Scarlett Johansson on No Longer Being Cast for ‘Desirability’ Or ‘The Male Gaze’

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More recently, Scarlett Johansson shared insights about how her roles in films have evolved throughout her career, revealing that she’s no longer primarily cast for her appeal as a desirable female lead. Earlier in her acting journey, she was frequently chosen for parts where she portrayed the alluring love interest of main male characters. Over time, though, she has expanded her repertoire to embrace intricate characters who exert their own influence, such as those in Marriage Story, Lucy, and Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Fly Me to the Moon).

In other words, here’s a breakdown of what Johansson discussed regarding her role changes in films.

Scarlett Johansson comments on no longer being cast for desirability

In a recent chat, the actress playing the Black Widow revealed that during her initial years in showbiz, most of the roles presented to her were centered around emphasizing her character’s attractiveness or allure towards male counterparts.

In her conversation with The Times, Scarlett Johansson mentioned that during her younger years, many roles she was given or pursued often centered around their own attractiveness or the development of their characters being driven by their desirability to men. She referred to this as the “male gaze” or a narrative focused on male perspectives. Now, she noted that such looks-based casting happens less frequently for her, suggesting a change in the industry.

The Transformers actress pointed out that the “communication” has shifted, and she highlighted an abundance of role models and more visible women occupying high-ranking positions. Additionally, Johansson emphasized that she now has more chances to portray complex characters in films.

Beyond sharing that she’s been nominated for two Oscars, the actress also disclosed her decision to decline roles that didn’t offer meaningful satisfaction. This choice is aimed at preventing being stereotyped in her career. Known for her role in Jurassic World Rebirth, she acknowledged the risk of becoming obsolete at some point. However, she expressed her intent to keep waiting for roles that would showcase her acting skills, rather than just serving as visual appeal.

She mentioned, at age 40, that she had to grow accustomed to the thought that securing a decent role requires patience. “This can be challenging for a young actor,” she continued, “but since I didn’t have kids then, it was easier for me.

Back in 2022, I sat down with Dax Shepard on The Armchair Expert podcast, and we got real about my career as an actress. You see, I’ve had moments where I questioned whether I could step out of the box, mainly because the industry had a tendency to sexualize me excessively. This objectification and being pigeonholed left me feeling like I wasn’t getting offered roles that truly resonated with me.

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2025-07-01 02:40