Scarlett Johansson Says She No Longer Gets Cast For Her 'Desirability Or The Male Gaze': 'Something Has Shifted'

Yahoo

29-06-2025

Scarlett Johansson has opened up about her fight to free herself from being labeled as a Hollywood "sex symbol" and getting cast solely because of her physical appearance.
During a recent interview, she stated that her breakout role in the movie "Lost in Translation" put her in a box, so that she was solely getting cast for her "desirability."
However, that all changed for the actress, as Scarlett Johansson landed roles in a wide variety of movies that showcased her acting capabilities, not just her looks.
Johansson is undeniably one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and is currently the highest-grossing actress of all time, with a total box office earnings of $14 billion.
However, reaching this point took a while for the Marvel star, who revealed that she had to fight her way out of getting cast only in roles made for the "male gaze." This meant she had to turn down some roles, despite being a young and hungry actress.
In a chat with The Sunday Times, Johansson said, "When I was younger, a lot of the roles I was offered, or I went for, had their ambitions or character arcs revolving around their own desirability, or the male gaze, or a male-centred story. That is less frequent, though something has shifted."
She then noted that things have changed for the better for young women in the film industry now, partly due to the presence of more positive role models and successful women in top positions.
To ensure she didn't get permanently typecast in Hollywood for her "desirability," Johansson revealed that she turned down roles she felt were "deeply unfulfilling" and would instead wait for parts that gave her the chance to prove her abilities as an actress.
She noted that doing this came with the fear that she might become "irrelevant" at "any moment." However, for Johansson, playing the long game and being selective of what roles she accepted was key to her success.
"I just waited. I had to become comfortable with the idea that it could take some time," Johansson said. "Which is hard when you're a young actor, but at that time I didn't have any children."
The actress's patience and determination ultimately paid off, as she now boasts a diverse range of movie roles that showcase her talent and versatility.
From the commercially successful movies in which she has appeared, such as "Avengers: Endgame," to critically acclaimed films like "Marriage Story" and "Jojo Rabbit," Johansson has done it all.
More recently, Johansson made her directorial debut with the movie "Eleanor The Great," and is set to star in the upcoming blockbuster "Jurassic World Rebirth."
In an interview with E! News, Johansson revealed that working on "Jurassic World Rebirth" brought her closer to her co-stars, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, and Rupert Friend in more ways than one.
"One of the best parts of making a movie is the family that you develop while you're shooting," she shared.
"We didn't have much time to rehearse on this film," Johansson explained. "So just having the opportunity to spend as much time as we could doing stuff that was enjoyable was important."
The on-set conditions made the camaraderie between the movie's cast members even more vital.
Filming in Malta under sweltering conditions, with temperatures reaching 103°F and a stifling 90 percent humidity, reportedly tested their endurance.
To cope with the extreme climate and encounters with nature, the cast would unwind with group dinners and laughs.
"It helps to have some nice memories to look forward to," Johansson said, "to daydream about when you're deep in mangrove water with poisonous snakes."
Johansson's love for "Jurassic Park" is so strong that when she learned of a new film in the works, she didn't hesitate to reach out to Steven Spielberg himself to pitch herself.
"I had a meeting with him and I don't actually know if he knew the depths of my 'Jurassic' fandom," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "But I'm hoping that no one explained it to him too thoroughly because it maybe would've come off as being a little too much."
However, she admitted that Spielberg was thrilled when she expressed what being part of the franchise meant to her.
"Although knowing Steven now, he was excited when I shared with him how much it would mean to me to play any part in 'Jurassic.' I could've played it cooler, and maybe I wouldn't have gotten it," she admitted.
In her chat with E! News, Johansson shared whether her daughter, Rose, 10, whom she shares with her ex-husband Romain Dauriac, will be allowed to watch the movie.
"I've been talking to some other 'Jurassic' fans and they say this is the scariest one," she said, "but I would let my daughter see it."
She added: "It's still appropriate for the family. You just gotta watch it through the crack in your fingers."
Reflecting on her own experience with the iconic franchise, Johansson recalled: "I was 10 years old in the theater and part of the impression it left on me was the jump scares, the laughs, but the terrors for sure."
She noted: "That's part of what's so great about 'Jurassic.' It's thrilling in all ways: visually and also emotionally."