Scarlett Johansson says early 2000s were ‘tough’ for actresses, recalls being judged on looks

WASHINGTON: Scarlett Johansson has opened up about the challenges she faced as a young actor in the early 2000s, describing the period as “tough” and marked by intense scrutiny over women’s appearances, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In a recent interview, the Oscar-nominated actor reflected on how it was “socially acceptable” at the time for actresses to be “pulled apart for how they looked,” adding that opportunities for women were significantly limited compared to today.

“It was tough. There was a lot placed on how women looked”, Johansson explained. “What was offered at that time for women my age, as far as acting roles or opportunities, was much slimmer than it is now”, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

¡LA CRUDA REALIDAD!
Scarlett Johansson dijo que era “socialmente aceptable” en Hollywood que las jóvenes actrices fueran “destrozadas por cómo se veían” a principios de los 2000:

“Fue duro. Había mucha presión sobre cómo se veían las mujeres. Lo que se ofrecía en ese momento… pic.twitter.com/29gbsYcqej

— Juanito Say (@JuanitoSay) April 12, 2026

Johansson, who rose to prominence with films like ‘Lost in Translation’ and ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring, said the roles available to young women were often restrictive and repetitive. “What was offered at that time for women my age, as far as acting roles or opportunities, was much slimmer than it is now,” she said, noting that actresses were frequently typecast into roles such as “the other woman,” “side piece”, or “bombshell”.

“You would get really pigeon-holed and offered the same [roles]. It would be like the other woman, or the side piece, the bombshell,” she recalled. “That was the archetype that was prevalent when I was that age”, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

‘The Black Widow’ star shared that navigating the industry at the time was “tricky,” as actors often felt compelled to accept every opportunity out of fear that it might be their last.

“It’s something that I learned over time, but it’s hard,” she said. “Once you start working, you really feel like every job is going to be your last and that if you get opportunities to work, you have to keep taking them. Even though they might not be as varied as the jobs that really give you pleasure, that you can learn from and challenge yourself with,” Johansson said, highlighting the competitive nature of the industry.

Over time, however, she learned to be more selective and patient, choosing roles that offered creative satisfaction and growth. She also found solace in working within New York’s theatre circuit, away from the pressures of Hollywood.

Johansson expressed optimism about the current landscape, noting that there are now “much more empowering roles available” for young women compared to when she began her career. She added that it took time to gain confidence in her footing within the industry, eventually realising she could pursue meaningful projects without fear of being forgotten.

When asked if she ever personally felt like “if I don’t take this job, maybe this will be the last offer,” Johansson replied, “Every actor feels like that, because it is so competitive, and I think once you do have the spotlight, you want to keep it on you. I mean, that’s the instinct I think for a young actor, or any actor.”

“Then at some point I realised, ‘oh yeah, I’ve got a foothold and it’s OK’. I can work on the things that challenge me, and stuff will come out when it comes out, and people won’t forget about the work I did before,” she added. “But it took a while to get there”, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI)