Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow.Photo: Marvel/Paramount/Kobal/ShutterstockScarlett Johanssonis reflecting on Natasha Romanoff’s journey years after her Marvel character first appeared onscreen.In a recently publishedHello Beautifularticle ahead of the release of the standaloneBlack Widowfilm, the 36-year-old actress spoke out about the sexualization of Black Widow inIron Man 2, the film in which her character makes her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut.“While [the film] was really fun and had a lot of great moments in it, the character is so sexualized, you know?” Johansson said. “[She is] really talked about like she’s a piece of something, like a possession or a thing or whatever — like a piece of ass, really.““Maybe at that time that actually felt like a compliment. You know what I mean?” she added. “Because my thinking was different … My own self-worth was probably measured against that type of comment [but], like a lot of young women, you come into your own and you understand your own self-worth.“Marvel/Disney/Kobal/ShutterstockJohansson also said that her perspective on how her character is perceived has changed over the years, as she feels Black Widow is now part of a larger “shift.““It’s changing now. Now people, young girls, are getting a much more positive message,” she told Collider. “But it’s been incredible to be a part of that shift and be able to come out the other side and be a part of that old story, but also progress. Evolve. I think it’s pretty cool.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It definitely has changed and I think part of that change … is actually from me too,” Johansson continued. “I’m a mom and my life is different.” The actress shares daughterRose Dorothy, 6, with ex-husband Romain Dauriac.“Obviously, 10 years have passed and things have happened and I have a much different, more evolved understanding of myself,” she added. “As a woman, I’m in a different place in my life, you know? … I’m more accepting of myself, I think.“RELATED VIDEO: O-T Fagbenle Jokes Scarlett Johansson Made It a Struggle to ‘Focus’ on Black Widow SetIn fact, Johansson feels that now is the perfect time forBlack Widowto premiere, its release to theaters delayed from last year amid theongoing coronavirus pandemic.“This movie would have been so different if we’d made it 10 years ago. It was a different time. I think we can all agree on that,” she said. “A lot of people ask me why we didn’t do it before now, but in some ways — I’m sure there’s a lot of reasons for that — in some ways I’m actually very thankful that it’s happening now because we can actually make a movie that’s about real stuff and audiences want that.“Marvel Studios did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.Black Widowtakes place following the events of 2016’sCaptain America: Civil Warand finds Johansson’s character coming to terms with her complex past.Florence Pugh,Rachel WeiszandDavid Harbourare also set to star.The film opens in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 9.
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow.Photo: Marvel/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
Scarlett Johanssonis reflecting on Natasha Romanoff’s journey years after her Marvel character first appeared onscreen.In a recently publishedHello Beautifularticle ahead of the release of the standaloneBlack Widowfilm, the 36-year-old actress spoke out about the sexualization of Black Widow inIron Man 2, the film in which her character makes her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut.“While [the film] was really fun and had a lot of great moments in it, the character is so sexualized, you know?” Johansson said. “[She is] really talked about like she’s a piece of something, like a possession or a thing or whatever — like a piece of ass, really.““Maybe at that time that actually felt like a compliment. You know what I mean?” she added. “Because my thinking was different … My own self-worth was probably measured against that type of comment [but], like a lot of young women, you come into your own and you understand your own self-worth.“Marvel/Disney/Kobal/ShutterstockJohansson also said that her perspective on how her character is perceived has changed over the years, as she feels Black Widow is now part of a larger “shift.““It’s changing now. Now people, young girls, are getting a much more positive message,” she told Collider. “But it’s been incredible to be a part of that shift and be able to come out the other side and be a part of that old story, but also progress. Evolve. I think it’s pretty cool.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It definitely has changed and I think part of that change … is actually from me too,” Johansson continued. “I’m a mom and my life is different.” The actress shares daughterRose Dorothy, 6, with ex-husband Romain Dauriac.“Obviously, 10 years have passed and things have happened and I have a much different, more evolved understanding of myself,” she added. “As a woman, I’m in a different place in my life, you know? … I’m more accepting of myself, I think.“RELATED VIDEO: O-T Fagbenle Jokes Scarlett Johansson Made It a Struggle to ‘Focus’ on Black Widow SetIn fact, Johansson feels that now is the perfect time forBlack Widowto premiere, its release to theaters delayed from last year amid theongoing coronavirus pandemic.“This movie would have been so different if we’d made it 10 years ago. It was a different time. I think we can all agree on that,” she said. “A lot of people ask me why we didn’t do it before now, but in some ways — I’m sure there’s a lot of reasons for that — in some ways I’m actually very thankful that it’s happening now because we can actually make a movie that’s about real stuff and audiences want that.“Marvel Studios did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.Black Widowtakes place following the events of 2016’sCaptain America: Civil Warand finds Johansson’s character coming to terms with her complex past.Florence Pugh,Rachel WeiszandDavid Harbourare also set to star.The film opens in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 9.
Scarlett Johanssonis reflecting on Natasha Romanoff’s journey years after her Marvel character first appeared onscreen.
In a recently publishedHello Beautifularticle ahead of the release of the standaloneBlack Widowfilm, the 36-year-old actress spoke out about the sexualization of Black Widow inIron Man 2, the film in which her character makes her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut.
“While [the film] was really fun and had a lot of great moments in it, the character is so sexualized, you know?” Johansson said. “[She is] really talked about like she’s a piece of something, like a possession or a thing or whatever — like a piece of ass, really.”
“Maybe at that time that actually felt like a compliment. You know what I mean?” she added. “Because my thinking was different … My own self-worth was probably measured against that type of comment [but], like a lot of young women, you come into your own and you understand your own self-worth.”
Marvel/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Johansson also said that her perspective on how her character is perceived has changed over the years, as she feels Black Widow is now part of a larger “shift.”
“It’s changing now. Now people, young girls, are getting a much more positive message,” she told Collider. “But it’s been incredible to be a part of that shift and be able to come out the other side and be a part of that old story, but also progress. Evolve. I think it’s pretty cool.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“It definitely has changed and I think part of that change … is actually from me too,” Johansson continued. “I’m a mom and my life is different.” The actress shares daughterRose Dorothy, 6, with ex-husband Romain Dauriac.
“Obviously, 10 years have passed and things have happened and I have a much different, more evolved understanding of myself,” she added. “As a woman, I’m in a different place in my life, you know? … I’m more accepting of myself, I think.”
RELATED VIDEO: O-T Fagbenle Jokes Scarlett Johansson Made It a Struggle to ‘Focus’ on Black Widow Set
In fact, Johansson feels that now is the perfect time forBlack Widowto premiere, its release to theaters delayed from last year amid theongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“This movie would have been so different if we’d made it 10 years ago. It was a different time. I think we can all agree on that,” she said. “A lot of people ask me why we didn’t do it before now, but in some ways — I’m sure there’s a lot of reasons for that — in some ways I’m actually very thankful that it’s happening now because we can actually make a movie that’s about real stuff and audiences want that.”
Marvel Studios did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Black Widowtakes place following the events of 2016’sCaptain America: Civil Warand finds Johansson’s character coming to terms with her complex past.Florence Pugh,Rachel WeiszandDavid Harbourare also set to star.
The film opens in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 9.
source: people.com
