"Your identity is wrapped up in this job for a long time" - Scarlett Johansson on working with Marvel for 10 years

Actress Scarlett Johansson looked back on her role in the Marvel universe. On June 10, 2025, Interview Magazine published a conversation between her and actor David Harbour.

At one point during the chat, the two discussed Harbour’s role in Stranger Things when he asked Johansson about working with Marvel for ten years.

The actress reflected that some of her Marvel roles allowed her character to be more involved than others. She felt that in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, her scenes with Chris Evans were energetic.

However, in other Marvel films with larger casts and more complex plots, she sometimes felt like her character was used to move the story forward. Spending five and a half months on a project like that came with personal sacrifices too, like she couldn’t do things like paint her nails or get a haircut. Scarlett Johansson went on:

“These sound like silly problems, but your identity is wrapped up in this job for a long time, and if you’re not doing engaging work as an actor, you feel a little cagey sometimes.”

Elsewhere in the conversation, David Harbour believed that the invention of the phone completely transformed modern life, comparing its impact to that of the wheel. He admitted that he sometimes got rid of his smartphone and used a flip phone instead.

Scarlett Johansson said she hadn’t used a flip phone since getting an iPhone. Harbour explained that using a flip phone was a refreshing experience because it forced him to call people and wait until he got home to check emails.

Why does Scarlett Johansson think dating people beyond work is difficult?

David Harbour also shared that he once tried dating people with more traditional careers, like lawyers and business professionals, but felt they couldn’t relate to his lifestyle. He described himself as a bit of an outsider, making it harder to connect with people outside that world.

Scarlett Johansson agreed, saying she was involved with people outside her work. However, she found out that they didn’t understand her job role.

She said, just like she wouldn’t fully grasp what an oncologist does, others couldn’t easily understand the emotional and personal demands of acting. She also pointed out that actors often build close connections at work, which might seem confusing or even cause jealousy for someone unfamiliar with that environment.

On top of that, being in the public eye added another layer of complexity that outsiders might struggle to deal with. Scarlett Johansson added:

“When I’m working, and you’re probably like this too, I’m pretty hermetic. If I’m in a town, I like to go to the little restaurant and movie theater, but I don’t like a lot of variation. I like things to be, I don’t want to say rigorous, but you want a routine.”

In an interview with Vanity Fair in May 2025, Scarlett Johansson touched upon the impact of AI. She stressed the need for clear boundaries around AI usage to prevent it from causing harm.

She also felt disappointed that more public figures weren’t speaking up or showing support for setting those limits, and didn’t understand why that was the case.

Trending

Also Read: Scarlett Johansson says it would have been easier to fund a "sequel of a $180 million movie or a genre movie that was subpar" than "Eleanor the Great"

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback