Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, has been portrayed by Scarlett Johansson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is an integral part of the Avengers team and is known for her down-to-earth character.
Despite not possessing any superhuman abilities, her quick-wittedness, intelligence, and moral complexities make her a unique hero. However, Scarlett Johansson was initially scared of wearing the Black Widow costume.
Scarlett Johansson Discusses The Complexity of Black Widow
For many fans, Black Widow was more than just a member of the Avengers. She represented the ideal balance between vulnerability and strength and was a hero who relied on more than just her physical abilities.
Scarlett Johansson, who played Black Widow, once expressed in an interview that she was determined to ensure her character did not rely on her femininity to accomplish tasks. Instead, Natasha Romanoff utilized her intelligence, wit, and charm to achieve her goals.
“She uses her brain, wit and feminine wiles to get the job done. She’s a very playful character and also a character that has a really compelling story. Because she has a kind of a gray moral code.”
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Johansson spoke about everything, including her relationship with stunts. The star praised Marvel’s collaborative approach, especially Kevin Feige’s understanding of fan feedback.
In Scarlett Johansson’s first appearance in Iron Man 2, we only caught a glimpse of what Black Widow would eventually go on to become until she died in Avengers: Endgame. However, Johansson saw every subsequent film as an opportunity to create her unique interpretation of Black Widow.
Scarlett Johansson Embraced the Iconic Costume
The actress talked about her fond memories of collaborating with her stunt double, Heidi Moneymaker, who added a genuine acrobatic flair to Black Widow’s fighting style. Their collaboration was described as “badas* yet flirtatious,” incorporating elements from their backgrounds. In the interview, Johansson laughed about how their work progressed, from the stylish fights in Iron Man to the more intense action in later films.
“it’s such a fun, it’s such a playful kind of, fighting style. You know, it’s badas* but it’s kind of sexy. It’s a little bit like flirtatious, I guess, the style. And it’s balletic giving a kind of a little, a nod to her past gymnastics. That’s a bit of a nod to Heidi’s past, kind of quality to it. And of course the Muay Thai and whatever else she would have learned with her kind of global experience. And, in Iron Man, the fight sequences were really pretty and fantastic. A lot of like kind of gimmicky things that were just really fun to watch. In Avengers, of course, the weaponry, there was a lot more kind of gun play and stuff like that. And wielding all kinds of crazy alien guns, and that was a mess. I just can’t tell you how painful that is. But this time around, a lot of the fighting was pretty gritty.”
Despite the humor, she acknowledged the hard work and bruises that went into bringing Black Widow to life on screen. The actress also talked about the iconic Black Widow costume. Perhaps one of the most iconic elements of Black Widow is her sleek, black costume. But as it turns out, this very costume was a source of anxiety for Johansson.
Initially, she was nervous about wearing it, but it became like physical and mental armor. In the interview, the Marvel star described it as empowering, explaining how the costume’s design made her feel like a badas*.
“The Widow costume is, I have to say, it’s probably the most comfortable of the superhero suits because it doesn’t require a built-in air conditioning unit, like Hemsworth does. I don’t have under armor. I don’t have a huge leather cape, headdress, whatever, all that stuff. You know, it’s pretty straight forward. It’s kinda like a wet suit actually. I’m always amazed when it goes on and zips up. I’m like, wow. It’s on. It’s totally empowering because, once you get the belt and the gloves and the bracelets and your guns and the boots, it looks great. It’s badas* and when I have my legs wrapped around some giant stunt guy’s head or whatever, and feeling totally ridiculous hanging on for dear life, it sells it.”
The movie star took pride in wearing the suit that complemented her physique for the role. The design was both utilitarian and feminine, appealing to the younger generation of fans. The suit felt like a part of her, just like her skin. It’s clear why Black Widow remains beloved in the Marvel universe by fans worldwide.
Source: Trippin’ with Tara
