The Untold Truth Of Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson, who has been described by The Times as a "reluctant sex symbol," can be easily found on virtually any list of attractive Hollywood stars. The first woman to be crowned Esquire's "Sexiest Woman Alive" twice, Johansson has also been featured as one of People's "Most Beautiful" multiple times throughout her career. She's undeniably gorgeous, sure — but if you think Johansson achieved international superstar success by relying on her appearance, you couldn't be more wrong.

Johansson has proved time and time again that she's a force to be reckoned with. The Avengers: Infinity War star expertly tackled Marvel's physically demanding Black Widow role with skill and confidence. She broke our hearts with only the sound of her voice in Her. And don't forget her critically acclaimed performance in Lost in Translation alongside one of the most celebrated actors of a generation (Bill Murray) — Rolling Stone predicted the then-18-year-old's performance would be talked about for years to come. They were right.

There's a lot to be learned about Johansson from her incredible career — most importantly, perhaps, is that the multitalented star is so much more than a pretty face. Here's the untold truth behind one of the brightest stars in Hollywood.

There's no question that Scarlett Johansson is blessed with some seriously killer genes — and not just in the looks department.

Believe it or not, the mega-talent comes from a family of — you guessed it — mega talents. The daughter of an architect and an aspiring actress, Johansson and her three siblings were raised in a home where cinema was a staple. Her mother, Melanie Sloan, fed the children a steady diet of classic films. When Johansson was 8 years old, her mother enrolled her in the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute for Young People. Sloan, once an aspiring actress herself, set her own dreams aside to help the youngest of her children achieve world-renowned success. 

Johansson's mom isn't her only family member with enviable acting chops. Vanessa Johansson may not be as famous as her baby sister, but she's certainly not lacking of talent. The older Johansson sister, an accomplished voice actor, actually directed her younger sister in Audible's recording of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, telling People the collaboration with her younger sister was "kind of a no-brainer." 

Hot twin alert! 

If you've ever found yourself wishing that the world had more of Scarlett Johansson, then you're in luck! While there's only one of her, your favorite Marvel maven has a twin — which is pretty much the next best thing to a full-on ScarJo clone. 

Hunter Johansson isn't quite as famous as his superstar sis, but make no mistake about it — he isn't lurking in the shadow of his twin's spotlight. Not only is he absolutely gorgeous (he is a Johansson, after all), Hunter has a pretty impressive resume under his belt. According to Us Weekly, the younger Johansson twin (by three minutes) worked as a part of President Obama's 2008 campaign, as well as his reelection. 

Bustle reports that Hunter also served as a community organizer for Scott Stringer, former Manhattan Borough President. One glance at Hunter's Instagram shows that he's definitely a New Yorker through-and-through — his account has a plethora of pictures showcasing the beautiful New York City skyline, delicious food, and abs for days. 

Released in 2008, "I Kissed a Girl" served as the lead single off Katy Perry's sophomore studio album, One of the Boys. The song was described by critics as an "instantly catchy number," an undeniable statement if you've ever heard the tune. It's a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable little number — which makes sense, considering it was inspired by a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable A-list celeb. 

In an interview with Steppin' Out magazine (via NME), Perry revealed the exact moment she was struck for inspiration for the summertime jam. "'I Kissed a Girl' was inspired when I opened up a magazine and I saw a picture of Scarlett Johansson," Perry said. The "Firework" songstress even told her boyfriend at the time that she hoped he'd be okay with Perry "making out" with Johansson, should the opportunity ever arise. 

Johansson's response? The actress, married to Ryan Reynolds at the time of the song's release, told Allure (via People), "That's flattering, but my lips are kind of taken."

Scarlett Johansson lent her acting and vocal talents to the 2016 animated musical hit, Sing – bringing life to the angsty, adorable, rock n' roll-loving teenage porcupine, Ash. But Sing was hardly Johansson's first musical role — the star played a down-on-her-luck, aspiring songstress in the 2009 romantic comedy He's Just Not That Into You. 

Johansson's voice is so pleasant, in fact, it had a starring role in Her — a futuristic romance about a lonely man who falls in love with his Siri-like virtual assistant, Samantha. Never once seen in the film, Johansson's Samantha sings a hauntingly beautiful tune called "The Moon Song" that will absolutely break your heart. You've been warned. 

If Johansson weren't an actress, it's safe to say the multitalented star could have enjoyed a singing career. She's released two studio albums — Anywhere I Lay My Head (2008) and Break Up (2009) – with Pitchfork praising her voice in her debut album for its "wide textural range." And she isn't giving up her voice anytime soon (sorry, Ursula). In April 2018, Johansson announced a brand new EP called Apart by releasing an electronic-pop inspired single, "Bad Dreams." 

At this point in Scarlett Johansson's career, wouldn't you think that directors would be throwing roles her way? Johansson revealed to radio personality Howard Stern that she doesn't take handouts. She works for what she has, auditions for roles she wants, and, unfortunately, doesn't always get them.

In fact, Johansson has lost out on a handful of parts that would go on to be turning points in the careers of other actresses. Though she "sang her little heart out" during her audition, she was ultimately rejected for the role of Fantine in Les Misérables – you know, the role that famously won Anne Hathaway an Oscar. But that wasn't the first time the Johansson lost a role to a fellow superstar. 

When she was just a kid, Johansson was considered for Jumanji — her raw talent on full display in an adorable audition tape. Of course, the role eventually went to Kirsten Dunst — and Johansson joked with Stern that she "wasn't bitter enough" over losing out on the role of a (youngster's) lifetime. "Now, I'm bitter," she said.

According to Cinderella, "If you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true." Hopefully Scarlett Johansson has taken this lyrical wisdom to heart — after all, even international superstars have dreams. As for Johansson? She wants to be a Disney princess, of course. 

In an interview with The New York Times, Johansson was asked what onscreen experiences she'd like to create for her daughter. "Right now I think we both share the dream that I will someday be a Disney princess," she said, adding that her dream is "probably not going to happen." 

"I've been asking for that job for the past [twenty] years," Johansson joked. Hey, even if she never gets cast in her dream role, Johansson is apparently already her daughter's favorite Disney princess — and villain. The Avengers: Infinity War star told Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest that her tot loves for her to sing songs from Moana and The Little Mermaid, and especially loves for her mom to play the part of Gaston — the Beauty and the Beast bad guy. Johansson says she's "not so great" at that one, but it seems her daughter begs to differ!

She may not be a Disney princess, but Scarlett Johansson successfully secured her place within the Disney/Marvel Cinematic Universe when she scored the role of Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow. But this superhero story was almost another tale of Johansson losing a role to a fellow mega-talented actress. 

In the case of Black Widow, that actress was Emily Blunt. According to Blunt, however, "it just wasn't the right time." It was meant to be as it's hard to imagine any actress other than Johansson kicking butt as Black Widow. 

Speaking of kicking butt, Johansson is pretty proud of herself for tackling (and totally pulling off) such a physically challenging role. "I am always kind of amazed when I see myself [as the Black Widow]," she told Vanity Fair. "I'm like, 'I kick ass!'"

A versatile, talented actress, Scarlett Johansson has played a multitude of roles in her relatively young career — including a sentient virtual assistant, an animated porcupine, an infamous historical figure, a partied-out bride-to-be, and a Marvel superhero. But Johansson's biggest role of all came to her in 2014 when the star gave birth to her daughter, Rose Dorothy, and became a new mom. It's the role of a lifetime — quite literally — and it's possibly Johansson's most challenging role to-date.

"I don't profess to know anything about parenting," the superstar joked to Entertainment Tonight. "[But] being a working mom is an incredible challenge, [and] it's an incredible gift." It's safe to say that little Rose thinks her mom is doing a great job at the whole parenting thing. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Johansson adorably gushed: "If you ask her what I do for a living, she says 'Mommy's a superhero.'" Hey, the kid isn't wrong — moms are totally superheroes.

It's easy to forget that Ryan Reynolds hasn't always been Blake Lively's other half. In September 2008, Reynolds wed Scarlett Johansson in a secret ceremony after being engaged for only four months. Their marriage ended in 2010, and Johansson hinted to Cosmopolitan (via E! News) that the divorce was caused by competitiveness between the two actors. Johansson married again four years later, this time to Romain Dauriac — a French journalist and father of Rose Dorothy, the couple's daughter. That romance came to an end three years later, however, and the couple finalized their divorce in September 2017. 

Luckily, when this gal gets knocked down, she gets right back up again. In late 2017, it was reported that Johansson and Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update anchor, Colin Jost, were dating. Though neither Jost nor Johansson had yet to confirm their relationship, the SNL star couldn't help but to gush about his rumored girlfriend when asked about her at the 2017 Emmy Awards, telling Entertainment Tonight, "She's wonderful [...] I'm very lucky." 

The cute couple confirmed their relationship months later at the Avengers: Infinity War red carpet premiere in April 2018, posing for photographers and looking totally in love. Awwww.

It has been said that with great power comes great responsibility, and it seems Scarlett Johansson has certainly taken those words to heart. Her fame and success have provided a platform most people aren't afforded, and Johansson is taking full-advantage that privilege by using said platform to stand up for justice and equality.

The star attended the Women's March on Washington in January 2017, delivering a powerful speech to the massive crowd about Planned Parenthood and its importance in her own life — revealing that her very first gynecological appointment took place at a Planned Parenthood facility when she was only 15 years old. "Planned Parenthood provided a safe place where I could be treated with gentle guidance," Johansson said.

Standing behind a podium, Johansson urged President Donald Trump to listen to the voices of women calling for the continued support and funding of Planned Parenthood. "President Trump, I did not vote for you," she said, to applause. "I want to be able to support you. But first I ask that you support me, support my sister, support my mother, support my daughter." A powerful statement from a powerful woman. 

As fans of the actress know, Scarlett Johansson has never been one to shy away from using her voice to speak out about what she believes in. It's refreshing to see such a mega-star using their giant platform to draw worldwide attention to marginalized people and issues that are often otherwise left hidden in the shadows. Based on her increasing political involvement and activism since the 2016 presidential election, one might assume Johansson has her eye on public office. And, according to her 2019 interview with Variety, such an assumption wouldn't exactly be far-fetched.

"Maybe some time in the future," Johansson replied when asked if becoming more politically involved has inspired her to run for office. "I think the greatest way to effect change is in local politics. Maybe at some point in the distant future I will feel that calling, but I just haven't."

It's safe to say that if Johansson ever does decide to trade in the big screen for the podium, she'll definitely have our attention. 

Scarlett Johansson's Avengers co-star, Robert Downey Jr., might have had a starring turn in The Pick-Up Artist back in 1987, but this Black Widow actress was once a pick-up artist in the most literal sense of the term. 

Johansson starred in Jonathan Glazer's 2013 science fiction film, Under the Skin, playing the role of a mysterious woman who seduces random men she meets for nefarious purposes. The film was shot in Glasgow, Scotland — and, according to Johansson, the men her nameless character picked-up along the unsettling, cinematic journey weren't actors. As explained in a 2014 interview with The Guardian, many of the ill-fated men featured in the movie were just "normal people who happen to be walking down a road minding their own business when a pretty lady pulls up in a van alongside them and offers them a lift to Tesco, and then a film crew clutching disclaimers leaps out of the back."  

Don't talk to strangers, kids — unless that stranger happens to be Scarlett Johansson, of course. 

Scarlett Johansson is a vastly talented actress, capable of transforming and taking on any role thrown her way. The star is so good at what she does, in fact, that it's sometimes difficult to separate Johansson from the characters she portrays. Since becoming a part of the machine that is the beloved Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU, for short), Johansson has pulled off Black Widow's insane stunts and sardonic attitude so well that she'll forever be associated with the fiery, feisty, superhero spy. However, as talented as Johansson may be, it's important to note that she's not actually a highly-skilled Russian spy. She's an actress who put some serious work into preparing for the challenging role. 

Johansson's physical trainer, Eric Johnson, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the star's impressive workout routine, which includes "a 245-pound deadlift, pull-up series, single-leg pistol squats, and push-up reps with a 45-pound plate on Johansson's back."

The routine is far from easy, even for someone as fit and healthy as Johansson. "We're trying to create this crazy comic book hero in real life with somebody who's normal," Johnson revealed to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow was the first major female player introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making her debut in 2010's Iron Man 2. However, since making her initial splash on the scene, Johansson has been joined by fellow actresses portraying powerful female characters within the MCU — such as Elizabeth Olsen (The Scarlett Witch), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Danai Gurira (Okoye), and Brie Larson (Captain Marvel). And while some people might assume Johansson feels threatened by the increasing number of women within the MCU, the actress couldn't be more thrilled about the developments if she tried. 

In a 2019 interview for Lorraine, Johansson referred to the MCU as a "major testosterone festival" before additional female-driven films were added to the roster. "I'd had it. [...] I was so thankful to have [Olsen and Smulders] in the cast and we would just like to cling to each other," the actress gushed. "And now the universe is expansive and we've got so many great actors, Danai, Brie, many now – it's a huge relief."

Let's be honest — when you think "massive back tattoo," the first celebrity to come to mind is likely Ben Affleck. The only thing more iconic than the actor's massive, colorful tattoo featuring a phoenix rising from the ashes is how his ex-wife Jennifer Garner responded to it in Vanity Fair: "You know what we would say in my hometown about that? 'Bless his heart.'" 

However, Affleck isn't the only star with an ink-covered back. Scarlett Johansson also has a sprawling back tattoo of her own — though hers is a bit more fitting, and comes with far more of a sweeter sentiment. The actress debuted the tattoo, which features a vine of multiple blooming roses, at the 2018 Emmy awards (via Marie Claire). Considering Johansson's daughter, whom she shares with ex-husband Romain Dauriac, is named Rose, it's not difficult to see where the Avengers: Endgame actress got the inspiration for the ink job. 

Being a celebrity may seem like all fun and games — that is, until you remember the existence of paparazzi. Having your friends post random, candid photos of you on social media is terrifying, sure. However, the mere thought of having a crowd of photographers yelling your name, chasing you down the street, or completely surrounding your vehicle just to get the perfect shot is enough to make a person want to crawl in bed and never leave their home again.

In April 2019, Scarlett Johansson had a scary run-in with the paparazzi after leaving a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live. According to The Los Angeles Police Department (via NBC), the actress was in a vehicle with two other people when she became frightened because she felt the paparazzi was following the vehicle "in a dangerous fashion." Fortunately, Johansson made it safely to her next destination — but she still has some choice words for the paps. 

"Until paparazzi are considered by the law for the criminal stalkers they are, it's just a waiting game before another person gets seriously injured or killed, like Princess Diana," Johansson said in a statement to USA Today.

While many new female characters have been inducted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2010, there had been only one female-driven Marvel film by 2019: Captain Marvel. The MCU is still an undeniably male-dominated scene — even though fans had been calling for a Black Widow-centered film since the character's very first appearance on the big screen. Fortunately, a Black Widow movie, titled Black Widow, has since received a 2020 release date.

Reflecting on her part in the MCU in a 2019 interview with USA Today, Scarlett Johansson gushed about her excitement over MCU's increasingly diverse roster of characters. "I look around today at the universe and how diverse it is," the actress told the publication. "Fans wanted to look up on the screen and see stories and fully developed characters that represented how they felt and what they wanted to aspire to. It's really impactful."

Scarlett Johansson and Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" anchor Colin Jost made many a headline when they publicly debuted themselves as a couple at the end of 2017. The news seemed to come completely out of left field, as Johansson and Jost each have roots in entirely different areas of showbiz. However, considering the Avengers: Endgame star is a member of the late-night sketch show's coveted five-timers host club, it only makes sense that Johansson and Jost rubbed elbows more than once before seeing if they could take things to the next level. And, if People magazine is to be believed, these two lovebirds are getting ready to put a ring on their relationship.

According to sources close to the couple (via People), the entertainers are incredibly serious about one another. "Scarlett and Colin are in love and share many of the same interests and the same sense of humor," one source revealed in a March 2019 issue of People. "Scarlett is very happy." In May 2019, the Associated Press reported that the two had gotten engaged.