Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson
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Name	Scarlett Johansson
Caption	Johansson in 2019
Birth date	22 November 1984
Birth place	Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, singer
Years active	1994–present
Spouse	Ryan Reynolds (m. 2008; div. 2011), Romain Dauriac (m. 2014; div. 2017)
Partner	Colin Jost (2017–present; engaged)
Awards	Full list

Scarlett Johansson is an American actress and singer, widely recognized as one of the world's highest-paid actresses and a major figure in contemporary Hollywood. She gained critical acclaim for her work in both independent films and major blockbusters, most notably as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Johansson has received numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, a British Academy Film Award, and multiple nominations for Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

Early life and education

Scarlett Johansson was born on November 22, 1984, in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Her mother, Melanie Sloan, worked as a producer, and her father, Karsten Johansson, was an architect from Denmark. She has an older sister, Vanessa Johansson, an older brother, and a twin brother, Hunter Johansson. Encouraged by her mother, she began attending the Professional Children's School and studying acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Her early training included roles in off-Broadway theatre productions, such as Sophistry alongside Ethan Hawke.

Career

Johansson's professional debut was in the 1994 fantasy comedy North. Her breakthrough came with The Horse Whisperer, directed by Robert Redford, which earned her a nomination for the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actress. She transitioned to adult roles with critical successes like Lost in Translation directed by Sofia Coppola, for which she won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Girl with a Pearl Earring. Throughout the 2000s, she starred in a mix of indie films like Match Point and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and larger projects such as The Prestige. A defining chapter began in 2010 when she was cast as Black Widow in Iron Man 2, a role she reprised in multiple films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including The Avengers and its sequels. She has since headlined the standalone film Black Widow and received critical acclaim for her roles in Her, Under the Skin, and Marriage Story, the latter earning her nominations for both the Academy Award for Best Actress and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in the same year.

Public image and media portrayal

Frequently described by media outlets like Forbes and Time as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, Johansson has often been labeled a sex symbol. She has been a frequent face in advertising campaigns for major brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, and Moët & Chandon. Her status was cemented by features in publications like the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and multiple appearances on People's "World's Most Beautiful" list. Johansson's vocal support for political causes, including her public endorsement of Barack Obama and advocacy for women's rights with organizations like Oxfam and Planned Parenthood, has also shaped her public persona. Her involvement in a high-profile legal dispute with The Walt Disney Company over the release of *Black Widow* brought significant media attention to actor compensation in the streaming media era.

Personal life

Johansson was married to actor Ryan Reynolds from 2008 until their divorce in 2011. She later married French journalist Romain Dauriac in 2014; they have a daughter and divorced in 2017. Since 2017, she has been engaged to Saturday Night Live head writer and comedian Colin Jost, with whom she has a son. A longtime resident of New York City, she has been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including serving as a global ambassador for Oxfam and supporting the American Civil Liberties Union. Johansson is also a founding member of the Time's Up legal defense fund.

Filmography and accolades

With a career spanning over three decades, Johansson's extensive filmography includes notable works across genres. Her major film credits encompass Ghost World, The Island, The Nanny Diaries, Lucy, and Jojo Rabbit. For her stage work, she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in the 2010 revival of A View from the Bridge. Her singing career includes the release of two albums, Anywhere I Lay My Head and Break Up, a collaboration with Pete Yorn. Among her many honors are a BAFTA Award, a Tony Award, and nominations for two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

Category:American film actresses Category:American voice actresses Category:21st-century American actresses