Scarlett Johansson

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 of his films, including 2008's Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She played an American girl on vacation in Spain with a friend. The pair become involved with an artist (Javier Bardem) and his ex-wife (Penelope Cruz).

Continued Success

Around this time, Johansson branched out into new territory when she joined forces with Pete Yorn for an album of duets, which were recorded in 2007. The pair finally released their collaborative efforts in 2009 with the album Break Up, and Johansson wrote several tracks for the recording. "I've been singing for my whole life. When I was a kid I wanted to be on Broadway," she told New York magazine. In 2008, Johansson released her first album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, which featured cover versions of songs by Tom Waits. The recording proved to be a critical and commercial disappointment.

Johansson soon took on a new career challenge. In 2009, she made her Broadway debut in a revival of Arthur Miller's drama A View from the Bridge opposite Liev Schrieber. Johansson earned positive reviews for her convincing performance as Catherine, a teenage girl who is raised by her aunt and uncle. For her work on the show, Johansson won a Tony Award.

Turning to lighter fare, Johansson played the villainess Black Widow in Iron Man 2 (2010) opposite Robert Downey, Jr. and Mickey Rourke. The action flick became one of the summer's big blockbusters.

While her personal life was grabbing headlines, Johansson starred in a number of films. She finished filming Cameron Crowe's dramatic comedy We Bought a Zoo with Matt Damon, in 2011. Reportedly reprising her role as the Black Widow, Johansson also began work on The Avengers, which features several superheroes and villains from Marvel Comics.

Personal Life

Johansson married Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds in September 2008, in a small ceremony in British Columbia, Canada. The couple purchased a home together in Los Angeles, but filed for divorce two years later in December 2010.

Since her split from Reynolds, Johansson was romantically linked to actor Sean Penn. The pair traveled to Mexico together and attended actress Reese Witherspoon's wedding in March 2011.

In September 2011, Johansson found herself at the center of a scandal when nude photos taken on her cell phone were posted online by hackers. The FBI initiated an investigation to find the individuals behind the leak, which has targeted Johansson along with several other young stars.

source:biography.com