Scarlett Johansson reminisced about the "brutal" criticism she faced for her appearance as a budding actress. In an interview conducted by CBS Sunday Morning this week, the Black Widow actress was invited to ponder on the transformations that Hollywood has undergone in recent times. To begin with, Scarlett described how women in the entertainment industry were "dissected" over their looks in the early 2000s, with such behavior being "socially acceptable at the time."
"It was a vastly different era. I think growing up in the entertainment industry, especially as a woman in the early 2000s, being under the glare of the spotlight was a particularly daunting experience," she commented. "Women were subject to scrutiny based on their appearance in a way that was considered socially acceptable at that time. It was quite challenging. There was immense pressure placed on women's looks. The acting roles and opportunities available for women my age were significantly fewer compared to what they are now."
The Academy Award-nominated star further noted that there are now "much more empowering roles" for actresses and jokingly referred to her "limited options" as a young woman.
"You would get really pigeonholed and offered the same (roles)," the 41-year-old continued. "It would be like the other woman, or the side piece, the bombshell. That was the stereotype prevalent when I was that age. It was quite tricky to navigate around that."
Scarlett is next set to appear onscreen in Paper Tiger alongside Adam Driver and Miles Teller. She will also star in Mike Flanagan's reimagination of The Exorcist.
