Scarlett Johansson is one of the most successful and recognizable actresses of her generation. Known for her blockbuster roles, Marvel success, and high-profile marriages, she has built a career that spans indie dramas, major action films, and Broadway.
Here is everything you need to know about Scarlett Johansson’s journey to superstardom:
Blockbuster Roles
Scarlett Johansson began acting at a young age and earned early praise for roles in films like The Horse Whisperer (1998) and Ghost World (2001). Her breakthrough came with Lost in Translation (2003), where she played a young woman adrift in Tokyo opposite Bill Murray. The performance earned her a BAFTA Award and set her on the path to becoming a Hollywood A-lister.
Throughout the 2000s, Johansson took on a mix of indie and major studio projects. She starred in Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), Match Point (2005), and The Prestige (2006), showing her ability to handle both period dramas and modern thrillers.
She is also known for her voice work, lending her distinct voice to the character Samantha in the sci-fi romance Her (2013), a performance that received critical acclaim even though she never appeared on screen.
Johansson has headlined many major blockbusters outside the Marvel universe as well, including Lucy (2014), where she played a woman who unlocks the full potential of her brain, and Ghost in the Shell (2017), where she took on the role of a cyber-enhanced super-soldier.
Marvel Success
Scarlett Johansson is best known to many audiences as Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She first appeared as the character in Iron Man 2 (2010) and quickly became a fan favorite.
Over the next decade, Johansson reprised the role in multiple Marvel films, including The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Her portrayal brought depth and strength to a character that could have easily been one-dimensional.
In 2021, Johansson finally starred in her own standalone Marvel movie, Black Widow. The film explored Natasha’s past and gave her character a proper send-off, satisfying fans who had long called for a solo film. Her work with Marvel made Johansson one of the highest-paid actresses in the world and solidified her place as a modern action star.
Marriages
Scarlett Johansson’s love life has often made headlines. She was married to actor Ryan Reynolds from 2008 to 2011. Though they kept their relationship relatively private, their marriage was closely followed by the media.
After her divorce, Johansson married French journalist Romain Dauriac in 2014. The couple had one daughter, Rose Dorothy, before separating in 2017.
In 2020, Johansson married comedian and Saturday Night Live writer Colin Jost. They had a small, intimate ceremony during the pandemic and welcomed their first child together, a son named Cosmo, in 2021. Johansson and Jost keep their family life largely private but have shared glimpses of their happy relationship in interviews.
Scarlett Johansson Today
Today, Scarlett Johansson continues to take on exciting new projects. She has moved into producing, working on films through her company These Pictures, and remains interested in a mix of action, comedy, and drama roles. She has received two Academy Award nominations, both in 2020 — one for Best Actress for Marriage Story and one for Best Supporting Actress for Jojo Rabbit — showcasing her range and talent outside of blockbuster territory.
Outside of acting, Johansson has been a longtime advocate for causes like women’s rights, disaster relief, and fighting poverty. She has also spoken about the challenges of growing up in the spotlight and balancing fame with privacy. With her mix of star power, versatility, and personal resilience, Scarlett Johansson has carved out a career that few can match.
Whether leading box office hits, tackling challenging dramatic roles, or enjoying family life, she remains one of the most captivating figures in entertainment.