Scarlett Johansson

Infobox actor

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caption = Scarlett Johansson in January 2008
birthname = Scarlett I. Johansson
birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1984|11|22
birthplace = New York City, New York, U.S.
genre = Folk
occupation = Actress, Singer, one-time Songwriter
yearsactive = 1994–present
baftaawards = Best Actress in a Leading Role
2003 "Lost in Translation"
spouse = Ryan Reynolds (2008–)
awards = BSFC Award for Best Actress
2003 "Lost in Translation"

Scarlett I. Johanssoncite web|last=Prommer|first=Stephanie|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=Style Profile: Scarlett Johansson|publisher=About.com|date=|url=http://teenfashion.about.com/od/celebritystyle/p/scarlettjohanss.htm|format=|accessdate=2008-03-23] (born November 22, 1984) is an actress and singer, of dual American and Danish citizenship.cite news|last=|first=|coauthors=|title=Mary Stuart Reigns Again - in Ireland|pages=|publisher="The Observer"|date=2008-04-27|url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2276514,00.html|accessdate=2008-04-27 ] Johansson 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 debuted as a vocalist on her first album, "Anywhere I Lay My Head", with cover versions of Tom Waits songs.

Early life

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 (Scarlett Johansson holds Danish citizenship). Her mother, Melanie Sloan, a producer, comes from an Ashkenazi Jewish family from the Bronx.cite news|last=|first=|coauthors=|title=Scarlett Johansson's a Jew, too|pages=|publisher=JTA|date=2008-03-23|url=http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/107668.html|accessdate=2008-03-23; cite video|people=Scarlett Johansson|title= [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTtoVk_3-B4 Scarlett Johansson] |medium=|publisher=|location=|year2=] cite web | title=A period film made by someone who hates period filmsndash Peter Webber on Girl with a Pearl Earring | work=Neil Young's Film Lounge | date=January 6, 2004 | url=http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/peterwebberinterview.html | accessdate=2006-04-12|author=Neil Young] cite news|url=http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/articles/editions/2007/edition_03-11-2007/Scarlett_Johansson |title=More Than A Pretty Face|publisher=Parade|date=2007-03-11|author=James Kaplan] cite news|url=http://www.esquire.com/women/the-sexiest-woman-alive/ESQ1106MYSTWOMAN_136|title=Scarlett Johansson Is the Sexiest Woman Alive, 2006|publisher=Esquire|author=A.J. Jacobs|date=2006-10-31] Johansson's parents met in Denmark, where her mother lived with Johansson's maternal grandmother, Dorothy, a former bookkeeper and schoolteacher.cite news | publisher=The Jewish Forward | title=The Scarlett Grandma | url=http://www.forward.com/articles/the-scarlett-grandma/ | accessdate=2006-04-12|author=Anthony Weiss|date=2006-04-07] 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 attended P.S. 41 in Greenwich Village for elementary school.

Acting career

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, including a very brief appearance in the Mandy Moore video for her single "Candy", 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 was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in June 2004.cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2004/04.06.28.html|title=Academy Invites 127 to Membership|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=2004-06-28] 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 "", 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.cite news| publisher=MSNBC | title=Scarlett Johansson escapes Cruise's clutches | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8133757/ | accessdate=2006-07-18|author=Jeannette Walls|date=2005-06-20] She was replaced by Keri Russell.

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.cite web | publisher=MoviesOnline | title=Black Dahlia Interview: Scarlett Johansson | url=http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_9906.html | accessdate=2006-09-13|author=Sheila Roberts] Her reviews were mixed: CNN.com noted that Johansson "takes to the pulpy period atmosphere as if it were oxygen,"cite news| publisher=CNN | title='Black Dahlia' a stylish misfire | url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/15/ew.mov.blackdahlia/ | accessdate=2006-09-15|author=Owen Gleiberman | date=2006-09-15] whereas the "Kalamazoo Gazette" referred to Johansson as "miscast."cite news| publisher=Kalamazoo Gazette | title=Stylish `Black Dahlia' recalls crime dramas of the 1940s | url=http://www.mlive.com/movies/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/features-0/1158333613125640.xml&coll=7 | accessdate=2006-09-15]

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".cite web | publisher=UltimateGuitar.com | title=Bob Dylan Short Film Details | url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/press_releases/bob_dylan_short_film_details.html?200609150816 | accessdate=2006-09-15] Johansson also appeared in the Christopher Nolan thriller "The Prestige", which 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 Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About."

Johansson next appeared in 2007's "The Nanny Diaries", starring alongside Alicia Keys, and 2008's "The Other Boleyn Girl", opposite Natalie Portman and Eric Bana.cite news| publisher=MovieWeb | title=Scarlett Johansson Is The Other Boleyn Girl | url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/89/13589.php | accessdate=2006-07-18 | date=2006-07-17] She has filmed her third Woody Allen film, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", in Spain.cite news|author=Jeffrey Stinson|title=Hollywood Enters the Era of Scarlett|url=http://news.aol.com/entertainment/movies/story/ar/_a/hollywood-enters-the-era-of-scarlett/20070822070709990001 |date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2007-08-23]

Johansson has signed on for three new projects. She was cast as the femme fatale Silken Floss in Frank Miller's noir comedy adaptation of Will Eisner's comic "The Spirit". The movie is scheduled to go into production October 2007.cite news|title=Scarlett Johansson As A Femme Fatale|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Scarlett-Johansson-As-A-Femme-Fatale-6098.html|accessdate=2007-08-23|author=Josh Tyler|date=2007-08-17] She will also portray Mary, Queen of Scots in a film scheduled to begin production in March 2008, [cite news|url=http://www.actressarchives.com/news.php?id=7458|title=Scarlett Johansson working triple time with new features|accessdate=2007-08-23|date=2007-08-17|publisher=Actress Archives] cite news|title=Scarlett to play Mary Queen of Scots|accessdate=2006-09-28|date=September 28, 2006|url=http://www.inthenews.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment/flim/scarlett-play-mary-queen-scots-$453202.htm|publisher=In The News] 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.

Music career

In 2005, Johansson was considered for the role of Mariacite news|title= Lloyd Webber Wants Scarlett Johansson for London Sound of Music|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92834.html|accessdate=2007-08-23|author=James Inverne|date=May 9, 2005|publisher=Playbill News] in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End revival 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?"cite news|title=I would never mime on stage|date=August 17, 2007|author=Karen Price |url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0900entertainment/0050artsnews/tm_headline=i-would-never-mime-on-stage&method=full&objectid=19648489&siteid=50082-name_page.html |accessdate=2007-08-23] Released May 8, 2006, Johansson sang the track "Summertime" for "Unexpected Dreamsndash 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.cite news|publisher=YahooMusicNews|title=Scarlett Johannson to sing with Jesus & Mary Chain?|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/28/coachella-scarlett-johansson-joins-jesus-and-mary-chain/|author=Jeff Leeds|date=2007-04-28|accessdate=2007-04-28]

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 consists of one original song and ten cover versions of Tom Waits songs.cite news|publisher=FOX NEWS|title=Scarlett Johansson Record Deal in the Works|author=Roger Friedman|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,221001,00.html|accessdate=2006-10-16|date=2006-10-16] cite news|last=Ryzik|first=Melena|title=Local favourite|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/local-favourite/2007/09/16/1189881329353.html|date=2007-09-17|accessdate=2007-09-16] It was produced by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio and features David Bowie, members from the Yeah Yeah Yeahscite news|title=Stars Shine in Maurice: Studio Gets Visit from A-list Johansson|accessdate=2007-08-07 |url=http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070713/LIFESTYLE/707130311/1024] cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2007/08/04/a_johansson_debut/|title=A Johansson debut|date=August 4, 2007|publisher=Boston Globe|accessdate=2007-08-23] and Celebration.cite news|url=http://www.mtv.ca/news/article.jhtml?id=2598|title=Movie Minute: Hot Rod|publisher=MTV|date=August 3, 2007|accessdate=2007-08-23] cite news|first=Julie|title=Scarlett Johansson: From Actress to Singer|publisher=Cleveland Leader|date=2007-08-29|url=http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/2612|accessdate=2007-08-29] The record, entitled "Anywhere I Lay My Head" was released on May 20, 2008, through Atco/Rhino Records, [cite web | last = Kharas | first = Kev | title = David Bowie to guest on Scarlett Johansson's Tom Waits covers record | publisher = Drowned in Sound | date = 2008-02-14 | url = http://drownedinsound.com/articles/2930510] [cite web |url = http://www.andpop.com/article/10656 |title = Scarlett Johansson to Release Album in May |accessdate = 2008-04-22 |author = Whiteside, Max |date = 2008-01-09 |publisher = andPOP ] amid a negative "critical consensus, stretching from comments on Gawker.com to the pages of "The New York Times"." [ [http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/05/the_genius_of_scarlett_johanss.html?imw=Y nymag.com, The Genius of Scarlett Johansson] ] [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/19/AR2008051902361.html washingtonpost.com, Scarlett Johansson Is Almost Nowhere On 'Anywhere'] ] Reviews of the album were mainly negative, [ [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/johanssonscarlett/anywhereilaymyhead metacritic.com, Anywhere I Lay My Head by Scarlett Johansson] ] mostly concentrating on her supposedly sub-par vocal abilities and the perceived failure to add a new dimension to the well-established classics she chose to cover, but some critics found it to be surprisingly alluring, [ [http://music.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,2280273,00.html music.guardian.co.uk, Scarlett Johansson, Anywhere I Lay My Head] ] brave in its eccentric selection, [Hoskyns, Barney. [http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,2279805,00.html Scarlett Johansson, Anywhere I Lay My Head] , "The Observer", May 18, 2008. Accessed October 11, 2008.] and even brilliant. [ [http://www.nme.com/reviews/scarlett-johansson/9660 nme.com, Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head] ]

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.cite news|date=2007-08-08|title=Justin Timberlake, Beyonce lead MTV Video Music Awards with 7 nods each|accessdate=2007-08-23 |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/living/tv/s_521050]

Personal life

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.cite news|publisher=Reuters|title=Could Scarlett Johansson be Woody's next muse? |url=http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006-07-24T153318Z_01_N21419037_RTRUKOC_0_UK-LEISURE-SCOOP.xml&pageNumber=2&imageid=&c
] Johansson's ex-boyfriend (and member of the band Steel Train), Jack Antonoff, wrote lyrics that refer to Johansson in the song "Better Love."cite news|publisher=TeenHollywood|title=Johansson Ex Writes a Song About Her|url=http://www.teenhollywood.com/d.asp?r=131938&c=1055|date=2006-09-10 |accessdate=2006-09-10] 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.cite news|publisher=Fametastic|title=Josh Hartnett confirms split from Scarlett Johansson|url=http://fametastic.co.uk/archive/20070131/4450/josh-hartnett-confirms-split-from-scarlett-johansson/ |date=2007-01-31|accessdate=2007-02-08] She dated Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds,cite news|last=Messer|first=Lesley|title=Scarlett Johansson & Ryan Reynolds Step Out in NYC|publisher=People|date=2007-04-07|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20034177,00.html|accessdate=2007-09-19] and on May 5, 2008, it was reported that the two were engaged. [Chiu, Alexis. [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20197908,00.html Scarlett Johansson & Ryan Reynolds Engaged!] , "People", May 5, 2008. Accessed October 11, 2008.] On September 27, 2008, Johansson and Reynolds were married at a quiet ceremony outside Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. [cite news|title=Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds Engaged|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/05/johansson.reynolds.ap/index.html|accessdate=2008-05-05] [cite web|url= http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20229417,00.html?xid=pop|title= Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds Wed in Canada|accessdate= 2008-09-28|date= 2008-09-28|publisher= People magazine] 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... [I am] not promiscuous" and that she works "really hard" when she's in a relationship "to make it work in a monogamous way." [cite news|title=Everyone should have HIV test twice a year, says Johansson|publisher=Daily Telegraph |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/11/nscarlett11.xml|author=Sarah Womack|coauthors=John Hiscock|date=2006-10-11| accessdate=2006-12-05] 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.cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/09/AR2006100900872.html |title=Scarlett Johansson: 'I'm Not Promiscous' |date=2006-10-09 |publisher=Washington Post |accessdate=2006-10-10]

Johansson is close to her twin brother Hunter, and often gives him advice on women and dating. ["USA Today"; June 19, 2008; Page 1D.]

Johansson is a cheese fanatic, saying: "My greatest vice is cheese. Nothing else reigns over my life."cite news|publisher=The Observer|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,1112974,00.html |title=Polly Vernon meets Scarlett Johansson: Scarlett fever|author=Polly Vernon|accessdate=2006-08-09|date=2003-12-28] 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."cite news|publisher=TeenHollywood|title=Johannson Disgusted With Hollywood Attitude To Weight|url=http://www.teenhollywood.com/d.asp?r=132356&c=1055|date=2006-09-15 |accessdate=2006-09-15]

Johansson appeared on the cover of the March 2006 issue of "Vanity Fair" in the nude alongside 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. [cite web|title=Maxim's 2007 Top 100 |url=http://www.maximonline.com/Girls/Scarlettjohansson/slideshow/1127/47.aspx?src=GM7070:MD|publisher=MAXIM |accessdate=2007-12-28] In November 2006, Johansson was named "Sexiest Woman Alive" by "Esquire". [cite news|title=Esquire: Scarlett Johansson 'Sexiest'|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/29/AR2006092900856.html |date=2006-09-29|accessdate=2006-09-29|publisher=Washington Post] In February 2007, she was named the "Sexiest Celebrity" of the year by "Playboy". [cite news|url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/article/article_2007_02_20_4127.html|title=Scarlett is Playboy's sexiest celeb 2007|date=2007-02-20|publisher=The Hollywood News]

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.cite web|work=BangItOut|title=Movies that bangndash Match Point (2005)|author=Jordan Hiller|url=http://www.bangitout.com/reviews112.html|accessdate=2006-07-18] She dislikes when celebrities thank God or Jesus in their award acceptance speeches.cite news|publisher=FemaleFirst|title=Scarlett Johansson slams God acceptance speeches |url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/19292004.htm|accessdate=2006-07-18] 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."cite news|last=Stinson|first=Jeffrey|title=Hollywood enters the era of Scarlett Johansson|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-08-21-scarlett-johansson-cover_N.htm|publisher=USA Today |date=2007-08-22|accessdate=2007-09-19]

Johansson is a Global Ambassador for the aid and development agency, Oxfam.cite news|title=Scarlett Johansson, Oxfam Ambassador|url=http://www.oxfam.org/en/news/ambassadors/scarlett_johansson|publisher=Oxfam International |date=2007-07-xx|accessdate=2008-02-12] 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 premiere of "He's Just Not That Into You". [cite news|title=Fan pays £20,000 to date Scarlett|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7295871.stm |date=2008-03-14|accessdate=2008-03-15]

She is a fan of the children's television show "SpongeBob Squarepants". She supplied the voice of Mindy the Mermaid in "The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie".

Political advocacy

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, " [I am] disappointed. I think it was a disappointment for a large percentage of the population."cite news|publisher=ContactMusic | title=Johansson: Americans disappointed by Bush's re-election|date=August 23, 2005| url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/johansson%20americans%20disappointed%20by%20bushs%20re-election |accessdate=2006-07-18] Johansson campaigned for Barack Obama in Iowa on January 2, 2008; her efforts were targeted at small groups of younger voters, including Cornell College studentscite news|publisher=TheNation | title=Obama, Scarlett Johansson and a Facebook Primary| url=http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=265333 |date=2008-01-03 |accessdate=2008-02-12] and students at St. Paul Central in Minnesota 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's website, she donated the maximum allowed amount of $2300 to the Obama campaign on May 8, 2008.

Johansson appeared in the 2008 music video for Black Eyed Peas front man Will.i.am's song, "Yes We Can", directed by Jesse Dylan. The song was inspired by Obama's speech following the 2008 New Hampshire primary.

Filmography

Discography

tudio album

* 2008 - "Anywhere I Lay My Head" (SWI 15, FR #20, SW #27, GER #30, UK #64, SP #77, US #126)

References

External links

*ymovies name|1800022348
*imdb name|id=0424060|name=Scarlett Johansson
*tvtome person|id=143441|name=Scarlett Johansson
*people.com

Persondata
NAME= Johansson, Scarlett
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actress
DATE OF BIRTH= 1984-11-22
PLACE OF BIRTH= New York City, New York, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=