From a popular child actor to an MCU star, Scarlett Johansson has done it all. Blessed with the complete package of stunning looks and impressive talent, Johansson is widely considered one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood today. While the Marvel alum began her acting career at a very young age, her big claim to stardom was in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation.
The film went on to become a commercial and critical success, but Johansson’s experience on set was very different. Clarifying the rumors that she faced a torrid time while filming, the Black Widow star who was 17 at the time, revealed that the experience was not miserable, but challenging for a teenager like her.
Scarlett Johansson’s Breakthrough Film Was A Tough Experience
Scarlett Johansson’s big claim to becoming a future superstar was Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation in which she co-starred with Bill Murray. The film featured an unlikely relationship between two characters who were far apart in age, with Murray being 52 and Johansson being just 17 at the time. Coppola’s masterful writing and direction ensured that the film was widely appreciated, along with the Match Point star’s performance being lauded as well.
The filming experience though, was a different cup of tea for Johansson. The actor who was just a teenager, confessed that she felt a bit lost and lonely on the sets. Squashing the rumors that she had a miserable time working on the project, Johansson, in an interview to Variety, clarified that the challenges she faced were more personal.
“It wasn’t miserable. It was challenging because I was very young and away from my high school boyfriend. I was sort of isolated in that environment, and it was just hard work. Looking back on it, the whole thing felt like jet lag.”
Despite being vulnerable and extremely young, Johansson persisted and went on to deliver an impressive performance that served as a stepping stone to entering the big leagues in Hollywood.
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How Lost In Translation Stereotyped Scarlett Johansson
While Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation made Scarlett Johansson a big star, it also inadvertently worked against her. This film was the first time that audiences woke up to Johansson, the bombshell. While the Vicky Christina Barcelona star became an instant heartthrob, the film negatively affected the roles she was offered afterwards. Speaking of being typecast as a s*xy siren who could only play glamorous characters, Johansson revealed to Variety about the dilemma she was faced with.
“It was hard to get out of that pigeonhole. And I did films like He’s Just Not That Into You and movies that kind of continued that narrative. I couldn’t make any headway.”
In addition, Lost In Transation also became a subject of controversy in the Coppola household years after its release. Sofia Coppola revealed that her children were not very favourable towards the big age gap between Johansson’s and Murray’s characters in the film. But the MCU star’s determination to rise above these stereotypes, ensured that she reached the pinnacle of success in Hollywood.
