Scarlett Johansson Just Got Real About Being ‘Under The Male Gaze’ Early In Her Hollywood Career (And What Happened Next)

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Scarlett Johansson has been a highly successful and versatile actress in Hollywood for many years, recognized for her ability to perform both dramatic and action roles. Lately, instead of promoting upcoming films in 2025, she granted an interview that was open and honest about the impact of the male gaze and the need to consistently demonstrate her value beyond superficial parts during her early career years.

In a conversation with The Times, the leading star of the upcoming “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (Black Widow actress) discussed her path to creative liberation, revealing it hasn’t been entirely straightforward. Throughout her early career, she was frequently typecast for her appearance and ended up portraying characters whose plots mainly centered around their attractiveness or role within a man’s storyline. She detailed these experiences:

Nowadays, the landscape has shifted significantly for younger women. The messages they receive are diverse – with an abundance of role models visible in influential roles. Moreover, the chances for portraying complex female characters that aren’t confined to a single stereotype have grown substantially.

And indeed, she’s correct. The dialogue about female portrayal in films has undergone a substantial transformation in recent times. Johansson, who embarked on her acting journey at the tender age of nine and rose to fame during her teenage years, has observed this change not only in Hollywood but also in the roles open to women. She further added:

In my youth, many characters I played were centered around attractiveness, male attention, or male-dominated narratives. However, this pattern is becoming less common; there seems to be a change for the better.

It took time for that transformation to occur. For most of her initial acting years, the ex-Avenger was often stereotyped and appreciated for her seductive voice and appearance rather than her acting skills. She chose to be patient and wait for more substantial roles that could showcase her talents fully, even if it led to some professional unease along the way. The actress commented:

Essentially, my task was to keep pushing forward, staying productive while keeping up the pace in my career and biding time for opportunities that felt fitting. It’s challenging because waiting can bring a sense of unease, but I understood the importance of giving room for creativity to unfold naturally. It was nerve-wracking indeed, as it often feels like one could lose relevance at any given moment in this industry. However, I believe it has been worthwhile—I am certain it will be.

In my opinion, waiting on Johansson’s projects has always been worthwhile. From the critically acclaimed “Marriage Story” to “Her,” she has forged an exceptional career with roles that are bold and varied. Most recently, she directed her first feature film, “Eleanor the Great,” which debuted at Cannes this year to rave reviews. Next up, you’ll find her in “Jurassic World: Rebirth” as a former soldier on a quest to extract dinosaur DNA to cure human heart disease. From what I’ve seen in the trailers, it seems like they’re returning to the raw, action-packed roots of Jurassic, and I can’t wait!

Johansson candidly discusses the influence of AI and deepfakes in the entertainment industry, particularly after a recent uproar involving a voice assistant that closely resembled her own voice. Notably, she, together with other prominent Hollywood stars, initiated lawsuits, resulting in the removal of the technology by the company.

Scarlett Johansson repeatedly demonstrates that patience for the perfect role, timing, and message is not only shrewd but potent. Her upcoming film, titled “Jurassic Park: Rebirth“, is slated for release in theaters on July 2.

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2025-06-30 17:41