fatale Silken Floss in The Spirit, based on the newspaper comic strip of the same name by Will Eisner. It received poor reviews from critics, who deemed it melodramatic, unoriginal and sexist.[92] Johansson's only role in 2009 was as Anna Marks, a yoga instructor, in the ensemble comedy-drama He's Just Not That into You (2009). The film was released to tepid reviews but was a box office success.[93][94]

2010–2013: Marvel Cinematic Universe and worldwide recognition

[edit]

Aspiring to appear on Broadway since childhood, Johansson made her debut in a 2010 revival of Arthur Miller's drama A View from the Bridge.[95][96] Set in the 1950s in an Italian American neighborhood in New York, it tells the tragic tale of Eddie (Liev Schreiber), who has an inappropriate love for his wife's orphaned niece, Catherine (Johansson). After initial reservations about playing a teenage character, Johansson was convinced by a friend to take on the part.[97] Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote Johansson "melts into her character so thoroughly that her nimbus of celebrity disappears".[98] Variety's David Rooney was impressed with the play and Johansson in particular, describing her as the chief performer.[99] She won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play.[100] Some critics and Broadway actors criticized the award committee's decision to reward the work of mainstream Hollywood actors, including Johansson. In response, she said that she understood the frustration, but had worked hard for her accomplishments.[101]

Johansson secured the part of Black Widow in Jon Favreau's Iron Man 2 (2010),[102] a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU),[103] after Emily Blunt was forced to opt out due to other obligations.[104] Before she was cast, she dyed her hair red to convince Favreau that she was right for the part, and undertook stunt and strength training to prepare for the role.[105] Johansson said the character resonated with her, and she admired the superhero's human traits.[106] The film earned $623.9 million against its $200 million budget, and received generally positive reviews from critics, although reviewers criticized how her character was written.[107][108] Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph and Matt Goldberg thought that she had little to do but look attractive.[109][110] In 2011, Johansson played the role of Kelly, a zookeeper in the family film We Bought a Zoo alongside Matt Damon. The film got mainly favorable reviews, and Anne Billson praised Johansson for bringing depth to a rather uninteresting character.[111][72] Johansson earned a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress: Drama nomination for her performance.[112]

Johansson at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con

Johansson learned some Russian from a former teacher on the phone for her role as Black Widow in The Avengers (2012),[113] another entry from the MCU.[103] The film received mainly positive reviews and broke many box office records, becoming the third highest-grossing film both in the United States and worldwide.[114][115] For her performance, she was nominated for two Teen Choice Awards and three People's Choice Awards.[b] Later that year, Johansson portrayed actress Janet Leigh in Sacha Gervasi's Hitchcock, a behind-the-scenes drama about the making of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film Psycho.[118] Roger Ebert wrote that Johansson did not look much like Leigh, but conveyed her spunk, intelligence, and sense of humor.[119]

In January 2013, Johansson starred in a Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Rob Ashford. Set in the Mississippi Delta, it examines the relationships within the family of Big Daddy (Ciarán Hinds), primarily between his son Brick (Benjamin Walker) and Maggie (Johansson).[120] Her performance received mixed reviews.[121] Entertainment Weekly's Thom Geier wrote Johansson "brings a fierce fighting spirit" to her part,[122] but Joe Dziemianowicz from Daily News called her performance "alarmingly one-note".[123] The 2013 Sundance Film Festival hosted the premiere of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's directorial debut, Don Jon.[124] In this romantic comedy-drama, she played the girlfriend of the pornography-addicted title character. Gordon-Levitt wrote the role for Johansson, who had previously admired his acting work.[125] The film received positive reviews and Johansson's performance was highlighted by critics.[126] Claudia Puig of USA Today considered it to be one of her best performances.[127]

In 2013, Johansson voiced the character Samantha, a self-aware computer operating system, in Spike Jonze's film Her, replacing Samantha Morton in the role.[128] The film premiered at the 8th Rome International Film Festival, where Johansson won Best Actress; she was also nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress.[129][130] Johansson was intimidated by the role's complexity, and found her recording sessions for the role challenging but liberating.[131] Peter Travers believed Johansson's voice in the film was "sweet, sexy, caring, manipulative, scary [and] award-worthy".[132] Time's Richard Corliss called her performance "seductive and winning",[133] and Her was rated as one of the best films of 2013.[134] She also won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 40th Saturn Awards in 2014 for her performance.[135]

Johansson was cast in Jonathan Glazer's science fiction film Under the Skin (2013) as an extraterrestrial creature disguised as a human femme fatale who preys on men in Scotland. The project, an adaptation of Michel Faber's novel of the same name, took nine years to complete.[136] For the role, she learned to drive a van and speak in an English accent.[137] Johansson improvised conversations with non-professional actors on the street, who did not know they were being filmed.[138] It was released to generally positive reviews, with particular praise for Johansson.[136][139] Erin Whitney, writing for The Huffington Post, considered it to be her finest performance to that point, and noted that it was her first fully nude role.[140] Author Maureen Foster wrote, "How much depth, breadth, and range Johansson mines from her character's very limited allowance of emotional response is a testament to her acting prowess that is, as the film goes on, increasingly stunning."[141] It earned Johansson a BIFA for Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film nomination.[142]

2014–2020: Blockbuster films and critical acclaim

[edit]
Scarlett Johansson, wearing a dark blue coat, smiles to her left.
Johansson at the 2014 César Awards

Continuing her work in the MCU, Johansson reprised her role as Black Widow in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). In the film, she joins forces with Captain America (Chris Evans) and Falcon (Anthony Mackie) to uncover a conspiracy within S.H.I.E.L.D., while facing a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Soldier. Johansson and Evans wrote their own dialogue for several scenes they had together.[143] Johansson was attracted to her character's way of doing her job, employing her feminine wiles and not her physical appeal.[144] The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $714 million worldwide.[145] Critic Odie Henderson saw "a genuine emotional shorthand at work, especially from Johansson, who is excellent here".[146] The role earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.[147]

Johansson played a supporting role in the film Chef (2014), alongside Robert Downey Jr., Sofía Vergara, and director Jon Favreau. It grossed over $45 million at the box office and was well received by critics. The Chicago Sun-Times writer Richard Roeper found the film "funny, quirky and insightful, with a bounty of interesting supporting characters".[148] In Luc Besson's science fiction action film Lucy (2014), Johansson starred as the title character, who gains psychokinetic abilities when a nootropic drug is absorbed into her bloodstream.[149] Besson discussed the role with several actresses, and cast Johansson based on her strong reaction to the script and her discipline.[150] Critics generally praised the film's themes, visuals, and Johansson's performance; some found the plot nonsensical.[151] IGN's Jim Vejvoda attributed the film's success to her acting and Besson's style.[152] The film grossed $458 million on a budget of $40 million to become the 18th highest-grossing film of 2014.[153]

In 2015 and 2016, Johansson again played Black Widow in the MCU films Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War. During filming of the former, a mixture of close-ups, concealing costumes, stunt doubles and visual effects were used to hide her pregnancy.[154] Both films earned more than $1.1 billion, ranking among the highest-grossing films of all time.[155] For Civil War, Johansson earned her second nomination for Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in an Action Movie and her fourth for Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.[156][157] Earlier in 2016, Johansson had featured in the Coen brothers' well-received comedy film Hail, Caesar! about a "fixer" working in the classical Hollywood cinema, trying to discover what happened to a cast member who vanished during the filming of a biblical epic; Johansson plays an actress who becomes pregnant while her film is in production.[158] She also voiced Kaa in Jon Favreau's live-action adaptation of Disney's The Jungle Book, and Ash in the animated musical comedy film Sing (both 2016).[159] That year she also narrated an audiobook of Lewis Carroll's children's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.[160]

Johansson at the premiere of Ghost in the Shell in 2017

Johansson played Motoko Kusanagi in Rupert Sanders's 2017 film adaptation of the Ghost in the Shell franchise. The film was praised for its visual style, acting, and cinematography, but was the subject of controversy for whitewashing the cast, particularly Johansson's character, a cyborg who was meant to hold the memories of a Japanese woman.[161][162] Responding to the backlash, the actress asserted she would never play a non-white character, but wanted to take the rare opportunity to star in a female-led franchise.[163] Ghost in the Shell grossed $169.8 million worldwide against a production budget of $110 million.[164] In March 2017, Johansson hosted Saturday Night Live for the fifth time, making her the 17th person and the fourth woman[c] to enter the NBC sketch comedy's prestigious Five-Timers Club.[165] Johansson's next 2017 film was the comedy Rough Night, where she played Jess Thayer, one of the five friends—alongside Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Zoë Kravitz—whose bachelorette party goes wrong after a male stripper dies. The film had a mixed critical reception and moderate box office returns.[166] In 2018, Johansson voiced show dog Nutmeg in Wes Anderson's stop-motion animated film Isle of Dogs, released in March,[167] and reprised her MCU role as Black Widow in Avengers: Infinity War, which followed the next month.[168] Johansson was due to star in Rub & Tug, a biographical film in which she would have played Dante "Tex" Gill, a transgender man who operated a massage parlor and prostitution ring in the 1970s and 1980s. She dropped out of the project following backlash to the casting of a cisgender woman to play a transgender man.[169]

In 2019, Johansson once again reprised her role as Black Widow in Avengers: Endgame, which is the highest-grossing film of all time.[155] She next starred in Noah Baumbach's Netflix film Marriage Story in which Adam Driver and she played a warring couple who file for divorce. Johansson found a connection with her character as she was amid her own divorce proceedings at the time.[170] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian commended her "brilliantly textured" performance in it.[171] She also took on the supporting role of a young boy's mother who shelters a Jewish girl in Nazi Germany in Taika Waititi's satire Jojo Rabbit. Waititi modeled the character on his own mother and cast Johansson to provide her a rare opportunity to perform comedy.[170] The film received polarized reviews, but Stephanie Zacharek labeled her the "lustrous soul of the movie".[172][173] Johansson received her first two Academy Award nominations, for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit, respectively, becoming the twelfth performer to be nominated for two Oscars in the same year.[174] She also received two BAFTA nominations for these films and a Golden Globe nomination for the former.[175][176]

2021–present: Black Widow lawsuit and professional expansion

[edit]

After a one-year screen absence, Johansson reprised her role as Black Widow in her own solo prequel film in 2021, on which she also served as an executive producer.[177] Also starring Florence Pugh, the film is set after Captain America: Civil War, with Johansson's character on the run, confronting her past. Johansson felt her role was complete,[178] viewing it as a chance to showcase her character's independence and vulnerability, which she thought set her apart from other Avengers.[179] Critics were generally favorable in their reviews of the film, mainly praising Johansson and Pugh's performances.[180] The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney thought the film was "a stellar vehicle" for Johansson,[181] and Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood found her "again a great presence in the role, showing expert action and acting chops throughout".[182] For the film, Johansson won The Female Movie Star of 2021 at the 47th People's Choice Awards.[183] Also that year, she reprised her voice role as Ash in the sequel Sing 2.[184]

Johansson and Wes Anderson at the premiere of Asteroid City at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival

In July 2021, Johansson sued Disney, claiming the simultaneous release of Black Widow on their streaming service Disney+ breached a contract clause for exclusive theatrical release, denying her additional box-office bonuses.[185] In response, Disney said her lawsuit showed an indifference to the "horrific and prolonged" effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also stated that Johansson already received $20 million for the film and that the Disney+ Premier Access[d] release would only earn her additional compensation.[187] The Hollywood Reporter called Disney's response "aggressive," and Creative Artists Agency co-chairman Bryan Lourd criticized Disney for attacking Johansson's character and disclosing her salary.[188] In September, the dispute was resolved with undisclosed terms, though Variety later reported Johansson received over $40 million and would continue working with Disney.[189][104]

Johansson returned to the screen with Wes Anderson's comedy Asteroid City (2023), in which she led an ensemble cast. It was her second film to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival after Match Point (2005).[190][104] For her two months of work on the film, she took a substantial pay cut, earning $4,131 a week.[104] Describing her collaboration with Anderson, she said, "I like the sort of constraints of Wes' precision. I think in some ways, it's more liberating."[104] Anthony Lane of The New Yorker praised Johansson's ability to add depth to her character and for skillfully portraying both reality and imagination with wit.[191] In Kristin Scott Thomas's directorial debut My Mother's Wedding, Johansson played one of three sisters reuniting for their mother's wedding.[192] The Guardian's Benjamin Lee was displeased by the film and Johansson's "awkward British accent".[193]

Founding the production company These Pictures, Johansson produced and starred in Fly Me to the Moon (2024), a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of the Space Race, opposite Channing Tatum.[194] Critics considered the screwball chemistry between Johansson and Tatum to be film's highlight.[195] She voiced Elita-1 in Transformers One, an animated prequel to the Transformers film series.[196] Both films had poor box-office returns.[197] Johansson returned to the MCU as an executive producer on Thunderbolts*.[198] Keen to join the Jurassic Park franchise for a decade, she starred in the instalment Jurassic World Rebirth.[199] In addition, she reunited with Anderson in the ensemble adventure film The Phoenician Scheme. She made her directorial debut with the drama Eleanor the Great, starring June Squibb in the title role.[200][201]

Music career

[edit]
See also: Scarlett Johansson discography
Johansson attending the premiere of Sing at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2006, Johansson sang the track "Summertime" for Unexpected Dreams – Songs from the Stars, a non-profit collection of songs recorded by Hollywood actors. She performed with the Jesus and Mary Chain for a Coachella reunion show in Indio, California, in April 2007.[202] The following year, Johansson appeared as the leading lady in Justin Timberlake's music video, for "What Goes Around... Comes Around", which was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.[203]

In May 2008, Johansson released her debut album Anywhere I Lay My Head, which consists of one original song and ten cover versions of Tom Waits songs, and features David Bowie and members from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Celebration.[204] Reviews of the album were mixed.[205] Spin was not particularly impressed with Johansson's singing.[206] Some critics found it to be "surprisingly alluring",[207] "a bravely eccentric selection",[204] and "a brilliant album" with "ghostly magic".[208] NME named the album the "23rd best album of 2008", and it peaked at number 126 on the Billboard 200.[209][210] Johansson started listening to Waits when she was 11 or 12 years old,[211] and said of him, "His melodies are so beautiful, his voice is so distinct and I had my own way of doing Tom Waits songs."[212]

In September 2009, Johansson and singer-songwriter Pete Yorn released a collaborative album, Break Up, inspired by Serge Gainsbourg's duets with Brigitte Bardot.[213] The album reached number 41 in the US.[214] In 2010, Steel Train released Terrible Thrills Vol. 1, which includes their favorite female artists singing songs from their self-titled album. Johansson is the first artist on the album, singing "Bullet".[215] Johansson sang "One Whole Hour" for the 2011 soundtrack of the documentary film Wretches & Jabberers (2010).[216] In 2012 sang on a J. Ralph track entitled "Before My Time" for the end credits of the climate documentary Chasing Ice (2012),[217] which received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.[218]

In February 2015, Johansson formed a band called the Singles with Este Haim from HAIM, Holly Miranda, Kendra Morris, and Julia Haltigan. The group's first single was called "Candy".[219] Johansson was issued a cease and desist order from the lead singer of the Los Angeles-based rock band the Singles, demanding she stop using their name.[220] In 2016, she performed "Trust in Me" for The Jungle Book soundtrack[221] and "Set It All Free" and "I Don't Wanna" for Sing: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.[222] In 2018, Johansson collaborated with Pete Yorn again for an EP titled Apart, released June 1.[223]

Public image

[edit]

Johansson is described as a sex symbol by the media.[224] Already at the age of 17, when filming Lost in Translation, she felt she was groomed as a "bombshell-type" actor, as she explained in a 2022 podcast with Bruce Bozzi.[225] The Sydney Morning Herald describes her as "the embodiment of male fantasy".[15] During the filming of Match Point, director Woody Allen remarked upon her attractiveness, calling her "beautiful" and "sexually overwhelming".[226] In 2014, The New Yorker film critic Anthony Lane wrote that "she is evidently, and profitably, aware of her sultriness, and of how much, down to the last inch, it contributes to the contours of her reputation."[227] Johansson has expressed displeasure at being sexualized and maintains that a preoccupation with one's attractiveness does not last.[228] She has stated that while she is flattered to be considered sexy, she finds the implication that her strength comes from her sexuality to be confining.[229] She lost the role of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) because the film's director David Fincher found her "too sexy" for the part.[230] In 2016, as a comment on the delays of producing a stand-alone Black Widow movie, Johansson cautioned that she may not want to wear a "skin-tight catsuit" for much longer.[229]

Johansson at the 2020 Golden Globes Awards

Some media and fans call Johansson "ScarJo", which she finds lazy, flippant, and insulting.[231][232] She has no social media profiles, and does not wish to "continuously share details of my everyday life".[233] Johansson ranks highly in various beauty listings. Maxim included her in their Hot 100 list from 2006 to 2014.[234] She has been named "Sexiest Woman Alive" twice by Esquire (2006 and 2013)[235] and has been included in similar listings by Playboy (2007),[12] Men's Health (2011),[236] and FHM (since 2005).[237] She was named GQ's Babe of the Year in 2010.[238] In 2022, Johansson founded the plant-based skincare line, The Outset, with Kate Foster.[239]

Johansson was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in June 2004.[240] In 2006, she appeared on Forbes' Celebrity 100 list and again in 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019.[241] She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 2012.[242] In 2021 and 2025, she appeared on the Time 100, Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[243][244] Johansson was included on Forbes' annual list of the world's highest-paid actresses from 2014 to 2016, with respective earnings of $17 million, $35.5 million, and $25 million.[245][246] She would later top the list in 2018 and 2019, with earnings of $40.5 million and $56 million, respectively.[247] She was the highest-grossing actor of 2016, with a total of $1.2 billion.[248] IndieWire credited her for taking on risky roles, such as in Her and Under the Skin, instead of simply appearing in blockbuster after blockbuster.[249] As of October 2025, her films have grossed over $5.6 billion in North America and over $15.4 billion worldwide, making Johansson the highest-grossing box-office leading actor of all time both domestically and worldwide.[250][251] Madame Tussauds New York museum unveiled a wax statue of her in 2015.[252]

Johansson has appeared in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, L'Oréal, and Louis Vuitton[253] and has represented the Spanish brand Mango since 2009.[254] She was the first Hollywood celebrity to represent a champagne producer, appearing in advertisements for Moët & Chandon.[255] In January 2014, the Israeli company SodaStream, which makes home-carbonation products, hired Johansson as its first global brand ambassador, a relationship that commenced with a television commercial during Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014.[256] This created some controversy, as SodaStream at that time operated a plant in Israeli-occupied territory in the West Bank.[257] In May 2024, Johansson criticized OpenAI for releasing a chatbot with a voice that resembled her own, after she declined to formally work with the company to provide her voice for the app.[258]

Personal life

[edit]

Relationships and marriages

[edit]
Johansson and Colin Jost at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival

While attending the Professional Children's School, Johansson dated classmate Jack Antonoff from 2001 to 2002.[259] She dated her Black Dahlia co-star Josh Hartnett for about two years until the end of 2006. According to Hartnett, they broke up because their busy schedules kept them apart.[260] Johansson began dating Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds in April 2007.[261][262] They became engaged in May 2008[263] and married in September 2008 in a wilderness retreat on Vancouver Island.[262][264] They separated in December 2010 and divorced in July 2011.[265] In a 2019 interview with Vanity Fair, Johansson reflected on the marriage. "I mean, the first time I got married I was 23 years old. I didn't really have an understanding of marriage. Maybe I kind of romanticized it, I think, in a way."[266]

In November 2012, Johansson began dating Frenchman Romain Dauriac, the owner of an advertising agency.[267][268] They became engaged the following September.[269] The pair divided their time between New York City and Paris.[270] She gave birth to their daughter, Rose, in 2014.[271] Johansson and Dauriac married that October in Philipsburg, Montana.[272] They separated in mid-2016.[273] In March 2017, Johansson filed for divorce, saying their marriage was "irretrievably broken," despite Dauriac urging her to withdraw the action.[274] She never did, and the divorce was finalized in September 2017.[275]

Johansson began dating Saturday Night Live co-head writer and Weekend Update co-host Colin Jost in May 2017.[276] In May 2019, the two were engaged.[277] They married in October 2020 at their New York home.[278] She gave birth to their son in August 2021.[279] Johansson resides in New York and Los Angeles.[280]

In the media

[edit]

In September 2011, nude photographs of Johansson hacked from her cell phone were leaked online. She said the pictures had been sent to her husband, Ryan Reynolds, three years prior to the incident.[281] In 2014, Johansson won a lawsuit against French publisher JC Lattès over libelous statements about her relationships in the novel The First Thing We Look At by Grégoire Delacourt. She was awarded $3,400; she had sued for $68,000.[282]

Johansson has criticized the media for promoting an image that causes unhealthy diets and eating disorders among women.[283] In an essay she wrote for The Huffington Post, she encouraged people to maintain a healthy body.[284] She posed nude for the March 2006 cover of Vanity Fair alongside actress Keira Knightley and fully clothed fashion designer Tom Ford.[285] The photograph sparked controversy as some believed it demonstrated that women are forced to flaunt their sexuality more often than men.[286]

Philanthropy

[edit]

Johansson has supported various charitable organizations including Aid Still Required, Cancer Research UK, Stand Up To Cancer, Too Many Women (which works against breast cancer), and USA Harvest, which provides food for people in need.[287] In 2005, Johansson became a global ambassador for the aid and development agency Oxfam.[288] In 2007, she took part in the anti-poverty campaign ONE, which was organized by U2's lead singer Bono.[15] In March 2008, a UK-based bidder paid £20,000 on an eBay auction to benefit Oxfam, winning a hair and makeup treatment, a pair of tickets, and a chauffeured trip to accompany her on a 20-minute date to the world premiere of He's Just Not That into You.[289]

In January 2014, Johansson resigned from her Oxfam position after criticism of her promotion of SodaStream, whose main factory was based in Mishor Adumim, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank; Oxfam opposes all trade with such Israeli settlements.[257][290] Oxfam stated that it was thankful for her contributions in raising funds to fight poverty.[291][292] Together with her Avengers costars, Johansson raised $500,000 for the victims of Hurricane Maria.[293]

In 2018, she collaborated with 300 women in Hollywood to set up the Time's Up initiative to protect women from harassment and discrimination.[294] Johansson took part in the Women's March in Los Angeles in January 2018, where she spoke on topics such as abuses of power, sharing her own experience. She received backlash for calling out fellow actor James Franco on allegations of sexual misconduct as in the past she had defended working with Woody Allen amid an accusation by his daughter Dylan Farrow.[295][296]

Johansson has given support to Operation Warrior Wellness, a division of the David Lynch Foundation that helps veterans learn Transcendental Meditation. Her grand-uncle, Phillip Schlamberg, was the last American pilot to have been killed during WWII. He had gone on a bombing mission with Jerry Yellin, who went on to become co-founder of Operation Warrior Wellness.[297]

Political views

[edit]
Johansson at the 2017 Women's March

Johansson was registered as an independent, at least through 2008,[298] and campaigned for Democratic candidate John Kerry in the 2004 United States presidential election.[15] When George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004, she said she was disappointed.[299]

In January 2008, her campaign for Democratic candidate Barack Obama included appearances in Iowa targeted at younger voters,[300] an appearance at Cornell College,[301] and a speaking engagement at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, on Super Tuesday, 2008.[302] Johansson appeared in the music video for rapper will.i.am's song, "Yes We Can" (2008), directed by Jesse Dylan; the song was inspired by Obama's speech after the 2008 New Hampshire primary.[303] In February 2012, Johansson and Anna Wintour hosted a fashion launch of clothing and accessories, whose proceeds went to the Obama's re-election campaign.[304] She addressed voters at the Democratic National Convention in September 2012, calling for Obama's re-election and for more engagement from young voters.[305] She encouraged women to vote for Obama and condemned Mitt Romney for his opposition to Planned Parenthood.[306]

Johansson publicly endorsed and supported Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's 2013 run for New York City Comptroller by hosting a series of fundraisers.[307] To encourage people to vote in the 2016 presidential election, in which Johansson endorsed Hillary Clinton,[308] she appeared in a commercial alongside her Marvel Cinematic Universe co-star Robert Downey Jr., and Joss Whedon.[309] In 2017, she spoke at the Women's March on Washington, addressing Donald Trump's presidency and stating that she would support the president if he works for women's rights and stops withdrawing federal funding for Planned Parenthood.[310] During the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, Johansson endorsed Elizabeth Warren, calling her "thoughtful and progressive but realistic".[311] In December 2020, three members of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, an Egyptian civil rights organization, were released from prison in Egypt, after Johansson had described their detention circumstances and demanded the trio's release.[312] Johansson joined a call with other actors in support of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.[313]

Acting credits and accolades

[edit]
See also: Scarlett Johansson on screen and stage and List of awards and nominations received by Scarlett Johansson
Johansson at the 2012 Goldene Kamera Awards

Johansson's films have grossed over $15.1 billion worldwide. Her top ten highest grossing films include Avengers: Endgame (2019), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), The Jungle Book (2016), Jurassic World Rebirth (2025), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Sing (2016), Iron Man 2 (2010).[314][315]

Over her career, Johansson has received various accolades including a BAFTA Award and a Tony Awards, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, seven Critics' Choice Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Johansson has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the following:

These recognitions make Johansson one of the dozen actors to have achieved two nominations at the Academy Awards in the same year. She is also one of the nine actors double-nominated in the same category in the same year at the British Academy Film Awards, with her two nominations in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for her work in the 2003 films Lost in Translation and Girl with a Pearl Earring, winning for the former.[316] Her two BAFTA nominations that year also made her the first of the group not to have either performance recognized by the Academy Awards, and she was also the first Best Actress winner since Maggie Smith in 1988 to not receive a nomination for the corresponding Oscar that year.[e] Lost in Translation and Girl with a Pearl Earring also earned her simultaneous Best Actress nominations at the 61st Golden Globe Awards,[f][317] and in the two subsequent years she received nominations for her work in A Love Song for Bobby Long[318] (2004) and Match Point (2005).[319]

See also

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Notes

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References

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Further reading

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Scarlett Johansson

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from Grokipedia
Scarlett Ingrid Johansson (born November 22, 1984) is an American actress, singer, and producer. She began her career as a child actor in the mid-1990s and gained breakthrough recognition with roles in Lost in Translation (2003) and Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), earning Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Johansson rose to prominence as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in ten Marvel Cinematic Universe films from 2010 to 2021, contributing to box office earnings in the tens of billions worldwide and establishing her as a leading action star. Her filmography encompasses independent cinema, blockbusters, and voice work, with total worldwide box office as a lead exceeding $14 billion—making her the highest-grossing lead actress until surpassed by Zoe Saldaña in 2026—and she made her directorial debut with the comedy-drama Eleanor the Great in 2025. Johansson has received a Tony Award, a British Academy Film Award, multiple Golden Globe nominations, and recognition as one of the world's highest-paid actresses; her career has also involved controversies over casting decisions, legal disputes with studios, and opposition to unauthorized AI use of her likeness.

Early Life

Family and Upbringing

Scarlett Ingrid Johansson was born on November 22, 1984, in Manhattan, New York City. Her father, Karsten Olaf Johansson, is a Danish-born architect from Copenhagen, and her mother, Melanie Sloan, is a producer from a Jewish family in the Bronx with ancestry from Poland and Russia. The youngest of four children sharing both parents, Johansson has a fraternal twin brother, Hunter; an older sister, Vanessa (an actress); and an older brother, Adrian. She also has an older half-brother, Christian, from her father's prior marriage, and a younger adopted sister, Fenan, via her mother. The family lived in Manhattan amid financial hardship, relying on welfare and food stamps during her early years. Her parents divorced in 1997, when she was 13; her mother relocated to California, while Johansson and her twin stayed mainly with their father in New York. Sloan's entertainment industry ties shaped the home environment; she managed Johansson's early acting career, encouraging creativity despite economic challenges.

Education and Initial Aspirations

Johansson developed an interest in acting at a young age, auditioning for commercials around age seven and enrolling in acting classes soon after. Her mother facilitated early exposure by taking her to auditions, resulting in a professional debut in childhood. From ages eight to eleven, she studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, training in Method acting and performing for live audiences. She later attended the Professional Children's School in Manhattan, a private institution for working child performers that balanced rigorous academics with acting commitments. Johansson graduated from high school there as an honor student while pursuing roles. At age thirteen, she described balancing school with auditions and filming, underscoring the demands of her early career. Her initial aspirations centered on acting, leading her to forgo higher education—such as at Purchase College—and focus on professional opportunities after high school graduation in 2002. This path aligned with her progression from child roles to breakthrough films in her late teens.

Acting Career

Early Roles and Breakthrough (1994–2002)

Johansson debuted in film at age nine as Laura in the 1994 fantasy comedy North, directed by Rob Reiner, playing the daughter of John Ritter's character in a tale of a boy seeking ideal parents. The film earned mixed reviews and modest box office returns, marking her feature film entry after off-Broadway stage work. She followed with supporting roles as the daughter of Sean Connery and Kate Capshaw's characters in the 1995 thriller Just Cause and in the 1996 romantic comedy If Lucy Fell. In 1996, she landed her first lead as the runaway younger sister Lo in the independent drama Manny & Lo, bonding with her pregnant sibling and a kidnapped nurse; the role earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead at age 12. Johansson then took minor parts in the 1997 short Fall and as resourceful neighbor Molly Pruitt in the family comedy Home Alone 3 (1997), aiding a boy against spies; the film grossed over $79 million worldwide despite poor reviews. She also appeared in the 1998 low-budget comedy My Brother the Pig as a sibling in a fantastical family story. Her role as tomboyish teenager Grace MacLean in Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer (1998) gained wider attention. At 13, she portrayed a girl who loses part of her leg in a riding accident that kills her friend and traumatizes her horse, leading her mother to seek Redford's horse trainer. Adapted from Nicholas Evans' novel, the film grossed $189 million worldwide and drew praise for Johansson's depiction of grief and resilience. Johansson later had supporting roles as a young Hungarian-American orphan in An American Rhapsody (2001) and as deputy Ashley Parker combating giant spiders in the horror-comedy Eight Legged Freaks (2002). Her breakthrough came as the conventional best friend Rebecca to Thora Birch's nonconformist Enid in Ghost World (2001), a black comedy from Daniel Clowes' graphic novel; critics acclaimed her dry wit, signaling her shift from child actor to emerging talent.

Transition to Mature Roles and Independent Cinema (2003–2009)

In 2003, Johansson shifted to mature roles, starring as the introspective Charlotte in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation, which portrays an unlikely friendship between a disillusioned actor and a newlywed in Tokyo. The low-budget independent film grossed over $119 million worldwide and received acclaim for its themes of isolation and connection. Johansson's performance earned her a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, her first major accolade for adult drama. That year, she also played Griet, the silent muse to painter Johannes Vermeer, in Peter Webber's Girl with a Pearl Earring, an adaptation emphasizing quiet tension in 17th-century Dutch life. The period drama earned six Academy Award nominations, including for cinematography and costume design, showcasing Johansson's skill in conveying emotion through restraint and minimal dialogue. Critics praised her versatility in anchoring art-house films beyond teen roles. Johansson explored complex dynamics in Woody Allen's Match Point (2005) as Nola Rice, an ambitious actress in a morally fraught affair amid London's high society. The thriller, marking Allen's dramatic return, highlighted her seductive vulnerability and grossed $85 million globally. In Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), she portrayed free-spirited Cristina, pursuing unconventional desires in Spain alongside Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, in a story of polyamory and cultural clash. The film premiered at Cannes, grossed $96 million, and featured Johansson's hedonistic curiosity in critiquing romantic idealism. These director-driven projects from 2003 to 2009 established Johansson's reputation for character-driven roles emphasizing nuance, emotional subtlety, and physical poise over commercial spectacle.

Blockbuster Era and Director Collaborations (2010–2013)

Johansson entered the blockbuster realm with her portrayal of Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, in Iron Man 2 (2010), directed by Jon Favreau, marking her introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film premiered on April 26, 2010, at the El Capitan Theatre and was released theatrically in the United States on May 7, 2010. Her character, initially undercover as Natalie Rushman, showcased combat skills and espionage, setting the stage for future MCU appearances. This role expanded in The Avengers (2012), directed by Joss Whedon, where Johansson reprised Black Widow as part of the ensemble led by Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, and Hawkeye. Released on May 4, 2012, the film assembled these heroes to combat Loki's invasion, grossing $1,520,538,536 worldwide and setting multiple box office records as the third-highest-grossing film at the time. Johansson's performance highlighted Black Widow's strategic intelligence and physical prowess amid high-stakes action sequences. Parallel to these commercial successes, Johansson collaborated with auteur directors on more introspective projects. In Under the Skin (2013), directed by Jonathan Glazer, she played an enigmatic alien entity seducing and preying on men in Scotland, delivering a largely silent, physically demanding performance that emphasized themes of otherness and predation. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2013 and earned critical acclaim for its atmospheric tension and Johansson's transformative role. She provided the voice for the operating system Samantha in Her (2013), written and directed by Spike Jonze, exploring a man's romantic attachment to an AI in a near-future setting. Johansson replaced Samantha Morton in the role after initial filming, with her vocal performance conveying emotional depth and evolving sentience, contributing to the film's 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Additionally, in Don Jon (2013), directed by and co-starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Johansson portrayed Barbara Sugarman, a woman challenging the protagonist's porn addiction and superficial ideals, blending comedy with relational critique. These diverse collaborations underscored her versatility, balancing franchise demands with independent cinema's artistic risks.

Franchise Dominance and Commercial Peak (2014–2020)

Johansson solidified her status as a blockbuster mainstay in 2014 with the lead role in Lucy, a science fiction thriller directed by Luc Besson that grossed $469 million worldwide on a $40 million budget, marking one of her earliest solo commercial hits outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). That year, she also reprised Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, an MCU entry that earned $714 million globally, further embedding her in the franchise's expanding narrative of espionage and superhero team-ups. These roles highlighted her transition from indie acclaim to high-stakes action, with Lucy's pseudoscientific premise of human potential unlocking drawing $126 million domestically alone. The following years saw Johansson's Black Widow evolve into a core ensemble figure across MCU tentpoles, driving unprecedented box office dominance. In Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), her character's deepened backstory and combat prowess contributed to the film's $1.405 billion worldwide haul, the second-highest grosser of its year despite a $365 million net production cost. She returned in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Black Widow's divided loyalties amid superhero schisms helped propel earnings to $1.153 billion, reinforcing the franchise's formula of interconnected conflicts yielding massive returns. Johansson's salary for these MCU appearances escalated, reflecting her value; by Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which grossed $2.052 billion—the fourth-highest ever at release—her pretax earnings reached eight figures per film, underscoring the character's draw in ensemble dynamics. This period peaked commercially with Avengers: Endgame (2019), where Johansson's Black Widow arc culminated in a sacrificial resolution, aiding the film's record-shattering $2.8 billion worldwide gross and cementing her as a linchpin in the MCU's Infinity Saga payoff. The film's success, bolstered by her prior buildup across nine MCU credits, propelled Johansson's cumulative franchise contributions to over $10 billion in global box office, per aggregate data. Forbes ranked her the world's highest-paid actress in 2018 and 2019, with $40.5 million and $56 million in pretax earnings respectively, largely from Marvel backend deals and endorsements tied to these blockbusters. Outside MCU, ventures like the voice role in animated hit Sing (2016), grossing $634 million, and the live-action Ghost in the Shell (2017), which earned $169 million but underperformed against its $110 million budget, illustrated attempts at franchise extension met with mixed financial results. Overall, Johansson's 2014–2020 output emphasized scalable IP reliance, yielding her position as Hollywood's top-grossing lead actress by decade's end, with MCU films accounting for the bulk of her $15 billion-plus career totals.

Post-Franchise Expansion and Directing Debut (2021–present)

After the July 9, 2021, release of Black Widow, Johansson pursued independent and auteur-driven projects. In 2023, she portrayed Midge Campbell in Wes Anderson's Asteroid City, an ensemble comedy-drama set in a 1950s desert town amid extraterrestrial events. Premiering at Cannes on May 24, 2023, and released widely on June 23, it garnered acclaim for stylistic precision despite modest box office returns. Johansson starred in and produced the 2024 romantic comedy Fly Me to the Moon, directed by Greg Berlanti. She played Kelly Jones, an executive staging a fake moon landing for NASA's Apollo 11. Co-starring Channing Tatum, it released on July 12, 2024, grossing over $48 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. In animation, she voiced Elita-1 in Transformers One (2024), an origin prequel directed by Josh Cooley and released September 20. Featuring Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime, it emphasized character development, earning a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score and over $30 million in domestic opening weekend earnings. Johansson's directorial debut, Eleanor the Great (2025), is a dark comedy starring June Squibb as a 94-year-old fabricating a Holocaust survivor backstory after relocating to New York. Also produced by Johansson, it premiered at Cannes in May 2025 and released theatrically on September 26, receiving a 66% Rotten Tomatoes approval for its blend of humor and pathos. In May 2025, Johansson was cast in Paper Tiger, a crime drama written and directed by James Gray, co-starring Adam Driver and Miles Teller. In November 2025, she was announced for a new Exorcist film, directed and written by Mike Flanagan, produced by Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and Morgan Creek, and distributed by Universal.

Music and Multimedia Ventures

Vocal Performances and Albums

Johansson's debut album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, released in May 2008 by Rhino Records, featured ten covers of Tom Waits songs and one original, "Song for Jo," produced by David Sitek with contributions from TV on the Radio members. Stemming from her admiration for Waits, the project proceeded without his involvement; Waits later disavowed it as "really bad." The album peaked at number 25 on the UK Albums Chart and number 78 on the US Billboard 200, with under 30,000 US first-week sales and limited global traction overall. Critics praised the experimental production but faulted her breathy vocals for lacking the emotional depth of Waits' originals. In September 2009, Johansson collaborated with Pete Yorn on Break Up, released by V2 Records, comprising nine duets recorded separately and styled after Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot's pairings. Debuting at number 58 on the US Billboard 200, it achieved modest sales around 20,000 copies in its first week, supported by joint live appearances. Reviews highlighted its intimate lo-fi appeal and Yorn's songwriting, though Johansson's competent vocals were seen as overshadowed by her celebrity rather than musical innovation. Johansson reunited with Yorn for the 2018 EP Apart, released June 1 via Capitol Music Group, featuring four new songs and a cover. It garnered modest attention without significant commercial or critical breakthrough. Beyond full-length releases, Johansson provided vocals for singles including "Falling Down" (2008) with The Jesus and Mary Chain, which reached number 139 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Before My Time" (2012) with J. Ralph for Chasing Ice, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Sporadic live performances, such as headlining the 2009 Dot to Dot Festival, highlighted her intermittent music pursuits secondary to acting. Overall, her output emphasizes exploratory covers and partnerships over original songwriting, yielding limited sales and mixed reception relative to her film prominence.

Voice Acting and Production Roles

Johansson debuted in voice acting as Princess Mindy in the animated The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), aiding protagonists SpongeBob and Patrick. She voiced the AI operating system Samantha in Her (2013). In The Jungle Book (2016), she voiced the hypnotic python Kaa. That year, Johansson voiced the aspiring rock singer Ash in Sing, reprising the role in Sing 2 (2021). She voiced the stray dog Nutmeg in Isle of Dogs (2018). Her recent major voice role was Elita-1 in Transformers One (2024). Johansson co-founded These Pictures in 2022 to develop projects with greater creative control. She served as executive producer on Black Widow (2021). Through These Pictures, she produced Fly Me to the Moon (2024), starring opposite Channing Tatum. In 2025, she produced and directed her debut Eleanor the Great, starring June Squibb as an 88-year-old pursuing higher education. Johansson executive produced the upcoming Amazon series Just Cause. In June 2025, she requested Marvel Studios remove her executive producer credit from Thunderbolts*, citing no substantive involvement.

Controversies and Public Disputes

Casting Choices and Identity-Based Criticisms

Johansson faced significant backlash for her casting as Major Motoko Kusanagi in the 2017 live-action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, a role originating from a Japanese manga and anime series featuring an Asian protagonist. Critics accused the production of "whitewashing" by selecting a white actress for the lead, prompting a Change.org petition with over 50,000 signatures calling for an Asian replacement. Johansson defended the choice by noting the character's cyborg nature and ambiguous ethnic origins in the film's narrative, where the Major's human past involves a white woman whose brain was transplanted into a synthetic shell, though this did not quell accusations of cultural erasure. The original anime director, Mamoru Oshii, stated there was "no basis" for the whitewashing anger, emphasizing that Kusanagi's portrayal had varied across adaptations and that Johansson was selected for her acting suitability rather than ethnicity. Despite the controversy, the film proceeded to release on March 31, 2017, grossing $169.8 million worldwide against a $110 million budget, but it underperformed expectations amid divided reviews. In 2018, Johansson encountered further criticism for accepting the role of transgender man Dante "Tex" Gill in the biopic Rub & Tug, sparking debates over whether cisgender actors should portray transgender characters, particularly given limited opportunities for trans performers in Hollywood. Advocacy groups and actors like Trace Lysette and Zackary Drucker argued that such casting perpetuated exclusion, with GLAAD highlighting the scarcity of trans representation behind the camera as well. Johansson initially responded by asserting her experience playing diverse roles, including in Under the Skin and Ghost in the Shell, and questioned restrictions on actors' range, but withdrew from the project on July 13, 2018, citing evolving cultural understandings of transgender experiences and ethical considerations. In a 2019 interview, she acknowledged mishandling the situation, describing her earlier comments as "tone-deaf" and reflecting on the need for greater sensitivity amid industry shifts toward authentic representation. The film was ultimately shelved, later adapted into a TV project without Johansson. These incidents fueled broader discussions on "politically correct" casting, with Johansson later criticizing constraints that limit actors to roles matching their identities, stating in July 2019 that she supported anyone's right to play any role, even "a tree," while facing accusations of insensitivity from progressive media outlets. Proponents of her view argued that merit-based selection prioritizes performance over identity politics, citing her proven box-office draw, whereas detractors, often from advocacy circles, emphasized systemic barriers for underrepresented groups, though empirical data on casting impacts remains debated without consensus on causal effects beyond anecdotal claims. No legal or professional repercussions ensued from either controversy, and Johansson continued securing high-profile roles thereafter. In July 2021, Johansson sued The Walt Disney Company for breach of contract in Los Angeles Superior Court. She alleged that the simultaneous theatrical and Disney+ release of Black Widow on July 9, 2021, violated her agreement for an exclusive theatrical window to maximize box office earnings and backend bonuses. Her deal included a $20 million base salary plus profit shares if thresholds were met, but the hybrid strategy—adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic—cost her an estimated $50 million, as the film's $379 million global gross fell short without streaming revenue counted. Disney argued her pay was already high, the pandemic warranted the change, and she had approved it. The case settled on September 30, 2021, with Disney reportedly paying her about $40 million. Johansson has also targeted tech firms for unauthorized use of her likeness and voice in AI. In November 2023, she took legal action against LOVO after it used her name, image, and a synthetic voice mimicking hers in promotions for its text-to-speech platform without permission, leading to a DMCA takedown and demands to stop. In May 2024, her team sent a cease-and-desist to OpenAI, claiming its "Sky" voice for ChatGPT deliberately imitated her voice from Her (2013), despite her rejection of CEO Sam Altman's licensing request. OpenAI paused the voice, attributing it to a similar-sounding actress, but Johansson cited violations of her publicity rights and AI risks to performers amid regulatory gaps. No lawsuit against OpenAI has been filed as of late 2024, though the dispute highlights tensions over IP in AI.

Political Stances and Backlash

Scarlett Johansson has expressed left-leaning political views on domestic issues, including strong opposition to Donald Trump. At the January 2017 Women's March on Washington, she addressed Trump directly, stating, "I did not vote for you," and called for support of women's rights and health initiatives. She endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016, citing Planned Parenthood's importance amid funding threats and her own use of its services. Johansson described his administration as "scary" in 2017 and pledged ongoing activism against him into 2020. Her financial support aligns with Democrats: she donated the maximum $2,800 to Elizabeth Warren's 2019 campaign and $3,300 to Kamala Harris in 2024. In October 2024, Johansson organized a get-out-the-vote video featuring Marvel co-stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and others to endorse Harris, warning of Trump's adverse effects on children, the environment, and society. She spoke at the 2018 Los Angeles Women's March, criticizing Hollywood sexual misconduct amid allegations against figures like James Franco. Johansson drew criticism for defending Woody Allen amid Dylan Farrow's sexual abuse allegations. In 2019, she affirmed, "I love Woody. I believe him, and I would work with him anytime," contrasting with peers distancing themselves during #MeToo. Her pro-Israel stance sparked backlash from pro-Palestinian activists. In 2014, as SodaStream ambassador—an Israeli firm with a West Bank settlement factory—Oxfam ended their partnership due to conflicts over the BDS movement, which Johansson opposed as a "fundamental difference of opinion." Palestinian-American groups withdrew from the 2018 Los Angeles Women's March, citing her pro-Israel advocacy. In 2021 interviews, Johansson reflected on controversies shaping her career and argued actors lack obligations for public activism, with personal views not dictating professional chances. Her positions generally match Hollywood's U.S. political consensus but expose rifts in progressive views on Israel.

Public Image and Cultural Impact

Media Depictions and Objectification Debates

Scarlett Johansson's media depictions have frequently emphasized her physical appearance, positioning her as a sex symbol in Hollywood since the mid-2000s. Esquire named her the Sexiest Woman Alive in 2006 and 2013, with features highlighting her curves and allure over her acting. This focus extended to red carpet and tabloid coverage, often prioritizing her figure and overshadowing dramatic roles like in Lost in Translation (2003). Johansson has critiqued this objectification in interviews, noting early hypersexualization limited her to provocative roles and threatened her career longevity. On the 2022 Armchair Expert podcast, she described feeling "objectified and pigeonholed" after films like Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), fearing few substantive offers remained. A 2025 Vanity Fair interview detailed journalists' overt objectification during her teens and early 20s, shaping her as a "bombshell" despite her youth. She highlighted industry double standards in 2014, where male actors faced less appearance-based scrutiny. Debates on her objectification balance commercial appeal against artistic range, with critics arguing media emphasis on sexuality diminished acclaim for Oscar-nominated work. Under the Skin (2013), including nudity, has been viewed as subverting male gaze tropes. Johansson expressed 2019 regret over typecasting tied to her physique, amid shifting Hollywood norms, while her Black Widow portrayal in form-fitting costumes amplified the sex symbol image, enhancing box office but sparking representation discussions.

Influence on Industry Standards and Box Office Records

Johansson's films in leading roles grossed more than $14.8 billion worldwide as of July 2025, briefly establishing her as the highest-grossing lead actor. This milestone followed the release of Jurassic World Rebirth, which opened to $318 million globally and pushed her total past previous male leads. However, by January 2026, Zoe Saldaña surpassed her in this ranking. Her Marvel Cinematic Universe roles, including Avengers: Endgame (2019, $2.8 billion worldwide) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018, $2.05 billion), contributed about $8.7 billion alongside films like Captain America: Civil War (2016, $1.15 billion). These figures highlight her draw in blockbusters, with Black Widow (2021) earning $379.8 million amid pandemic challenges and Lucy (2014) grossing $469.3 million, affirming her appeal in action genres. Her performance has encouraged studios to invest in female-led tentpoles, reducing risks for such projects and contributing to a post-2010s increase in billion-dollar franchises fronted by women.

Personal Life

Relationships and Family Dynamics

Scarlett Johansson was born on November 22, 1984, in New York City to father Karsten Johansson, a Danish-born architect, and mother Melanie Sloan, a producer from an Ashkenazi Jewish family in the Bronx. Her parents divorced in 1997, after which her mother relocated to California with some of the children while maintaining involvement in Johansson's early career as a manager and producer. Johansson has described her upbringing as financially modest, with her family relying on food stamps at times, which fostered a close-knit dynamic among siblings despite the divorce. She has five siblings: older half-sister Christianna from her mother's previous marriage, older brother Adrian, fraternal twin brother Hunter (also born November 22, 1984), and younger sister Vanessa. Johansson has collaborated professionally with Hunter, who works as a producer, and has publicly acknowledged the supportive role her family played in her development, including shared experiences in acting and creative pursuits. Johansson's romantic relationships have included high-profile partnerships leading to three marriages. She married actor Ryan Reynolds on September 27, 2008, after dating since 2007; the couple separated on December 14, 2010, and finalized their divorce in July 2011, with no children from the union. She wed French journalist Romain Dauriac on October 1, 2014, shortly after the birth of their daughter Rose Dorothy Dauriac on August 30, 2014, in New York City; they divorced in September 2017 following a custody dispute, agreeing to joint physical custody of Rose. In 2020, Johansson married comedian Colin Jost in an intimate ceremony in Tuxedo, New York, announced publicly on October 29 via social media; the couple welcomed son Cosmo Jost in August 2021. Johansson has emphasized maintaining strict privacy around her children, limiting public disclosures about Rose and Cosmo to protect their upbringing from media scrutiny, while co-parenting amicably with Dauriac across international distances. This approach reflects a deliberate family dynamic prioritizing stability and normalcy amid her career demands.

Health and Privacy Challenges

In September 2011, private nude photographs of Johansson, taken by herself for personal use, were hacked from her cellphone and posted online without consent. She described the incident as an "unjust" and "wrong" invasion of privacy. The perpetrator, Christopher Chaney, accessed accounts of multiple celebrities via phishing and password guessing, resulting in federal charges; he received a 10-year prison sentence in December 2012 for unauthorized computer access and wire fraud. Johansson's legal team issued cease-and-desist notices to websites hosting the images shortly after their posting on September 15, 2011. Johansson has expressed ongoing concerns about personal boundaries, citing repeated encroachments by fans and paparazzi. She has declined photo requests in public spaces, viewing them as intrusive despite appreciating fan support. These challenges reflect the difficulties of maintaining autonomy as a celebrity, compounded by digital and physical intrusions like the 2011 hack, which normalized non-consensual sharing of intimate content. Johansson has disclosed struggles with severe acne into adulthood, which affected her self-image and led to mental health difficulties, including near-depressive states due to its visibility in her profession. She addressed this by launching her skincare brand, The Outset, in 2022, focusing on non-aggressive treatments based on experiences with prior ineffective remedies that caused irritation. She has advocated for proactive gynecological care and screenings to reduce reproductive health risks, based on general women's health discussions rather than personal diagnoses.

Philanthropy and Social Engagement

Charitable Initiatives

Johansson served as Global Ambassador for Oxfam from 2007 to 2014, advocating poverty alleviation and humanitarian aid. Her involvement began after visiting India and Sri Lanka in February 2007; she later traveled to Kenya and produced a video journal on the organization's efforts. The role ended in January 2014 amid a dispute over her SodaStream endorsement, an Israeli firm in the West Bank, which Oxfam deemed incompatible with its Israeli-Palestinian conflict stance. A supporter of Planned Parenthood, Johansson filmed a 2011 public service announcement against $300 million federal funding cuts for women's health, designed a 2014 T-shirt to raise funds, and spoke at Variety's 2016 Power of Women event, earning recognition for reproductive health advocacy. In a 2017 Women's March speech, she disclosed relying on the organization for healthcare as a low-income teenager. In 2011, she endorsed USA Harvest, which distributes food to fight hunger, motivated by her family's childhood food insecurity. In 2023, Johansson received God's Love We Deliver's Golden Heart Award for Philanthropy & Activism, where she addressed her personal experiences with food insecurity. Through her skincare brand The Outset, she pledged 10% of April 2022 Earth Month sales—up to $25,000—to One Tree Planted for U.S. and Canadian wildfire reforestation. In June 2025, the brand donated 1% of proceeds to the NYC LGBT Community Center. She has backed broader efforts, including the Entertainment Industry Foundation's work on cancer and poverty, and Soles4Souls' provision of footwear and clothing for poverty relief.

Activism and Policy Positions

Johansson has advocated for access to abortion and reproductive health services, describing the right to abortion as a human rights issue in a 2016 speech at the Hollywood Reporter's Power of Women luncheon. She has supported Planned Parenthood through actions including a January 2014 video opposing measures to bar it from federal health programs, and a January 2017 Women's March address in Washington, D.C., where she disclosed using its services at age 15 for birth control, highlighted its essential health care beyond abortion, and criticized defunding efforts. Politically, Johansson has aligned with Democratic candidates, such as endorsing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 U.S. presidential election via a video featuring Marvel Cinematic Universe co-stars including Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans to boost voter turnout. In her 2017 Women's March speech, she connected personal responsibility to feminist principles. Johansson affirmed in February 2017 her commitment to ongoing political engagement. In 2014, Johansson served as global brand ambassador for SodaStream, an Israeli company with a West Bank factory in Ma'ale Adumim, defending the role for employing Israelis and Palestinians to promote economic cooperation. This prompted her resignation from an eight-year Oxfam ambassadorship, as the organization opposes settlement operations and backs the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement; she cited irreconcilable differences over BDS. Johansson confirmed prior knowledge of the factory's location and expressed no regrets, emphasizing workplace integration over settlement issues. Johansson has criticized demands for actors' political neutrality, stating in a 2021 interview that such expectations unfairly target performers while sparing other professions. She has also resisted casting constraints linked to political correctness, especially amid backlash over roles in Rub & Tug (2018) and Ghost in the Shell (2017).

Awards and Professional Recognition

Major Film and Theater Honors

Johansson won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her Broadway debut as Catherine in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge, directed by Ivo van Hove, which ran from September 2009 to February 2010. She received a Drama Desk Award nomination and the Theatre World Award for the same role. In film, she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Lost in Translation (2003). Johansson has earned five Golden Globe nominations—Lost in Translation (Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, 2004), Match Point (Best Supporting Actress, 2006), Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, 2009), Her (Best Actress in a Supporting Role, 2014), and Marriage Story (Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama, 2020)—without a win. She received two Academy Award nominations in 2020—Best Actress for Marriage Story (2019) and Best Supporting Actress for Jojo Rabbit (2019)—the first dual acting nods for an actor since Kate Winslet in 2006 and only the fifth for a woman overall. She did not win either, despite acclaim for her roles.
AwardYearCategoryWorkOutcome
Tony Award2010Best Featured Actress in a PlayA View from the BridgeWon
BAFTA Award2004Best Actress in a Leading RoleLost in TranslationWon
Academy Award2020Best ActressMarriage StoryNominated
Academy Award2020Best Supporting ActressJojo RabbitNominated

Commercial and Critical Milestones

Johansson's films in leading roles collectively grossed over $14.8 billion worldwide as of July 2025, briefly positioning her as the highest-grossing lead actor in history after surpassing Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr. with the release of Jurassic World Rebirth, which opened to $318 million globally. However, in January 2026, Zoe Saldaña surpassed this record with over $15.4 billion following Avatar: Fire and Ash. Her portrayal of Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe contributed over $8.7 billion in box office revenue from films including the Avengers series and Captain America: Civil War. The standalone Black Widow (2021) set pandemic-era records, earning $80 million in its domestic opening weekend and surpassing prior benchmarks for theatrical debuts under COVID-19 restrictions. Critically, Johansson received early acclaim for Lost in Translation (2003), earning a BAFTA Award for Best Actress and demonstrating her dramatic range. Later roles, such as in Marriage Story (2019), brought critics' group awards including the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress, highlighting her shift from blockbusters to introspective dramas. Johansson topped Forbes' list of highest-paid actresses multiple times, earning $56 million in 2019 from endorsements and film salaries, underscoring her appeal across commercial and prestige projects.

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