Scarlett Johansson is one of Hollywood’s most popular and desirable stars today. With her eclectic choices in films and characters, the celebrity has proved that she has the perfect mix of looks and talent to become an A-lister in the industry. Her Marvel gig as Black Widow took her superstardom up by several notches as well.
Before becoming one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, Johansson started off her career in the entertainment industry as a child actor. In 1998, the Marvel star got a big break at the age of 13 to star with veteran actor Robert Redford in his directorial The Horse Whisperer. Johansson, in an early interview for the promotions of the film, admitted that she lied to Redford about a certain skill to ensure that she bagged the prestigious role.
Young Scarlett Johansson Lied To Get A Role In The Horse Whisperer
The 1998 Robert Redford film The Horse Whisperer, featured a 13-year-old Scarlett Johansson sharing screen space with the veteran Oscar winner. The story follows a young girl and her horse who learn to recover physically and emotionally through the help of a horse whisperer after a severe riding accident. This was a marquee role for Johansson and one that gave her a foothold in the industry that would eventually make her a superstar.
The film required the Match Point actor to be able to ride a horse with a certain amount of skill. Johansson, who had never taken riding lessons up to that point, indulged in a little bit of deception to ensure that she got the part. Speaking to The Tonight Show With David Letterman, the star confessed,
“Robert Redford asked, ‘Have you ever been on a horse before’? And I said, ‘yes, I have been on a horse before’. They may have been plastic, you know, but I didn’t tell him that”
Eventually, The Vicky Christina Barcelona actor became a skilled rider after taking lessons for the character in the film. Despite admitting that she faced a few challenges during her training, Johansson looked like a natural on screen.
Scarlett Johansson Is A Fan Of Florence Pugh
Marvel’s Black Widow may not have set the box office on fire but it saw two popular female stars sharing screen space for the first time. Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh who played her sister Yelena, shared some great on-screen chemistry that was the highlight of the film. Johansson though, was initially sceptical about her interaction with Pugh off-screen having never met or worked with the young British star before. But Pugh proved the Marvel star completely wrong. Speaking to Sirius XM, Johansson gushed about her co-star and said,
“She’s like a stick of dynamite. She’s so energetic, she’s so fresh, like a breath of fresh air, you know, soulful and mischievous, all the things that comes across the screen. She’s a wonderful woman, engaging, supportive and funny.”
Johansson and Pugh went on to become extremely good friends over the course of the film and still maintain a camaraderie off-set wherever they meet. Pugh for her part, returned the favor by stating that she was a huge fangirl of the Black Widow actor.
Source: The Tonight Show With David Letterman, Sirius XM
