Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson

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Birth name: Scarlett I. Johansson
Date of birth: 22 November 1984
Place of birth: New York, New York, USA
Nickname: Scarlett
Height: 5′ 4″ (1.63 m)

Famous Quote: “I think that I sort of see other actresses are kind of proud of the way they look and show it off. That’s never really been my style. I really don’t think that it’s disgusting or wrong, if you’re 18 you’re 18, it’s your body, it’s your right to show yourself, however, I don’t really take a part in that. I like to look nice, but I think that there’s ways of doing it that are more tasteful than just wearing a bikini wherever you go.”

Contact Address and Autograph: Addresses and fan mail information

Scarlett Johansson
Melanie Johansson Management
7135 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 804
Los Angeles, CA 90046-3249, USA

Biography:  Scarlett I. Johansson (born November 22, 1984) is an American actress and singer. She rose to fame with her role in 1998′s The Horse Whisperer and subsequently gained critical acclaim for her roles in Ghost World, Lost in Translation (for which she won a BAFTA), and Girl with a Pearl Earring, the latter two earning her Golden Globe Award nominations in 2003.

On May 20, 2008 Johansson will debut as a vocalist on her first album Anywhere I Lay My Head, with cover versions of Tom Waits songs. A pouty and pretty strawberry blonde New Yorker who commenced her career a child actor with instincts, skills and a streetwise grace that far outpaced her age, Scarlett Johansson first came to attention playing the daughter of Sean Connery and Kate Capshaw terrorized by Blair Underwood in “Just Cause” (1995). Having made her stage debut at age eight in 1993′s “Sophistry” at Playwrights Horizons Theatre, the young player also studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute. Her screen debut in Rob Reiner’s disastrous “North” (1994) was less than memorable, but Johansson has maintained an even career, impressing with her fully-realized characterizations in nearly every showing.

Johansson was born in New York City. Her father, Karsten Johansson, is a Danish-born architect, and her paternal grandfather, Ejner Johansson, was a screenwriter and director. Her mother, Melanie Sloan, a producer, comes from an Ashkenazi Jewish family from the Bronx. Johansson’s parents met in Denmark, where her mother lived with Johansson’s maternal grandmother, Dorothy, a former bookkeeper and schoolteacher. Johansson has an older sister, Vanessa, who is also an actress; an older brother, Adrian; a twin brother, Hunter, also an actor; and a half-brother, Christian, from her father’s re-marriage. Johansson grew up in a household with “little money” with a mother who was a “film buff”. Johansson began her theater training by attending and graduating from Professional Children’s School in Manhattan in 2002. She got noticed as one of Eric Schaeffer’s wise charges in “If Lucy Fell” and took a co-starring role in the understated independent “Manny & Lo” (both 1996), a perfect vehicle for the actress to prove her talents. Johansson’s finely crafted portrayal of Amanda (Manny), a rather sensible 11-year-old who escapes from a foster home and runs away with her 16-year old sister Laurel (Lo) earned her critical praise and led directly to her casting in the high profile but disappointing 1997 release “Home Alone 3″ and the highly-anticipated romance “The Horse Whisperer” (1998). In the latter, Johansson landed the coveted role of Grace, a youngster who suffers a physically and emotionally debilitating riding accident. When her mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) turns to a horse trainer (Robert Redford) for assistance, romance blooms, and as Johansson turned what could have been little more than a two-dimensional plot device into a full-fledged character, an actress bloomed.

Johansson began acting during childhood, after her mother began taking her to auditions. She made her film debut in 1994′s North. After appearing in several films during the late 1990s, Johansson garnered praise and widespread attention for her performance in 1998′s The Horse Whisperer and 2001′s Ghost World.

She won the “Upstream Prize” for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her performance in 2003′s Lost in Translation. The same year, she was nominated for two Best Actress awards at the Golden Globes, one for drama (Girl with a Pearl Earring) and one for comedy (Lost in Translation). She was also nominated for Best Actress for both films at the BAFTAs, and won Best Actress for Lost in Translation. Johansson’s true breakout performance would come–like gangbusters–in “Lost in Translation” (2003), writer-director Sophia Coppola’s wonderfully romantic film about Charlotte, an emotionally adrift young married tourist in her 20s, left to her own devices in Tokyo while her self-involved photographer husband is on a shoot, who meets and forms a deep, complex relationship with Bob Harris (Bill Murray) an equally disaffected 50-something Hollywood actor. The actress—only 18 during filming—is a revelation in the picture, displaying a rare, multilayered chemistry with Murray despite their age difference. Their rapport, a first tentative, then confident and cozy and then suddenly awkward and sexual, fuels the movie and carries many scenes completely without dialogue. 

Her subtle yet knockout performance, wildly praised by critics, was poised to rocket Johansson to new career heights. Hot on the heels of that role, Johansson also dazzled audiences in the indie “Girl With a Pearl Earring” (2003), a speculative account of the life of Griet, a 16-year-old girl who appears in Johannes Vermeer’s (Colin Firth’s) most famous painting. As a result of her two strong 2003 performances, at age 19 Johansson received a pair Golden Globe nominations–one for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama (for “Girl With a Pearl Earring”) and another for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (for “Lost In Translation”).

Johansson was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in June 2004. In the same year, she starred in the films The Perfect Score, In Good Company and A Love Song for Bobby Long, the last of which earned her a third Golden Globe Award nomination. Johansson was involved for a short time with the film Mission: Impossible III, but was not officially cast because of scheduling conflicts, although a falling out with the film’s star, Tom Cruise, had been both widely reported and publicly denied. She was replaced by Keri Russell. Johansson’s next vehicle, made before her big breakout, was the limp teen caper movie “The Perfect Score” (2004) in which she played the thrill-seeking, daddy-loathing member of a gang of high school students plotting an ambitious scheme to swipe the key to the SAT exam, and she voiced Mindy in the animated “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” (2004). 

She was better served with a pair of challenging roles released simultaneously at the end of 2004: first, she added depth to her supporting role as the daughter of a middle-aged ad salesman (Dennis Quaid) who becomes involved with her father’s new young boss (Topher Grace) in writer-director Paul Weitz’s adult comedy “In Good Company”; next, she played the headstrong teen Pursy Will, who returns to her late mother’s home to unexpectedly share it with a pair of booze-soaked intellectual boarders (John Travolta and Gabriel Macht) for the Southern-influenced character drama “A Love Song for Bobby Long.” In both films Johansson’s potent combination of adolescent freshness and wise-beyond-her-years maturity helped breath a compelling realism into her roles.

In July 2005, Johansson starred with Ewan McGregor in Michael Bay’s The Island, making her debut as a female lead in a mainstream action film. In the same year, she starred in the Woody Allen-directed drama Match Point, which opened in December. Johansson received her fourth Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the role, but lost to Rachel Weisz.

Johansson’s next film, Scoop, another collaboration with Allen, was released on July 28, 2006. The same year, she appeared in Brian De Palma’s The Black Dahlia, a film noir shot in Los Angeles and Bulgaria. Johansson has noted that she was a De Palma fan and had wanted to work with him on the film, even though she thought that she was “physically wrong” for the part. Her reviews were mixed: CNN.com noted that Johansson “takes to the pulpy period atmosphere as if it were oxygen,” whereas the Kalamazoo Gazette referred to Johansson as “miscast.”

On January 14, 2006, Johansson hosted Saturday Night Live. Also in 2006, Johansson starred in a short film directed by Bennett Miller and set to Bob Dylan’s “When the Deal Goes Down…,” released to promote Dylan’s album, Modern Times. Johansson’s thriller The Prestige, opened on October 20, 2006. She made a return appearance on Saturday Night Live on April 21, 2007, during which she dueted with Andy Samberg for a version of “Something to Talk About.”

Johansson next appeared in 2007′s The Nanny Diaries, starring alongside Alicia Keys, and 2008′s The Other Boleyn Girl, playing Mary Boleyn opposite Natalie Portman and Eric Bana. She has filmed her third Woody Allen film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, in Spain. Johansson has signed on for three new projects. She was cast as the femme fatale Silken Floss opposite Gabriel Macht in Frank Miller’s noir comedy adaptation of Will Eisner’s comic The Spirit. The movie is scheduled to go into production October 2007. She will also portray Mary, Queen of Scots in a film scheduled to begin production in March 2008 and appear as a pilates instructor in He’s Just Not That Into You, with Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Justin Long. The film is directed by Ken Kwapis and produced by Barrymore.

In 2005, Johansson was considered for the role of Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End stage version of The Sound of Music, though the role ultimately went to newcomer Connie Fisher after she won BBC’s talent show “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?” Released May 8, 2006, Johansson sang the track “Summertime” for Unexpected Dreams – Songs from the Stars, a non-profit collection of songs recorded by Hollywood actors. She also performed with The Jesus And Mary Chain for a special Coachella Reunion Show in Indio, California in April 2007.

In the summer of 2007, Johansson spent about a month in Maurice, Louisiana recording an album at Dockside Studio, a rural 12 acre complex. The album is to consist of one original song and ten cover versions of Tom Waits songs. It is being produced by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio and features David Bowie, members from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Celebration. The record, entitled Anywhere I Lay My Head is to be released on May 20, 2008, through Atco/Rhino Records.

In 2006, Johansson was the leading lady in Bob Dylan’s music video for “When the Deal Goes Down.” In 2007, she appeared as the leading lady in Justin Timberlake’s music video for “What Goes Around…/…Comes Around,” nominated in August 2007 for video of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards. Johansson also took part in January 2008, in a music video in support of Barack Obama’s campaign for U.S. President. The music video, called “Yes We Can”, was a collaboration between her, will.i.am, and many other musicians, actors and athletes.

Johansson endorsed the Calvin Klein perfume “Eternity Moment” and was featured in several commercials and printed advertisements for the product. One of the commercials was featured in her 2005 film The Island. She became the face and spokesperson for Louis Vuitton in early 2005 and has appeared in three of their ad campaigns: Spring 2005, Spring 2007 and Fall 2007. In January 2006, she was named as a spokesperson of L’Oreal.

In July 2006, Reebok signed a deal with Johansson to co-create “Scarlett ‘Hearts’ Rbk,” athletic footwear scheduled for a debut in the spring of 2007. Johansson will also be featured in Reebok’s global women’s advertising campaign, also in the spring of 2007. The company’s press releases described Johansson as a “world renowned style icon” and an “inspiration for today’s young women.”

Johansson does not discuss her personal life with the press, saying “it’s nice to have everybody not know your business.” This has not stopped Johansson from sharing “select” opinions and personal details. Johansson’s ex-boyfriend (and member of the band Steel Train), Jack Antonoff, wrote lyrics that refer to Johansson in the song “Better Love.” Antonoff alludes to Johansson in the song “2 O’clock.” She has been linked to many famous men, including Derek Jeter, Benicio del Toro, Jared Leto, Justin Timberlake and her Black Dahlia co-star Josh Hartnett. They dated for about two years until the end of 2006, with Hartnett citing their busy lives as the reason for the split. She is currently dating Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, but has denied arising rumors of their engagement.

Johansson says she does not believe in monogamy, and has said that it is not human nature to be with just one person. She also said “contrary to popular belief… she is not promiscuous” and she works “really hard” when she is in a relationship “to make it work in a monogamous way.” She gets tested for HIV twice a year, and has said “it’s part of being a decent human” and it is “disgusting” and “irresponsible” when people do not do so.

Johansson is a cheese fanatic, saying: “My greatest vice is cheese. Nothing else reigns over my life.” She has criticized the media and Hollywood for promoting an image that causes unhealthy diets and eating disorders among women, saying “that being ultra-thin is not sexy at all. Women shouldn’t be forced to conform to unrealistic and unhealthy body images that the media promote.”, Johansson appeared on the cover of the March 2006 issue of Vanity Fair in the nude with Oscar-nominated actress Keira Knightley and world-renowned fashion designer Tom Ford.

In March 2006, she topped the U.S. edition of FHM’s poll of the sexiest women alive (in the UK edition Johansson was third). In 2007, Maxim named Johansson #3 in their Hot 100 issue. In November 2006, Johansson was named “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire. In February 2007, she was named the “Sexiest Celebrity” of the year by Playboy.

About her religious affiliation, Johansson says: “That’s a very personal question. I would rather not answer.” She celebrates a “little of both” referring to Christmas and Hanukkah. She dislikes when celebrities thank God or Jesus in their award acceptance speeches. She described herself as Jewish when she was talking about Woody Allen. “I just adore Woody,” she says. “We have a lot in common. We’re New Yorkers, Jewish. We have a very easygoing relationship.”

Johansson is a Global Ambassador for the aid and development agency, Oxfam. On March 14, 2008, a UK-based bidder by the name of Bossnour paid £20,000 for a 20 minute date with Johansson on an online auction for Oxfam on eBay. The bidder paid for a hair and make up treatment and the chance to accompany Johansson on her July premier of He’s Just Not That Into You.

Johansson is a Democrat. In 2004, she campaigned for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election. She was quoted as saying, of George W. Bush’s re-election, that “I am disappointed. I think it was a disappointment for a large percentage of the population.” Johansson campaigned for Barack Obama in Iowa on 2008-01-02; her efforts were targeted at small groups of younger voters, including Cornell College students and students at St. Paul Central Senior High School on Super Tuesday. She has also taken part in the anti-poverty campaign ONE which was organized by U2 lead singer Bono. According to the FEC website, she has not donated any money to the Obama campaign.

Johansson most recently appeared in a music video for the Black Eyed Peas front man Will.i.am song, “Yes We Can,” directed by Jesse Dylan. The song was inspired by a speech delivered by Barack Obama following the 2008 New Hampshire primary.

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