Celebrating the fiery talent of Scarlett Johansson

CAIRO – 22 November 2017: November 22 is the 33rd birthday of Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson, a shining young talent who has already accomplished a list of films to her name, including "Lost in Translation" and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Johansson was born in New York City, 1984, to a Jewish mother and a Danish father. It was her mother who encouraged a young Johansson to get into acting, and she appeared in her first play at eight years old, in an off-Broadway production of "Sophistry." She then went to study at the private Manhattan's Professional Children's School, which is where

Carrie Fisher

also studied.

While studying at school, she eventually landed her debut in 1994’s "North." Though the film was poorly received, it would be a start for what would eventually be a very successful career. Here is a look at some of her biggest roles yet, with more hopefully to come;


"The Horse Whisperer" – 1998

Directed by and starring Robert Redford, this touching drama sees Johansson in her first critically acclaimed performance as a teenage girl, Grace, who while riding horses one day with her friend is hit by a truck. Her friend dies, but Grace and her horse survive, albeit physically and emotionally scarred. Grace’s mother enlists the help of a mysterious and handsome stranger at a ranch; a ‘horse whisperer’ who helps heal Grace’s broken spirit.

For her role as Grace, Johansson was nominated for the 1999 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards' ‘Most Promising Actress’ award.

"Lost in Translation" – 2003


Johansson’s breakthrough role was in Sofia Coppola’s meaningful drama, where she starred alongside actress Bill Murray in the lead. Murray plays Bob Harris, a washed-up movie star who visits Tokyo and encounters Charlotte (Johansson), a recent newlywed whose husband is busy working. Her free time leaves her free to wander the city. The two form a strange bond, united by how out of place they feel, not just in the foreign city, but in their own lives.

Johansson was nominated for a Global Globe Award, and won the BAFTA Film Award for ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’.

"The Black Dahlia" – 2006


Based on a shocking real-life crime, Brian De Palma’s film follows two policemen, Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert (Josh Hartnett) and Lee Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart), caught up in the brutal murder of a young aspiring actress, Elizabeth Short (Mia Kirshner). As if things were not complicated enough, Bucky beings to have feelings for Lee’s girlfriend, Kay Lake (Johansson), drawing them into a love triangle.

"The Nanny Diaries" – 2007


Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini cast Johansson as the lead in this New York comedy about a college graduate, Annie Braddock (Johansson), who goes to work as a nanny for a rich family in NYC, where she gets more than she asked for when she must take care of an energetic five-year-old.

Even worse, the boy’s mother has strict rules that only make things harder for Annie, especially when she starts having feelings for a neighbor.

"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" – 2008


Woody Allen directs this passionate romantic drama about two friends, the daring Cristina (Johansson) and the more careful Vicky (Rebecca Hall). The pair takes a trip to Barcelona in an effort to find themselves and chase love, where Cristina starts a daring affair with the handsome painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), though things take a turn for the messy when Antonio’s ex-wife decides to step in.

"The Avengers" – 2012


Johansson had previously been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with her role as Black Widow in 2010’s "Iron Man 2," and she once again reprises the character in this ensemble superhero blockbuster by Joss Whedon. Johansson teams up with Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner (The Hulk), Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye. They reunite with Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man to stop the evil Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston.

"Lucy" - 2014


French director Luc Besson casts Johansson in this sci-fi action as the titular Lucy, a woman who was tasked for a simple delivery job but winds up being forced to take an experimental drug, which causes her to unlock the ultimate potential of the human brain. Now with access to powers unimaginable, Lucy seeks to get back at those who wronged her. Morgan Freeman also co-stars in the movie.