Scarlett Johansson, born on November 22, 1984, in Manhattan, New York, is a renowned American actress and singer.
She began her acting career at age 9 and gained fame with her role in Lost in Translation (2003), earning a BAFTA Award for Best Actress.
Johansson has starred in numerous successful films, including Lucy (2014) and Marriage Story (2019), for which she received two Oscar nominations.
She was the highest-paid actress in 2018 and 2019 and has grossed over $15.4 billion globally, making her the highest-grossing female star of all time.
Parents
Scarlett’s parents are Karsten Johansson, a Danish architect, and Melanie Sloan, a producer from New York.
They raised Scarlett and her siblings in a low-income household in Manhattan, often relying on public assistance.
Despite financial struggles, they supported Scarlett’s passion for acting from a young age.
Karsten introduced the family to Danish culture, while Melanie nurtured Scarlett’s artistic interests, taking her to Broadway shows and enrolling her in acting classes.
The couple divorced in 1997, but both remained supportive of Scarlett’s career throughout her upbringing.
Career
Johansson’s career began with her breakthrough role in The Horse Whisperer (1998), directed by Robert Redford.
In this film, she played a young girl recovering from a traumatic horse-riding accident, which garnered her critical attention and set the stage for her future success.
She further established herself as a rising star with her role as Rebecca in Ghost World (2001), a cult classic that showcased her talent.
Her rise to fame came with the critically acclaimed Lost in Translation (2003), where she starred alongside Bill Murray in a romantic comedy-drama directed by Sofia Coppola.
Johansson’s performance earned her a BAFTA Award for Best Actress and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, propelling her into the spotlight.
Following this success, she demonstrated her versatility in films such as Match Point (2005), where she played a seductive young woman, and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), portraying Mary Boleyn in a historical drama alongside Natalie Portman.
Her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), another collaboration with Woody Allen, further showcased her ability to tackle complex characters.
Johansson’s career took a significant turn when she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). She made her debut as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in Iron Man 2 (2010), quickly becoming a fan favorite.
Her character’s popularity led to her reprising the role in several MCU films, including The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
The character of Black Widow became iconic, culminating in her standalone film, Black Widow (2021).
In recent years, Johansson has continued to deliver acclaimed performances.
In Marriage Story (2019), directed by Noah Baumbach, she portrayed Nicole Barber, earning critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
The film poignantly explores the complexities of divorce and relationships. Additionally, she starred in Taika Waititi’s satirical comedy-drama Jojo Rabbit (2019), where she played Rosie, the mother of a young boy in Nazi Germany.
Beyond film, Johansson made her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge in 2010, earning a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
She has also ventured into music, releasing albums such as Anywhere I Lay My Head (2008), which features covers of Tom Waits songs, showcasing her musical talents.
Johansson has been recognized as one of the highest-grossing actresses of all time, with her films collectively grossing over $15 billion worldwide.
She has received numerous accolades, including Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA nominations.
