The computer-animated musical comedy Sing, which features the vocal talents of Scarlett Johansson, opened in cinemas yesterday. Aref Omar lists some of the Hollywood screen siren’s films
1. MANNY & LO (1996)
This obscure dramedy sees an 11-year-old Scarlett Johansson in the titular role as Manny, with teen onscreen sister Lo, as two orphan drifters who kidnap a store clerk after Lo becomes pregnant. The scene featuring the siblings checking out a family at the golf course are Johansson’s actual parents, brother and sister.
2. GHOST WORLD (2001)
Based on the cult indie comic book of the same name by Daniel Clowes, this black comedy has Johansson as one of two BFF teenage social outcasts. The film follows the eventual disintegration of their friendship during the summer after they graduate from high school.
3. LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003)
Directed by Sofia Coppola, this romantic dramedy was a critical and commercial hit, which raised Johansson’s profile. Set in Tokyo, she plays a disillusioned young wife who starts a chance relationship with an equally disenchanted ageing actor.
She won a Bafta award and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. Not bad for the then 17-year-old star, who played a college graduate in her early 20s.
4. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (2008)
Shot in Spain, this romantic dramedy, directed by Woody Allen, was another critical and commercial hit for Johansson. She plays one of two American women on a summer trip in Barcelona, who end up in a sticky relationship with a Spanish artist still in love with his ex-wife.
5. WE BOUGHT A ZOO (2011)
A light family dramedy produced, written and directed by Cameron Crowe, follows a father who moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo. Before Johansson got the role as the spunky long-time lead zookeeper, other actresses such as Amy Adams, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Rachel McAdams were considered for the part.
6. THE AVENGERS (2012)
Reprising her role as super spy Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow, Johansson solidified her international star status in this ultra fun and mega-successful Marvel Comics action extravaganza directed by Joss Whedon. Good thing the actress turned down a role in 2012’s reboot of Total Recall to be in this film instead (it was a critical and box office flop).
Apparently Johansson became the 10th highest grossing actress of all time after The Avengers smashed the box office by collecting RM6.75 billion worldwide.
7. DON JON (2013)
Directed, written and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this romantic dramedy follows a modern-day Don Juan who learns to find true happiness and intimacy. In it, Johansson plays a shallow and manipulative beauty. Gordon-Levitt wrote the part specifically for the actress and was very happy when she agreed to star in the movie.
8. HER (2013)
A lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system in this romantic sci-fi drama directed by Spike Jonze. Although Samantha Morton was originally the voice of Samantha, Jonze decided to use Johansson’ s voice instead. Johansson had previously voiced an operating system that dated her male owner in a Robot Chicken episode back in 2005.
Her won an Oscar and Golden Globe award for best screenplay.
9. UNDER THE SKIN (2013)
This peculiar indie sci-fi film sees Johansson as an otherworldly woman who preys on lonely men at night in Scotland. Although Eva Green, Gemma Arterton, January Jones, Abbie Cornish and Olivia Wilde were considered for the role, Johansson stayed on board for the project for four years till its completion.
A paparazzi shot of Johansson falling down during filming became a wildly popular Internet meme, featuring the actress photoshopped into various hilarious situations.
10. LUCY (2014)
Johansson stars as the kickass titular heroine, who turns the tables on her tormentors after she ingests a drug that transforms her into an evolved superhuman. Director Luc Besson, who also wrote the sci-fi action film, called it “one part 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), one part Leon (1994) and one part Inception (2010).”