The depth that Scarlet Johansson has brought to many of the characters she has portrayed was not what most expected from such a young actress. Perhaps her advanced stage of development as an actress can be explained by her early start. At a very young age Scarlet Johansson began attending the Lee Strasberg Threatre Institue for Young People, providing a solid foundation of formal training that would serve her well throughout her career. Johansson first performed before a live audience at the tender age of eight. The Playwrights Horizons Theatre's production of "Sophistry" in 1993 allowed Johansson to make her on stage debut. Johansson made her big screen debut in 1994 in the film "North," however, it would take several roles in major film productions before Scarlet Johansson would cause moviegoers and critics alike to take notice.

Scarlet's involvement in the 1995 release of the film "Just Cause" impressed some, but it wasn't until the following year that she began making a name for herself. The 1996 film releases of "If Lucy Fell" and "Manny and Lo" earned Scarlet Johansson, for the first time, critical acclaim. This lead directly to her involvement in the third installment of the "Home Alone" series in 1997. "Home Alone 3" was a box office flop, however, the credit she earned from previous impressive performances provided additional opportunities for the young actress. Her moving portrayal of Manny in the aforementioned film "Manny and Lo" propelled Johansson up a short list of actresses considered for the role of Grace in the well financed 1998 film "The Horse Whisperer." After this film, Scarlet Johansson's career would begin to go down an unexpected path.

In the year 2001, after a long break from acting, Scarlet would take on roles in several independent films. Those roles include "Ghost World," "An American Rhapsody", and the Coen brother's "The Man Who Wasn't There." Ending her streak of indie films in 2002 with a co-starring role in the film "Eight Legged Freaks," Johansson once again began accepting more mainstream films. One such film was the 2003 release of the Sophia Coppola's romance drama "Lost in Translation," which proved to truly be a break out role for Ms. Johansson. Though Bill Murray was the star of the film, Scarlet stole the show with a very convincing portrayal of Charlotte, a married woman visiting Japan who ends up in an unexpected relationship with Bill Murray's character (Bob Harris) -- a movie actor nearing the end of his career. Many critics raved about the chemistry between Murray and Johansson, this helped her career regain momentum after a few disappointing performances early on and her disappearance from the mainstream movie scene.

Riding the wave of critical acclaim, Johansson would receive a Golden Globe nomination (Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama) for her portrayal of the subject of a Johannes Vermeer painting "Girl With a Pearl Earring," which was also the name of the film. She would also receive a Golden Globe nomination for her riveting performance in "Lost in Translation" (Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy). With another year came two more impressive performances by Scarlet Johansson. The 2004 releases of "In Good Company" and "A Love Song for Bobby Long" removed any doubt some may have had regarding Scarlet Johanssons range as an actress. "In Good Company," which included comedic elements, and "A Love Song for Bobby Long" (Golden Globe nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Drama), set in the southern United States, Johansson performed brilliantly in both roles.

In 2005, Johansson appeared in "The Island" and, most notably, "Match Point." Written and Directed by Woody Allen, Scarlet's role in "Match Point" would earn her yet another Golden Globe nomination -- this time for best supporting actress. That makes a total of four Golden Globe nominations by the age of 21 -- most actors and actresses never receive that much recognition during their entire career. It has been a promising start to what many believe will prove to be a fine career.

Scarlet Johansson Photos

(Updated: March 25, 2008)
Entertainment Network Scarlet Johansson photo shoot.
Scarlet Johansson in Girl with a Pearl Earring