Scarlett Johansson opens up about early typecasting in Hollywood

The actress reflects on what shaped her early career and how things have changed.

Scarlett Johansson recently reflected on the early phase of her career, sharing that many of the roles she was offered were shaped primarily by the male gaze and focused on physical appearance.

In an interview given in June 2025, she acknowledged that her characters were often written around the concept of desirability rather than emotional or narrative complexity.

“A lot of the roles I was offered… had their ambitions revolving around their own desirability, or the male gaze,” she explained, noting that such casting has become “less frequent” over the years. She added that something in the industry has shifted, making room for more diverse and multidimensional portrayals of women.

Johansson emphasized the growing visibility of women in creative leadership and how this has opened doors to stronger, more complex female roles.

She pointed out that she now has greater opportunities to portray characters with agency, variety, and narrative importance beyond their visual appeal.

Her comments are consistent with past statements, where she has spoken about feeling objectified early in her career.

Over time, Johansson has reshaped her professional identity both as an actor and now as a director by choosing roles that challenge old industry norms.