“I didn’t know what he meant exactly”: ‘The Matrix’ Star’s Strange Question to a 9-Year-Old Scarlett Johansson Changed Her Life Forever

Scarlett Johansson has gained international recognition with her MCU role as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. Not only that, but her action portfolio is quite solid since she has worked on several projects of different genres which is a clear depiction of her honed craft. Having been industry for quite so long, she has witnessed many things along the way.

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One of which is a strange question which was thrown at her by The Matrix actor, Laurence Fishburne when she was around 9 years old. 

Scarlett Johansson Revealed Unexpected Question She Got from Laurence Fishburne

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Scarlett Johansson debuted as a professional actor at the young age of 8 in an off-Broadway play. She made her film debut at the age of nine in the 1994 film, North. The next year, she appeared in a minor role alongside Laurence Fishburne in Just Cause which is when she had a chance to meet him.

In an interview, she revealed how he asked a strange question to her while they were traveling which stuck with her forever.

“When I was probably nine. I worked on a film called Just Cause and Laurence Fishburne was in it and we were traveling somewhere for the film. We were on a plane and I passed him a note in the file and he said to me, ‘Hey, let me ask you a question. Do you want to be an actor? Or do you want to be a movie star?'”

She continued,

“And, you know, in my mind, I didn’t really I didn’t know what he meant. Exactly. I felt like you know, you can be both right. I mean, you can be both but he was saying to me, ‘he’s like, Are you here to do the work?’ And, you know, I internalize that if your end goal is just to be a movie star. Well, you know, that’s one that’s different than acting.”

While the then-young actress was unable to comprehend its meaning, as she grew up, she understood what he wanted her to show. Given the glamorous career she enjoys today, many might be unaware of the hardships she faced during her acting journey.

Scarlett Johansson Reflects on Her Acting Career

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In an old interview with Parade, the actress opened threw light on her acting career mentioning that she has faced constant rejections. However, she got a second chance most of the time which eventually ended up making her famous career.

“Since a very young age, I’ve been rejected constantly … the best call you can receive is after you are rejected for something and then you get it. You appreciate it more. I’ve basically made a career out of being second choice.”

Even her globally recognized Black Widow role was eventually offered to Emily Blunt. Due to scheduling conflicts, she ended up dropping out and the rest is history. She has been the subject of several controversies who once even stated feeling “objectified” and “pigeonholed” early in her career. However, she overcame the hurdles and eventually established herself among the top celebrities in the world. 

Source: Outstanding Screenplays