Two Of Scarlett Johansson’s Best Performances Are Unique Roles From Movies You’d Never Expect

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Scarlett Johansson is a huge star in Hollywood. Her films have earned over $15 billion worldwide, and she’s known for both live-action roles and popular animated movies. She’s been in several major film series and has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards. Many consider her role as Natasha Romanoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to be her most famous.

As a huge movie fan, I’ve seen Scarlett Johansson absolutely kill it as Black Widow in nine Marvel films – she’s been a major player in eight of them! But honestly, while that’s the role a lot of people associate her with, I don’t think it’s even her best work. And that’s what’s so amazing about her! She’s incredibly versatile. We’re used to seeing her in action flicks, but she really shines when she gets to show off her full range – whether it’s earning a Tony nomination on Broadway or getting an Oscar nod for a surprisingly funny film. She’s just a fantastic actress.

Interestingly, two of her strongest performances are in films you might not anticipate. These movies are very different from each other, and they called for completely contrasting acting approaches from Johansson. In one, she relies solely on her incredible voice work, while in the other, she powerfully conveys emotion with very little dialogue.

Scarlett Johansson Is Great In Under The Skin But Barely Speaks

I have to admit, when people talk about Scarlett Johansson’s best movies, I rarely hear anyone mention Under the Skin from 2013 – and honestly, I didn’t even know it existed for a long time! It’s a sci-fi film based on a book by Michael Faber, and it was made in Switzerland with a pretty limited budget. It didn’t make a ton of money at the box office, less than $10 million, and it came out when she was already super famous for her role in the Marvel movies, so it kind of got lost in the shuffle.

The film Under the Skin centers around a mysterious woman who wanders the streets of Glasgow, attracting and then capturing men. It’s best not to reveal too much about the plot, but Scarlett Johansson delivers a captivating performance as this unnamed character, known only as the Female. Remarkably, she conveys so much with very little dialogue, making it a truly impressive feat.

It’s challenging for an actor to truly captivate an audience without a lot of dialogue, but this actress succeeds by using small, precise movements and her overall physical presence. She also expertly uses eye contact to draw the viewer in, creating a feeling similar to what her character’s victims experience. This is one of her strongest performances, particularly because it’s so different from the roles she’s known for.

Her Features The Best Voice Work Of Scarlett Johansson’s Career

Just a couple of months after the release of Under the Skin, another distinctive film featuring Scarlett Johansson arrived. Her is widely considered one of her best movies and was praised by critics, but Johansson doesn’t actually appear on screen. The film, written and directed by Spike Jonze, centers on Theodore, a solitary and quiet man, who buys an AI operating system.

In the film, Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) personalizes his operating system by giving it a female voice, beautifully performed by Scarlett Johansson. He develops romantic feelings for the OS, creating a poignant love story that also foreshadowed society’s increasing dependence on artificial intelligence – sometimes to our disadvantage. Johansson’s performance was particularly acclaimed; despite being only a voice, she convincingly portrays a deep connection with the main character.

Johansson brilliantly imbues the operating system with a distinct personality, making it feel surprisingly lifelike while still maintaining a clear sense that it’s not actually human. This delicate balance is a testament to her skill as an actress. While she’s lent her voice to projects like Transformers One and Isle of Dogs, her most impressive voice work happens in a fully live-action film – a rare treat for audiences.

The Other Best Performances In Johansson’s Career

It’s tough to pick Scarlett Johansson’s best roles, considering her many awards and memorable characters. While films like Under the Skin and Her are often mentioned, there are several other strong contenders. Her early work in Ghost World is worth noting, but many consider her performance as Charlotte in Lost in Translation to be a standout. Though she didn’t receive an Oscar nomination for it, she did win a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award.

Throughout the 2000s, she consistently demonstrated her acting skills in films like The Prestige and Vicky Christina Barcelona. However, many consider her work at the end of the 2010s to be her peak. Her portrayal of Natasha Romanoff in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame was particularly strong, but that year also saw her deliver even more impressive performances, earning her two Academy Award nominations for different roles.

Scarlett Johansson showcased her incredible range in two very different roles. In the emotionally powerful film Marriage Story, she played Nicole Barber, a woman navigating a difficult divorce, and her performance was widely praised, earning her award nominations from nearly every major ceremony. On a lighter note, she also starred in the comedy Jojo Rabbit as Rosie, a mother hiding a Jewish girl from the Nazis. While bringing humor to the role, Johansson also provided a deeply emotional center to the story, resulting in an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Throughout the 2020s, Scarlett Johansson has continued to impress, not only in leading roles but also in supporting ones. She delivered memorable performances in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City and The Phoenician Scheme, and voiced characters in acclaimed animated films like Transformers One and Sing 2. Even as her already remarkable career continues, Under the Skin and Her will likely remain two of her most celebrated films.

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2026-05-07 15:39