On Tuesday's episode of the Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi podcast, actor Scarlett Johansson opened up about the pressure she faced as a teen to play overtly sexualized roles.
The Avengers star shared:
"I did 'Lost in Translation' and 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' [at the ages of 18 and 19], and I was coming into my own womanhood and learning my own desirability and sexuality."
"I think because of that trajectory that I'd been sort of launched towards...I really got stuck in this - and, part of my management at the time, that was a big part of it, my agency and all that stuff - but I was kind of being groomed, in a way, to be what you call a bombshell-type of actor."
She continued:
"I was playing the other woman and the object of desire."
"I suddenly found myself cornered in this place and I couldn't get out of it."
You can listen to the full episode below.
Some applauded ScarJo for speaking out about her experience.
I think she’s in a place in her life where she feels safe to say what needs to be said about Hollywood, most women in Hollywood will be quiet 🤐 to get the “bag” (it’s sad that they wait ) but it needs to be addressed so the younger generations are warned and informed..
— eli.the.creative (@ElijahuaA) December 14, 2022
She did work with Woody Allen, so she ought to be able to recognize grooming. Shame it happened to her.
— TedTheoLogan (@faidleyj1) December 13, 2022
Good for her.
— Locas Por Moly (@LocasPorMoly) December 14, 2022
the cinema before is no longer the same as today. it has the power to change things.
— lou’ (@_lxuu6) December 14, 2022
Some also noted that some of those early roles gave her exposure that launched a very successful career, and fortunately, she wasn't pigeonholed too long.
She’s smart to do what she did after reading the article it makes perfect sense.
— Daniel (@CrailTristan) December 13, 2022
Good for her.
— Locas Por Moly (@LocasPorMoly) December 14, 2022
Several pointed out that, unfortunately, that's often the case for young women in Hollywood.
She was cast in roles that took advantage of her great sex appeal and good looks. Not exactly earth-shattering, and made a great career for her.
— thomas lawrence (@sturm60514) December 14, 2022
That's literally the definition of typecasting
— Max Powers (@MaxPowers44) December 14, 2022
Like many other “bombshell” actresses from beginning of motion pictures. Many of them were big box office draws. I guess that’s a problem for these modern actresses in Hollywood
— P Cat (@PCaterina6) December 14, 2022
Earlier this fall, Johansson spoke on the subject on Dax Shepard's podcast Armchair Expert.
She shared of her "not age-appropriate" situations:
"Because I think everybody thought I was older and I'd been [acting] for a long time and then I got kind of pigeonholed into this weird hyper-sexualized thing."
"It was like, that's the kind of career you have."
"These are the roles you've played, and I was like, 'This is it, I guess.'"
We're definitely thankful it wasn't.