Scarlett Johansson, despite living a relatively low-key life, has managed to achieve incredible success and become one of the highest-earning actresses in the world. She has never embraced the diva persona often associated with A-list celebrities, as she revealed in an interview with Parade.
From a young age, Scarlett Johansson has faced countless rejections. Reflecting on her experiences, she advises aspiring actors to remain open-minded and resilient. She acknowledges that she never took her success for granted and even considered exploring other avenues within the entertainment industry.
Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of the iconic character Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has garnered immense popularity. In addition to her work in independent films and on Broadway, she has also left a mark in high-profile movies. In this article, we will delve into Scarlett Johansson’s career trajectory and examine her impressive net worth.
Scarlett Ingrid Johansson was born on November 22, 1984, in the vibrant neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Her father, Karsten Olaf Johansson, hails from Copenhagen, Denmark and works as an architect. Meanwhile, her paternal grandfather, Ejner Johansson, was a talented Swedish art historian, screenwriter, and film director.
Johansson proudly embraces her Jewish heritage. Her mother, Melanie Sloan, originates from a renowned Ashkenazi Jewish family with Polish and Russian roots, initially known as the Schlamberg family.
The talented actress has a close-knit family, including an older sister named Vanessa, who is also involved in the acting industry. Additionally, she has an older brother called Adrian and a twin brother named Hunter. Furthermore, Johansson has a half-brother named Christian from her father’s previous marriage.
In terms of her nationality, Johansson possesses dual citizenship in both the United States and Denmark.
Scarlett Johansson’s childhood was centered in Manhattan’s vibrant Greenwich Village. She attended PS 41, an elementary school, and had an ordinary upbringing. At the age of thirteen, her parents divorced, but she found solace and companionship in her maternal grandmother, Dorothy Sloan. Johansson considered her grandmother to be her best friend and spent a lot of time with her.
From a young age, Johansson had a passion for show business and frequently entertained her family with her performances. She had a particular love for jazz hands and musical theater. Her parents supported her dreams and allowed her to pursue tap dancing, which she received professional training in.
As she grew older, Johansson discovered her talent for acting. She used to practice by mimicking Judy Garland’s emotional scenes in Meet Me in St. Louis, shedding tears in front of the mirror. However, she experienced disappointment when a talent agent signed one of her brothers at the age of seven instead of her. Nevertheless, she made the firm decision to become an actor and enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, where she decided to focus on theater and movies, leaving behind commercial auditions.
Johansson’s dedication to her craft led her to make her stage debut in the off-Broadway production of Sophistry, alongside Ethan Hawke. Although her role only consisted of two lines, it marked the beginning of her journey in the world of theater and movies. During this time, she also attended the Professional Children’s School (PCS), a prestigious private school in Manhattan catering to talented young performers.
Scarlett Johansson’s career in the film industry began at a young age, with her first appearance in the 1994 movie “North.” She gained recognition for her role in the Off-Broadway show “Sophistry” at the age of eight and continued to make appearances in various films such as “Just Cause” in 1995. However, it wasn’t until her breakthrough performance in the 1996 drama “Manny & Lo” that she achieved true stardom. Her portrayal of a teenage girl in the critically acclaimed film “The Horse Whisperer” in 1998 further solidified her reputation as a talented actress. In the 2001 black comedy “Ghost World,” Johansson’s performances received praise despite the film’s lackluster box office performance.
After graduating from Professional Children’s School and receiving a rejection letter from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University in 2002, Johansson decided to dedicate herself fully to her film career and transition from teenage to adult roles. This decision led to her starring role in the film “Lost in Translation” in 2003, where she acted alongside Bill Murray and received nominations for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. She continued to showcase her acting abilities in films such as “The Girl With the Pearl Earring,” for which she received another Golden Globe and BAFTA nomination.
Throughout 2004, Johansson appeared in multiple movies, including “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” “The Perfect Score,” “A Love Song for Bobby Long,” and “In Good Company.” Her career continued to flourish as she debuted in Woody Allen’s critically acclaimed film “Match Point” in 2005 and went on to star in “Scoop” in 2006 and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” in 2008. She also ventured into the action genre with her role in “The Island” in 2005, co-starring with Ewan McGregor.
Johansson’s versatility as an actress was evident in films like “The Other Boleyn Girl” in 2008, “He’s Just Not That Into You” in 2009, and “We Bought a Zoo” in 2011, where she showcased her ability to portray a wide range of characters. In 2010, she made her Broadway debut in “A View from the Bridge” and won the award for Best Actress at the Tony Awards.
Additionally, Johansson took on the role of Natasha Romanoff, also known as the Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She first appeared as the character in “Iron Man 2” in 2010 and reprised the role in several other superhero films, including “The Avengers” in 2012, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” in 2014, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” in 2015, “Captain America: Civil War” in 2016, “Avengers: Infinity War” in 2018, “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, and “Black Widow” in 2021.
Outside of acting, Johansson pursued a career in music. She released her first album, “Anywhere I Lay My Head,” in 2008, which consisted of covers of songs by Tom Waits. She also collaborated with Pete Yorn on a duets album called “Break Up,” which was released in 2009. In 2018, the duo released the EP “Apart,” further showcasing Johansson’s musical talent.
Personal Life
During her time at PCS, Scarlett Johansson was in a relationship with Jack Antonoff from 2001 to 2002. Following that, she became involved with her Black Dahlia co-star Josh Hartnett and remained together until the end of 2006. The split was attributed to their demanding schedules. In 2007, Johansson began dating Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds. They became engaged in May 2008 and had a wedding ceremony on Vancouver Island in September of the same year. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in divorce in July 2011 after separating in December 2010.
Moving forward, Johansson started a relationship with Romain Dauriac, a Frenchman and the owner of an advertising business, in November 2012. They got engaged in September of the next year and split their time between Paris and New York City. Their daughter was born in 2014, and they tied the knot in Philipsburg, Montana, the following October. However, they eventually divorced in September 2017 after separating in the middle of 2016.
In May 2017, Johansson began dating Colin Jost, a co-head writer and co-host of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update. The couple announced their engagement in May 2019 and exchanged vows at their New York residence in October 2020. They welcomed their son in August 2021. Both New York and Los Angeles serve as homes to Johansson.
In September 2011, private pictures of Scarlett Johansson were stolen from her cellphone and leaked online. It was discovered that she had sent those images to her ex-husband, Ryan Reynolds, three years prior. The culprit was eventually caught after an FBI investigation and was sentenced to ten years in prison after admitting guilt. In 2014, Scarlett Johansson won a lawsuit against French publisher JC Lattès for defamation due to false claims made in Grégoire Delacourt’s book, The First Thing We Look At. She was awarded $68,000, but received only $3,400.
Scarlett Johansson has criticized the media for promoting unhealthy diets and contributing to the development of eating disorders among women. In an editorial she wrote for The Huffington Post, she emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy body. In a notable incident, she, along with actress Keira Knightley and fashion designer Tom Ford, posed nude for the cover of Vanity Fair in March 2006. This caused controversy as some argued it reflected the societal pressure on women to express their sexuality more frequently compared to men.
Scarlett Johansson’s net worth is estimated to be around $165 million, with $56 million earned in the current year alone. Her journey to success was not without its challenges. Despite being one of the highest-grossing actresses in history, she revealed in an interview with Marie Claire in 2017 that she did not always receive equal pay compared to her male co-stars.
Being the top-grossing actress does not guarantee being the highest-paid, according to Johansson. She acknowledged the fickle and political nature of the industry, stating that she had to fight for everything she has achieved. Johansson believed that discussing her personal struggles could shed light on the broader issue of gender equality, as she assumed it was apparent that women face ongoing challenges in various positions. Her personal experiences and those of her female friends and family have shown her that discrimination and sexism are prevalent in society.
Examining Johansson’s career accomplishments, her ability to generate income is truly remarkable. Beyond her roles in superhero movies, she has also starred in critically acclaimed independent films, showcasing her willingness to take risks. Unlike many of her peers, she does not actively engage in social media or participate in influencer deals, consciously maintaining her privacy and preserving the exclusive and high-end image associated with her brand.
What was the reason behind Scarlett Johansson’s legal action against Marvel?
In a previous interview with ComicBook.com in June 2021, Scarlett Johansson mentioned that her role as Black Widow in the Marvel franchise would be her last. She expressed her fondness for the character and the film, stating that it felt like leaving a party that was still going strong. However, recent developments suggest that monetary considerations may have influenced her decision to leave.
On July 29, 2021, Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney, alleging a breach of contract. According to her claim, the contract stipulated that Black Widow would have an exclusive theatrical release, and the financial rewards tied to the project were heavily reliant on its box office success. However, Disney’s decision to simultaneously release the film in theaters and on their streaming service, Disney+, violated this agreement.
Furthermore, Johansson stated that she had attempted to renegotiate her contract before the movie’s premiere, but Disney declined her requests due to their plan for a dual release. She estimates that as a result of this dispute, she has suffered a personal loss of around $50 million.
It appears that behind Scarlett Johansson’s departure from the Marvel universe lies a conflict over financial matters and the alleged violation of her contractual agreement by Disney.
Based on a statement from Scarlett Johansson’s lawyer, Disney’s decision to release movies like Black Widow directly on Disney+, aiming to increase subscribers and boost the company’s stock price, was solely driven by their own interests without considering Scarlett Johansson’s financial gain. The lawyer argues that Disney is using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse for ignoring the artists’ contracts and violating their rights. They express confidence in proving this in court.
In response, Disney released a statement dismissing the lawsuit and expressing disappointment in the disregard shown for the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, on September 30, it was reported that the two parties had reached a mutually agreeable settlement. According to an unidentified source, Scarlett Johansson received $40 million in the settlement. Despite the past conflict, the actress is still set to appear in Disney’s upcoming film, Tower of Terror, suggesting that they were able to maintain a cordial relationship in the end.
