Stage and screen superstar Scarlett Johansson is known to most theatre fans for her tremendous work in the recent revival of Arthur Miller’s A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, directed by Gregory Mosher and co-starring fellow InDepth InterView participant Liev Schreiber, for which she rightly took home the 2010 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress In A Play. Before then, Johansson was perhaps best known for her leading role in Sofia Coppola’s moving contemporary drama LOST IN TRANSLATION, co-starring Bill Murray, as well as for her featured roles in some big-budget Hollywood films with top-tier talent and directors - THE PRESTIGE with Christopher Nolan (co-starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman), THE BLACH DAHLIA with Brian DePalma, THE ISLAND with Michael Bay (co-starring Ewan MacGregor), THE SPIRIT with Frank Miller; as well as a string of quirky and unique independent films such as GHOST WORLD, A LOVE SONG FOR BOBBY LONG and her unforgettable work in THE HORSE WHISPERER under the guiding force of director Robert Redford. Since then, she has become a franchise superhero superstar thanks to her role in the international smash hit IRON MAN 2, co-starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson, both of whom she reteams with in this Spring’s tent-pole entertainment attraction THE AVENGERS, directed by BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and occasional GLEE-helmer Joss Whedon, which also features Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans as the classic Marvel comic book heroes. Today marks the opening night of her newest feature film, WE BOUGHT A ZOO, directed by Cameron Crowe and co-starring Matt Damon and Thomas Haden Church, which finds Scarlett back in familiar territory - after all, she is celebrated by many entertainment enthusiasts for her sterling, unsurpassed work in three highly-acclaimed and endlessly enjoyable Woody Allen films: MATCH POINT, SCOOP and VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA.
In celebration of WE BOUGHT A ZOO, today we shall shine a special solo spotlight on one of the brightest stars on Broadway or in Hollywood who is sure to delight us in theaters and on screens for many years to come - she has already been legitimately acting for nearly 20 years of her 27 on earth, after all. So, whether stage or screen, comedy or drama, music or mime, Scarlett Johansson can clearly do it all and we will sample some of the best clips from her career so far as we look forward to WE BOUGHT A ZOO, THE AVENGERS and everything else that is next for her in her rise to the top ranks of Broadway and Hollywood.
The Starlet Known As Scarlett
You can read my InDepth InterView with Scarlett Johansson from 2010 for her commentary on many of the clips and videos contained within here!
First up, see what all of Broadway was talking about back in the Fall of 2009 in this arresting clip of Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber in Arthur Miller’s A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE performing the job interview scene.
Take a look at Scarlett Johansson taking top honors in the Best Featured Actress In A Play category at the 2010 Tony Awards for her incredible performance of Catherine in A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, as presented to her by Katie Holmes and Daniel Radcliffe at the ceremony, here!
Now, witness Scarlett’s first appearance in a Woody Allen film in this scintillating introduction to her complex character in MATCH POINT with Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Steaming!
Sharing the screen with fellow Broadway baby Hugh Jackman for the second time - following THE PRESTIGE - here is a scene from the next London-set Woody Allen comedy Scarlett starred in, SCOOP. Some stars surely do have it all, as seems clear to see in this funny clip!
Closing out the Woody Allen-centric portion of our look at the career of Scarlett Johansson, here is the trailer for her most recent collaboration with the masterful director - one of his very best films (out of over 40) - VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, co-starring Rebecca Hall, Javier Bardem and Oscar-winner Penelope Cruz.
Showing off her musical side, check out this clip of Scarlett and Pete Yorn singing an endearing duet from their 2008 album, live at the Interface.
Here we have Scarlett and Pete Yorn in the music video for “Relator” from their musical collaboration, BREAK UP.
Now, check out this glamorous and adorably campy commercial for Dolce & Gabbana’s THE ONE in its complete, uncut form. Beautiful and hilarious - what a combination!
Through the wondrous magic of YouTube, going all the way back to 1993, see Scarlett Johansson in her very first screen-test! How priceless is this footage?! Even then, you could sense the X factor she possesses in spades.
Tapping into an indescribable mood, emotion and style, the elegance of Sofia Coppola’s LOST IN TRANSLATION is perfectly embodied by Scarlett Johansson’s sincere, human and real performance within it. This is the role that made her a household name, and it is amply evident to see why.
While Woody Allen may have found his 21st century muse with Ms. Johansson - certainly his modern answer to Diane Keaton - many other notable directors have used her indescribable electricity and power onscreen to good - sometimes great - effect in the following films on our list.
Michael Bay may best be known for the TRANSFORMERS franchise now, but he tried something a bit off the beaten path - as far as action movies go - with the futuristic action drama THE ISLAND, co-starring Ewan MacGregor.
Brian DePalma, a master director known best for CARRIE, DRESSED TO KILL, SCARFACE and THE UNTOUCHABLES, used Scarlett’s throwback look and va-va-voom appearance to excellent ends in his noir thriller THE BLACK DAHLIA.
THE PRESTIGE teamed Scarlett with two of the biggest names in movies today - Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman - and she certainly held much more than her own opposite them in the surreal, stylish and twisty period-set London tale.
Robert Redford utilized the titanic talents of Scarlett in his fondly remembered 1995 film about a girl and a horse, THE HORSE WHISPERER.
Be one of the millions who have now seen Scarlett making her grand superhero debut, here in the trailer for IRON MAN 2, co-starring Robert Downey, Jr., Mickey Rourke and Gwyneth Paltrow!
THE AVENGERS will be bringing back Black Widow in a big way - as well as many other classic Marvel characters, such as Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and Thor - so this tease of what is to come in 2012 is merely a taste of the sensory feast we can most surely expect from geek king Joss Whedon.
Bringing us all the way up to this moment, here is the trailer for Scarlett’s newest feature film - opening in movie theaters nationwide today - WE BOUGHT A ZOO, directed by Cameron Crowe and co-starring Matt Damon and Thomas Haden Church.
Lastly, be sure to check out the world premiere of BIOGRAPHY: Scarlett Johansson tonight at 10 PM on BIO, which I had the extreme privilege of participating in and contributing to along with BroadwayWorld! Enjoy!
So, what has been your personal favorite Scarlett Johansson performance to date? What roles would you like to see her take on next - both on the big screen and on Broadway? The future certainly looks bright for her, anywhere you look!
