Scarlett Johansson is the highest-grossing female star of all time and a two-time Oscar nominee, and Tony Award, and BAFTA winner. She's appeared in many movies, forging a strong and respectable career as a respectable and versatile actress.
Scarlett Johansson is, no doubt, one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Her role as ‘Black Widow’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe propelled her into superstardom, yet it wasn't her breakthrough. Indeed, by the time she first wore the Widow's catsuit, Johansson was already proven box-office draw. It's impossible to diminish the effect that the MCU had on her career. However, it would be equally wrong to reduce her filmography to just the role of Natasha Romanoff, especially when several other choices helped turn her into the star she is today.
Natasha is not only a strong and capable character but more importantly, she's vulnerable and flawed. She's allowed to make mistakes, try and experiment with new things, and make her own path within the Marvel universe.
With the release of ‘Marriage Story,’ Johansson received the best reviews of her career. She not only garnered acclaim from critics but also a plethora of nominations, including one for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Johansson had been Oscar-worthy in other films, mainly Lost in Translation and the criminally underrated Under the Skin, so seeing her get her first nomination was indeed something.
Natasha Romanoff was definitely one of the first women of importance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As time went by, Marvel increased its female characters' presence (yet it's still sorely lacking in that department), but Natasha will always be remembered as the first female lead of the universe. This will forever mark her importance. With the release of Lucy, Johansson cemented her place as an action star. Directed by Luc Besson and co-starring ‘Morgan Freeman’, the film follows the title character, a woman who gains psychokinetic abilities thanks to a drug that enters her bloodstream.
Heavily stylized and more than a little farfetched, Lucy received polarizing reviews, but even the negative takes praised Johansson's charm and dominion of the screen. The film was a huge box-office success, making it one of Johansson's most successful non-MCU films.
Natasha's lack of powers or abilities never prevented her from getting the job done. In fact, in every single team movie, the Widow does just as much as any of her enhanced teammates, never once complaining or asking for a time out.
In ‘The Avengers’, she's the one that closes the portal, making her way up to the top of Stark Tower with almost no help. In ‘Age of Ultron’, she steals the Regeneration Cradle, preventing Ultron from uploading himself into the synthetic body. And of course, she makes the ultimate sacrifice in Endgame, becoming the literal embodiment of "Whatever it takes."
‘Under the Skin’ has to be without a doubt, Johansson's most daring and provocative film to date. Haunting and thought-provoking, the film tells the story of an extraterrestrial being who preys on men in Scotland. With stunning visuals and an elusive albeit seductive and bold message, the film is a true cinematic experience that proves irresistible and unforgettable.
Johansson garnered acclaim for her performance, with critics calling her mesmerizing and hypnotic. Indeed, the actress bravely throws herself at the role, showing a disturbing and powerful side to her abilities that she has yet to display again. —Screen Rant
