Scarlett Johansson Has Been On Movie Sets Since Age 9. Someone Asked Her About The ‘10,000 Hours’ It Takes To Become An Expert At A Craft, And She Did Not Hold Back

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At the age of nine, Scarlett Johansson first appeared in a feature film titled “North” in 1994, marking the start of her career that has since spanned over three decades without interruption. Clearly, she’s invested far more than the often-cited 10,000 hours into her craft. As she readies her upcoming projects for release in the 2025 movie schedule, Johansson openly discusses the time required to achieve expertise in one’s field.

Except for the years 2000 and 2020, Scarlett Johansson has worked in films every year since her acting debut in 1994. Malcolm Gladwell suggests that to reach expertise, one needs approximately 10,000 hours of practice. Given this, it’s likely that Johansson exceeded that amount years ago, and she herself confirms this when she stated to THR:

In terms of the 10,000 hours required to excel at something, I’ve surpassed that mark by fourfold. Being raised on film sets, I have a strong affinity for efficiency. In my role as an actor, I can analyze a call sheet and predict precisely what could delay us and what debts we’ll incur the following day.

Glancing at Scarlett Johansson’s impressive filmography undeniably confirms her standing. From critically acclaimed films such as “Lost in Translation” (2003) and “Marriage Story” (2019), along with “Jojo Rabbit”, to box office sensations like the various Avengers movies, including “Avengers” and “Avengers: Endgame”, she has amassed a staggering amount of work totaling over 10,000 hours. Her resume solidifies her position as one of the most successful actors in the industry today.

In simpler terms, 10,000 hours is roughly equivalent to 416 days or slightly over a year’s time. Scarlett Johansson has been working for approximately 31 years. This suggests that she has far surpassed the level of an expert in her field. As she put it, at this stage of her career, she can glance at a production schedule (call sheet) and instinctively gauge how long a project will take; such is her familiarity with the workings of the industry.

She’s not only using her skills in front of the camera, but also behind the scenes now. This year, the movie “Eleanor the Great” is set to be released, which Scarlett Johansson directs for the first time in her career. This is an exciting leap for her as it marks her debut as a film director.

In the film, June Squibb appears, and during an interview about her director, she enthusiastically praised Johansson’s innate talent as a director.

Utilizing her acting expertise, she recognized instantly my actions, direction, and methods. It’s remarkable since such insight isn’t typically encountered. Many exceptional directors lack the understanding that Scarlett possesses in this regard.

It’s only fitting that the 95-year-old actress would express praise for her director, given her extensive experience in the industry and deep understanding of its intricacies. It’s entirely logical that her skills from various projects would easily apply to directing as well.

Johansson continues to balance her role as a director with acting opportunities this year. The upcoming release of “Jurassic World Rebirth” on July 2 has generated excitement among cast members, including Johansson, who have been praising the film and drawing comparisons to “Jurassic Park”. In addition to this, she will star in Wes Anderson’s film, “The Phoenician Scheme”, set for release on June 6. Thus, Johansson is not only augmenting her extensive acting experience, but also demonstrating her versatility as a performer.

In my opinion, Scarlett Johansson’s statements resonate deeply with her career trajectory, and she consistently demonstrates exceptional talent that places her among the greats. Fortunately, it seems she has no intention of slowing down, which means we’ll continue to enjoy her remarkable performances for many years to come.

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2025-05-08 02:48