Scarlett Johansson recently discussed the most demanding part of her acting career during an interview while promoting Jurassic World Rebirth. She singled out her experience in the 2013 film Her as one of her toughest roles, highlighting the unique challenges she faced as the voice of an artificial intelligence named Samantha.
The Black Widow star appeared on the South Korean show You Quiz On the Block and explained why Her stood out as a particularly challenging project.
It was one of the hardest films that we made because it was complicated.
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
She described the recording process, which alternated between performing alongside co-star Joaquin Phoenix and syncing her voice to his filmed scenes.
Sometimes I would record with [Joaquin Phoenix], sometimes I would record to the movie and do his performance… I would record to the movie,
Johansson explained.
She also emphasized how limiting it was to use only her voice, missing her physical presence as a tool in acting.
It’s interesting because as an actor, you have your voice, obviously, and you have your body. Those are the two tools you have to perform, and when you take one of those tools away, obviously you don’t have your physicality; it’s an interesting kind of challenge.
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
Portraying an Invisible Character Under Spike Jonze’s Direction
In Her, directed by Spike Jonze, Johansson played Samantha, an operating system with artificial intelligence. Throughout the film, audiences hear her voice but never see her, presenting a unique obstacle where all emotion and character development had to come through vocal performance alone. This demanded an intense focus on voice acting, making it a difficult and unusual role for Johansson.
Challenges on Other Films and Reflections on Co-stars
Beyond Her, Johansson also reflected on her experience while filming Lost in Translation in 2003. Her role in that film earned her a BAFTA Award for Best Actress, but she said the atmosphere was tense due to co-star Bill Murray’s difficult personal state during production.
Bill was in a hard place. Everybody was on tenterhooks around him, including our director and the full crew, because he was dealing with his…stuff.
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
Johansson shared that she later saw a noticeable change in Murray’s demeanor when they reunited at Saturday Night Live’s 50th-anniversary special, reflecting that life had humbled him.
I think life has humbled him.
—Scarlett Johansson, Actress
The Enduring Impact of Johansson’s Vocal Performance
Scarlett Johansson’s revelation about the challenges she faced in Her offers insight into the complexities of performing without physical presence. Her work as Samantha required transforming vocal expression into a fully realized character, a feat that distinguishes this role as her hardest. This experience not only pushed Johansson’s skills but also highlighted the evolving landscape of performance art in modern cinema. Moving forward, her reflection on such roles may influence how voice acting is appreciated and approached in future projects.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened between Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson?
A. Neither Reynolds nor Johansson said much about their breakup, but it seemed their busy work schedules were a big factor. The actors met at an event where people clapped in the background. “Relationships are complicated,” mentioned the Black Widow actress, as reported by Xyno Online News.
Q. What is Scarlett Johansson’s religion?
A. She is from a Jewish family that escaped from Poland and Russia. Her family’s initial last name was Schlamberg. She has an older sister, Vanessa, who is an actress, an older brother named Adrian, and a twin brother called Hunter.
Q. Is Scarlett Johansson LGBTQ?
A. The movie “Rub & Tug” was set to feature Scarlett Johansson, a straight actress, in the role of Dante “Tex” Gill, a real-life American crime boss. Gill, who operated a massage parlor as a cover for illegal activities during the 1970s and 1980s, was born female but identified as male.
