The movie that Scarlett Johansson thought was going to kill her: “‘I don’t think I’m going to survive this”
Some actors have mastered a knack for striking a balance between creatively enriching projects and financial triumphs, and Scarlett Johansson is no exception.
Johansson broke through into mainstream consciousness in the early 2000s, impressing critics with her performance in the indie film Ghost World. While Thora Birch’s Enid takes the lead, Johansson was close behind, acting as her best friend, Rebecca, whose ambitions for a bigger and better life stand in opposition to the lost and confused Enid. Although the film only achieved cult status a few years later, the film helped to land Johansson more roles, such as Charlotte in Sofia Coppola’s second film, Lost in Translation.
Her performance in the film, which won an Oscar for ‘Best Original Screenplay’, was widely praised. She captured the essence of a lonely and lost young woman perfectly, finding identification and companionship alongside Bill Murray’s Bob. She comes to life in certain scenes, like when she does karaoke in a pink wig.
In the following years, she continued to star in successful movies, like Girl With a Pearl Earring, Vicky Christina Barcelona, and He’s Just Not That Into You. However, in 2010, she made her Marvel debut as Black Widow in Iron Man 2. From there, she starred in many more movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the character, including The Avengers, Captain America: Civil War, Captain Marvel, and, of course, Black Widow.
Her tenure as one of Marvel’s most loyal actors has made her the highest-grossing female actor of all time due to the sheer popularity of the MCU. Johansson was desperate to play the role, despite believing that it would be a real challenge. Until this point, the actor had mainly starred in a mix of romantic dramas and comedies, historical dramas and thrillers, but she had never ventured into superhero territory.
The role almost went to Emily Blunt, but she wasn’t able to commit in the end, so Johansson gladly accepted. However, when she had initially been rejected in favour of Blunt, she questioned her whole career.
Luckily, she was able to play Black Widow, who remains one of Marvel’s most beloved characters. She found it a tough role to embody, considering it was unlike anything she had done before, but she managed to succeed. “There’s pain involved in trying to make something great, whether that’s emotional pain or physical pain,” she said to Success.
She continued: “Like in these superhero movies, it definitely hurts. It’s a lifestyle that’s not that fun. But the challenge is what makes me happy, not the end result. The challenge of, ‘How far can I push myself?’ Like doing the play —‘I don’t think I’m going to survive this.’ Or doing The Avengers —‘I’m gonna die halfway through this job.’ Being able to do something that feels impossible makes me feel incredibly happy.”
The Avengers was released in 2012 and featured an ensemble cast such as Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, and Samuel L. Jackson. Johansson had to train incredibly hard for the film, getting herself physically ready for constant fighting and active scenes. Although it was a big struggle, Johansson’s hard work paid off, and she ended up feeling very satisfied as a result.
