Scarlett Johansson evolves on screen and off
Black Widow’s life experiences mirror growth of veteran actress
LOS A NGELES — Scarlett Johansson wasn’t seeing red when the subject of her pregnancy came up at a Beverly Hills Hotel while promoting Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Instead, a coy Johansson was diplomatic as she neither confirmed nor denied her status, responding with vague generalities reminiscent of an experienced politician.
She did confirm that she’s currently stunt training in preparation for her Black Widow role in the much-anticipated sequel The Avengers: Age of Ultron, which should start filming soon.
Other than that, she was strategically wily.
“Everything is exactly on schedule,” said the 29-yearold, who is engaged to French media boss Romain Dauriac after divorcing Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds in 2011.
Double meaning aside, Johansson noted that she was thrilled that her Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow character has more to do in the second Captain America.
Indeed, Black Widow teams up with Captain America (Chris Evans) to battle The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and his mercenaries as they plot to invade S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in Washington.
Familiar faces return, including Samuel L. Jackson as S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury and Vancouver’s Cobie Smulders who reprises her Avengers part as Agent Maria Hill, yet Johansson’s Black Widow is front and centre.
“She’s kind of evolving with each instalment,” said Johansson who previously played Black Widow in Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. “My character’s experiences are getting more complex as my own experiences are.”
That’s coming from an actress with 20 years in the business. In fact, she re-connected with old buddy Robert Redford, who plays a highranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in the latest Captain America.
Johansson said Redford’s just as solid as he was when he directed and starred opposite her in 1998’s The Horse Whisperer. By then, the seasoned Johansson had already won minor parts in seven movies.
After The Horse Whisperer, she returned to school, graduating from New York’s Professional Children’s School in 2002. She restarted her career with her acclaimed portrayal in 2003’s Lost in Translation.
Since then, she’s won praise and criticism for a series of varied film roles. Before Black Widow, Johansson even tried her hand at a comic book fantasy flick with her Silken Floss portrayal in Frank Miller’s 2008 movie version of The Spirit.
The constant is this: she’s not a big fan of working out. That was especially true for the demanding Black Widow part which requires her to perform complex martial arts movements.
The good news for Johansson is that she reported for Captain America duty just after her Broadway run playing Maggie in a remounting of the well-received Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
“If anything was going to prepare me, it was that,” said Johansson of her consecutive stage performances during the four-month run in 2012 and 2013.
Still, she’s hardly diplomatic when discussing the gruelling training regimen and strict diet required for Black Widow.
“You get treated like a dude and then you eat a bunch of lettuce and whatever,” Johansson said. “It’s boring. You get up early and go to the gym — that stuff is horrible.”
A Black Widow film may or may not be in her near future depending on the motherhood situation. And despite her appearances in multiple blockbusters, she said that she proudly continues to mix up the movie genres.
“I’m sure that will continue as I grow older and transition through life,” said Johansson.