Scarlett Johansson: I didn’t want to just be the sensual vision in a tight outfit

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I get that some (many?) of you don’t care for Scarlett Johansson. Personally, I don’t hate or love her. She seems to be one of the more talented actresses working today, but I’m basing that on my love of Match Point. She’s pretty when she’s not styled to look corpsey. And she’s generally pretty quiet, which is good, because in interviews I do think she comes across as dull and full of herself. Example: the Parade interview, below, where Scarlett is waxing rhapsodically about how she doesn’t want to be “just… the sensual vision in a tight outfit.” Girl… you’re in a catsuit, and the studio Photoshopped your boobs, waist and hips in the posters. Let’s have no more of this “I want to be more than just a sensual vision” talk. Now, if I wanted to be harsh, I would just say, “Bitch, the jig is up.” Sidenote: who says crap like “sensual vision” in everyday conversation anyway?

“When you have a girl swinging around by her ankles in a cat suit, that’s innately sexy, but she’s also intelligent, ambitious, motivated and calculated. I’ve never really seen a film of this genre where there’s more than sex appeal to the female characters. I would find it boring to be just a pawn in a film about a whole bunch of men fighting it out and rolling around and getting down and dirty. I didn’t want to just be the sensual vision in a tight outfit,” said Johansson.

Scarlett Johansson scored the coveted role of deadly superspy Black Widow in Iron Man 2. She joins Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow to help take out a whole new bunch of bad guys. Parade.com’s Jeanne Wolf found out that the startlingly fit Johansson wants people to notice more than her curves in a skin-tight costume.

Looking razor sharp and buff.
“I was eating really, really clean. But you can’t deprive yourself. That’s when you really get in trouble because you have like low energy and feel deprived. I was constantly eating, but it was all super clean food, a lot of veggies and protein, that kind of thing. It makes you feel good, especially when you are exercising. I felt really strong, efficient and athletic, all of those things. It helped me to feel confident about my physicality. It was one less thing to worry about.”

As for that uber sexy black suit.
“Playing the Black Widow, I’m so physically active that the suit was the last thing I was thinking about. It was almost an afterthought. I went through months and months of training, so by the time I put on the suit I was ready to go. It was tight, but not too tight. The biggest problem was that it was so hot. I can tell you that being encased in Lycra makes you sweat when you’re doing stunts and wire work.”

Could the Black Widow get a film of her own?
“I would absolutely love to carry the legacy of the Black Widow forward. There’s a lot to explore there. I think the audience would like this character and like me as this character. I just finished a four month run on Broadway, so I’m taking a little time right now to kind of plan the next move.”

After a year-and-a-half of marriage to Ryan Reynolds.
“I make no big proclamations, nothing. It’s not necessarily getting married that changes something that’s between two people. It doesn’t involve anyone else other than family, children. I think there are couples that are not married in long term relationships that live the same day to day life. But I think good things come with time when you are set with somebody.”

Taking time off is hard to do.
“I don’t mind spending a little bit of time off, everybody needs a vacation, but I have a job that I like to do. If I hadn’t worked for three months, I might be going, ‘What am I going to do?’ You know, there’s only so long you can play golf or whatever, not that I play golf. But sure, I like to travel and vacation, see friends– all that. But I love what I do. I’m happiest when I have something to focus my energy on.”

[From Parade]

Yeah, the rest of the interview is pretty basic, although I did like the line “I make no big proclamations, nothing. It’s not necessarily getting married that changes something that’s between two people.” I think she’s just saying “It changed something for me, but I don’t speak for every married person.”

Oh, and you know the alleged fight between ScarJo and Gwyneth? I just read this quote from Gwyneth about what she thought when she first saw ScarJo in her catsuit: “I thought “Wow that is hot, that is hot right there. She was so great to work with; she is a really smart, cool funny girl. It was nice to have another girl on set this time to talk about girl stuff with, it was great.” Talk about “stuff”. Like how ScarJo doesn’t have an Oscar, and how Goopy is going to cut her.

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Dolce & Gabbana ad featuring ScarJo, courtesy of HuffPo. Promotional Iron Man 2 images from Popoholic.

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37 Responses to “Scarlett Johansson: I didn’t want to just be the sensual vision in a tight outfit”

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  1. lucy2 says:

    Yeah, she looks to be in great shape, but modesty goes a long way. I can’t imagine ever referring to myself as a “sensual vision”, and especially not during an interview! Based on the previews and advertising for the movie, sorry Scarlett, it does seem like you’re just the token pretty girl in a catsuit. Maybe there’s more to her character than that, but they’re sure not marketing it that way.

    I’ve liked her in some movies, but in others thought she was a dud. I think she looks better as a blond though.

  2. kelbear says:

    I like her hair in the top pic.

  3. Joseph says:

    Yummy, yummy, yummy, I got love in my tummy!

  4. mila says:

    Oh my, she sounds really stupid!”you can’t deprive yourself. That’s when you really get in trouble because you (…)feel deprived” is my favorite. What a deep thought.
    She looks good in this catsuit though.

  5. Kolby says:

    I have to disagree about the level of talent displayed in her work. She’s terribly one-note. Pouting isn’t acting.

  6. Just a Poster says:

    Lets face it gang, a cat fight gets this movie talked about.

    For all we know, they might have actually had a great time shooting and zero drama actually happened. But that would be boring and not giving us something to dish about.

  7. Gwen says:

    I think that’s the best I’ve ever seen Scarlett look, and I always thought she was pretty. I really love that red hair on her!

    It sounds to me like the ‘catfight’ with Gwyneth was just more tabloid nonsense. As for the Oscar, I bet it will come.

  8. EB says:

    Goodness, she is insufferable isn’t she? You’re right Kolby, I am totally UNimpressed by her performances. She really can’t bring it and she suffers from the same problem as Demi Moore – poor voice modulation. She’s either shouting or whispering, but always at the inappropriate time.

    I saw Iron Man on the first weekend, and I was completely surrounded by fanboys practically messing themselves over the movie. Very weird movie going experience. I doubt I’ll put myself through it again for this silly sequel, at least not for a long time.

  9. Chico says:

    I like the way she looks. I think she’s a talented actor. She did Girl in the Pearl Earing and Lost in Translation in one year and played two totally different roles. I thought she was great in both movies. I just wish she would choose roles like that over these dumb vixen roles. But, I don’t think there’s been too many good roles for women lately. She should keep trying to improve her acting and try not to get caught up in the Hollywood hype machine.

  10. Maritza says:

    I like her ever since she appeared on SNL, she’s can be funny besides beautiful.

  11. carrie says:

    she’s totally forgetable in “iron man 2” but she wears well her suit!

  12. KateNonymous says:

    Is it just me, or does that top photo look more like Amanda Seyfried than Scarlett Johansson? Seriously, it doesn’t even look like her!

    I thought she was very good in (going way back to a generally annoying movie) The Horse Whisperer, as well as In Good Company and Lost in Translation. She hasn’t been as good in some other roles, so I’m guessing that her performance relies heavily on the director.

  13. juiceinLA says:

    I am one of the many who don’t like her, although I wanted to at first. But when she did the turn as a yoga instructor in “not that into you”, I though- honey who are you kidding, you have never exercised your jelly belly in your life…

    and now the sensual comment? pretentious without a cause.

  14. Natasha says:

    I hope she never does a Black Widow movie, it would kill me, she didn’t portray the character well at all. Granted, she wasn’t given much to do and her only fight scene was badly shot. But she had not a single facial expression during the entire film and she’s not credible when she pretends to fight. She’s ok when she plays a character who’s bored, but Black Widow is a playful woman who doesn’t seem to walk with a stick in her butt. Favreau should do the same as with Rhodey and find a better actress next time.

  15. kell says:

    She’s quite full of herself! I don’t like her acting at all and she isn’t stunning or “a vision”(in her own words). LOL

  16. Dingles says:

    “I would absolutely love to carry the legacy of the Black Widow forward.”

    one word: “Elektra.”

  17. ligeia says:

    love the red hair on her, blonde is meh! she looks smoking in that tight outfit!

  18. bellaluna says:

    Maybe she meant “sensual vixen”?

  19. Mistral says:

    She looks really good in those Dolce pics. Love that makeup…

  20. Shane says:

    She’s beautiful and smart. Smart being her strongest quality. I find no faults.

  21. Jaxx says:

    I think she is a lousy actress. When watching Vickie Christina Barcelona it was such a joke to see the depth of character in Penelope Cruz next to the vapid shallowness of Scarlett’s character. I don’t think that character was a stretch for Scarlett at all. Vapid shallowness is her to the bone.

  22. gg says:

    Like her with dark brown hair. I don’t see that as red.

  23. smilelover says:

    That girl is georgeous. I love it when an actress isn’t afraid to change her look completely. Gwynnie is always the same “meh” boring blonde. Never wondered why Brad Pitt left her? Scarlet J. acting is great in my books. Gwynnie deserves that Oscar, really? Sorry but I would choose SJ over GP every day.

  24. Zelda says:

    I don’t think she’s very talented at all–someone explain the hooplah about this girl to me.

    Whenever I see her in something, I am always VERY aware of the fact that I am watching Scarlett Johansson. Which is really the opposite of her job, isn’t it?

    In interviews, she comes off as smug and pretentious

    And her face is meh.

    So what is all the fuss about?

  25. JustMe says:

    She looks great with red hair.

    Otherwise, I find her bland.

  26. Male says:

    She got good reviews for her Broadway play. Broadway critics can be pretty harsh and love bashing big stars, so I have to trust them. I don’t know why she too often can’t transform that to performance on film [not yet seen Iron Man 2]. Maybe some actors just need more directing than others.

    And she is hot in that outfit but ironically like anti-Scarlett, almost scrawny and weight loss due the role made her look terrible until the Iron Man 2 premiere photos showed up a week ago.

  27. Booyaah says:

    I think this is really no different to what the other cast has been talking about this movie (or really any other action-comedy blockbuster). They speak about the characters like they were all really deep characters which they aren’t if the first movie (which I enjoyed) is any indication.

  28. Lulu says:

    I am still laughing about Goopy and girl talk. That’s funny. As far as their acting, I don’t know- haven’t seen Iron Man and don’t intend to.

  29. Lulu says:

    I am still laughing about Goopy and girl talk. That’s funny. As far as their acting, I don’t know- haven’t seen Iron Man and don’t intend to.

  30. connie says:

    juice- i totally agree! when she was teaching the yoga class in ‘not that into you’ it was painful!

  31. Bodhi says:

    I LOVE her. I think she is really talented (Horse Whisperer, Lost in Translation, Girl w/ a Pearl). Plus I think she is beautiful. I think that she has picked some real stinkers, like “not in to you”. I swear to god, I’ve NO clue why anyone thought that crapfest would be a good idea

  32. danielle says:

    I really liked the point she made that she likes vacations and loves her job. So many stars act like their jobs are so difficult and they are so burdened.

  33. Mingo says:

    She is one sexy beast.

  34. Dhavy says:

    She’s ok, I’ve never disliked her and I don’t think she comes accross as a snub like say…Julia Roberts?

    I think I follow her more now because of her hunky husband, damn he’s yummy

  35. Alexis says:

    Don’t like her hair…those curls look so..individual and deliberate; looks like snakes.

  36. kaligula says:

    i used to not think much of her either, but i adored vicky cristina barcelona so much that she eventually grew on me. i think she has a really good screen presence and is increasing her dramatic depth and creative flexibility over time. def better than gp imo, on many levels. better than drew b. too, i think. sj is passionate and youthful. her apparent stiffness would be her obvious weakness but actually it serves her in the right roles. what can i say, i’m officially a fan!!!

  37. Jen says:

    It seems like every time a woman is in a superhero movie she has to validate her role and make it seem like she’s “not just some damsel in distress.” I don’t know – I don’t mind SJ. I liked her in Ghost World, and she was decent in Lost in Translation. My only big complaint is that she’s a very beautiful, curvy (and I’m not implying she’s fat) girl, but always seems to be dressed inappropriately for her body time. At events her dresses always seem too small on her. She’s got a great body – she should show it off with better outfits!