Scarlett Johansson is the quintessential Manhattan actress, singer, model, and film director. She is widely and rightfully regarded as the highest-paid and most respected figure in the film industry. From a young age, she dreamed of becoming famous and successful. According to manhattanski.com, the actress achieved unparalleled fame, audience adoration, and massive paychecks thanks to her talent and sheer force of will, manhattanski.com.
Childhood: The First Steps into Filmmaking
Scarlett was born in Manhattan on November 22, 1984. Her father, Karsten Johansson, was an architect, while her mother, Melanie Sloan, worked as a producer and actress. Scarlett has a twin brother, Hunter, an older brother, Adrian, and a sister, Vanessa. Her interest in acting blossomed early, thanks to her parents, who instilled a love for cinema. By age seven, Scarlett was already attending auditions for commercials and taking acting classes at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. When she turned eight, she appeared in the Broadway production of Sophistry. Driven to find new roles, Johansson enrolled in the Professional Children’s School (PCS) in Manhattan. This private institution is known for notable alumni like Carrie Fisher and Sarah Gellar. At PCS, young Scarlett indulged her passion for musicals and even took tap dancing lessons. In a 2013 interview with Interview Magazine, the actress confessed that she loved to sing and dance as a child. She enjoyed improvising and doing vocal exercises. Scarlett fell so deeply in love with the stage that she vowed to conquer it and announce herself to the world. Soon after, she began performing professionally. In 1994, Johansson landed her first paid role in a sketch on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, followed by her film debut in the comedy North. Reflecting on her first day on set, Scarlett told New York Magazine in 2004 that, for some reason, she “just instinctively knew what to do.” Her first leading role came two years later in the independent dreamed Manny & Lo, where Johansson played the younger sister of a pregnant teenager; both were in foster care. At 13, Scarlett Johansson earned critical acclaim in the neo-Western The Horse Whisperer. Her portrayal of Grace MacLean, a young girl with an amputated leg, captivated many fans, including the film’s star and director, Robert Redford. After this project, the young Scarlett realised that the essence of acting lies in the ability to manage one’s own emotions. Following this successful role, Johansson attracted even more attention. In 2002, Scarlett graduated from high school and quickly became one of Hollywood’s most promising actresses. In 2003, she landed two leading roles that brought her widespread critical recognition. In Lost in Translation, she personified a woman visiting Tokyo who forms an unexpected connection with an older man. Johansson also impressed audiences with her role as the maid painted by the famous artist Jan Vermeer in Girl with a Pearl Earring. Both roles earned the actress Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress.
Developing an Acting Career
After achieving popularity and recognition, Johansson took on a wide array of projects. In 2004, she starred in A Love Song for Bobby Long alongside John Travolta, playing a young woman trying to reclaim her deceased mother’s house. Her brilliant performance earned her another Golden Globe nomination. In 2005, Scarlett starred in the drama Match Point, where she played a woman having an affair with a married tennis coach. Following several dramatic roles, the actress ventured into comedy again with The Nanny Diaries (2007), playing a nanny for an unhappy wealthy couple. The following year, she starred in Woody Allen’s romantic comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Transitioning to big-budget projects, Scarlett played the superspy Black Widow in Iron Man 2 (2010). This action film was one of the biggest blockbusters of the summer and laid the foundation for her appearances in numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe films. In 2013, Johansson lent her voice to a character in the futuristic film Her. In 2016, the actress voiced Kaa in The Jungle Book. In 2017, Scarlett found success with the American adaptation of the film Ghost in the Shell, although the production was subject to criticism. That same year, she was at the centre of a casting controversy when she was chosen to play transgender massage parlour owner Dante “Tex” Gill in the film Rub & Tug. Johansson’s next major role was in the drama Marriage Story, in which she portrayed an actress going through a divorce. This role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, as well as a Golden Globe nomination in the same category. Taking on another controversial project, Johansson appeared in Jojo Rabbit (2019) as the mother of a 10-year-old boy in Nazi Germany who considers Hitler his imaginary best friend. In 2025, Scarlett starred in the spy comedy Jurassic World Rebirth, which tells the story of a wealthy arms dealer starting a new life after surviving an assassination attempt. Johansson also tried her hand at directing. Her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great, received a five-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Scarlett continues filming Jurassic World Rebirth, which was released in July 2025.
Singer and Stage Actress
After several film roles, Scarlett brought her acting skills to the theatre stage. In 2010, she made her Broadway debut in the production of Arthur Miller’s drama A View from the Bridge. Her performance received positive reviews and earned her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She later returned to Broadway in 2013 in an adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, playing the role of Maggie. In addition to her successful acting career, Johansson ventured into music, signing with Atco Records in October 2006. In May 2008, she released her studio album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, on the Atco Records label. It featured cover versions of Tom Waits’ songs. Expanding her horizons, she teamed up with Pete Yorn to record a duet album. Their collaborative album, Break Up, was released in May 2009. Later, Scarlett decided to try pop music and formed the band The Singles with four other women. In 2015, the group released its first single, “Candy.” However, the band announced its split a few days after the release. Three years later, Scarlett reunited with Yorn to record their EP, Apart, which was released in June 2018.
The Actress’s Personal Life and Net Worth
Scarlett Johansson is a beloved wife and mother. She is married to comedian Colin Jost. Their wedding ceremony took place in October 2020. In August 2021, the actress gave birth to their first child. The marriage to Jost is Scarlett’s third. She was married to fellow actor Ryan Reynolds for just over two years before they divorced in 2010. Johansson then had a brief romance with actor Sean Penn. In November 2012, Scarlett went public with her relationship with French journalist Romain Dauriac, who became her second husband. However, their marriage lasted two years, and the actress divorced him in 2017. According to Celebrity Net Worth, as of May 2025, Johansson’s net worth is estimated at $165 million. She is considered one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses, earning an average of $10 to $20 million per film. Beyond her acting, Johansson has her own skincare line, The Outset, which she launched in March 2022.