Share

Scarlett Johansson biography

2 photos

Quick Facts

  • NAME: Scarlett Johansson
  • OCCUPATION: Film Actress
  • BIRTH DATE: November 22, 1984 (Age: 27)
  • EDUCATION: Manhattan's Professional Children's School
  • PLACE OF BIRTH: New York City, New York
more about Scarlett

Best Known For

Scarlett Johansson reached A-list status with movie roles in Lost in Translation, Girl With a Pearl Earring, and The Other Boleyn Girl as well as several Woody Allen films.

Videos see all videos

watch more videos (5)

Synopsis

Actress and singer Scarlett Johansson is the daughter of a Danish architect and the granddaughter of a film director. Her first noted appearance was in The Horse Whisperer, followed by a major role in Lost in Translation (2003). Her first album Anywhere I Lay My Head was released in 2008, the same year she married actor Ryan Reynolds.

Early Life

Born on November 22, 1984, in New York City. Her family has a long history of participating in the arts; her Danish grandfather worked as a screenwriter and director, and her mother as a producer.

Johansson's interest in acting surfaced at an early age. At the age of 8, she appeared in an off-Broadway production of Sophistry with Ethan Hawke. Johansson continued to seek out roles, and decided to study at Manhattan's Professional Children's School (PCS), a private educational institution known for such famous acting alumni as Carrie Fisher, Rita Moreno and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Musical theater was one of Johansson's passions, which she pursued at PCS. "I was one of those jazz-hands kids," she told Vogue.

During her school years, Johansson landed some acting roles, including her film debut in 1994's North with Elijah Wood. Her first leading part came two years later with Manny & Lo, an independent dramatic comedy. Johansson played the younger sister of a pregnant teenager, both of whom were in foster care. Johansson's twin brother, Hunter, also made an appearance in the film. Johansson attracted even more critical attention with 1998's The Horse Whisperer starring Robert Redford and Kristin Scott Thomas. Her portrayal of a young amputee won over many fans, including the film's star and director, Redford. Redford commented on Johansson's remarkable maturity, saying that she was "13 going on 30."

Career Breakthough

After graduating PCS in 2002, Johansson soon found herself as one of Hollywood's top up-and-coming actresses. She had two starring roles in 2003, both of which garnered her critical accolades. In Lost in Translation, she played a woman visiting Tokyo who forms an unlikely relationship with a much older man (played by Bill Murray). Johansson also gave an impressive performance as a servant girl who is painted by famed artist Johannes Vermeer (played by Colin Firth) in Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Johansson took on a variety of projects after these early successes. She worked with director Brian De Palma on the 2006 crime thriller The Black Dahlia, and tried her hand at comedy with 2007's The Nanny Diaries. A frequent collaborator with director Woody Allen, Johansson has appeared in several

ADVERTISEMENT
13671719 13671719
profile id: 13671719
profile name: Scarlett Johansson
profile occupation:
related profile id: 13671719
related profile name: Scarlett Johansson
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/J/Scarlett-Johansson-13671719-1-402.jpg
related profile URL: /people/scarlett-johansson-13671719
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
See More Bio Connections
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups
      9 others

      Pucker Uppers

      These pouty mouths have become so iconic, that they're almost celebrities on their own. Here are a few of our favorite full-lipped lovelies.

      View group

      Pucker Uppers 12 people in this group

      5 others

      Marilyn Mimics

      As the ultimate symbol of old Hollywood glamour, there's no actress who's been more imitated than Marilyn Monroe. Since her death, countless young celebrities have tried to emulate the legendary starlet, with her signature short blond hair, red lips, and effortless sex appeal. Some pull it off well, some might not, but what's certain is that stars will keep trying to mimic Marilyn.

      View group

      Marilyn Mimics 8 people in this group

      54 others

      Sparks On The Set

      Most people get to know their co-workers well...and sometimes working together can even lead to romance. Just like in the office, many Hollywood stars find romance at work—or rather, on the set. Some of the most famous couples in Hollywood history met while making a film, including Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Here's a look at the famous actors and actresses whose chemistry set off sparks on the set.

      View group

      Sparks On The Set 57 people in this group

    See all related groups

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!