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Scarlett Johansson

Biography!

Scarlett Johansson, one of the most promising young Hollywood actresses, was born in Manhattan, New York (USA) on November 22, 1984 - on the 21st anniversary of the assassination of JFK. Even though a native New Yorker, Scarlett has an European background: her father is Dane, and her mother has a Polish background. She has an older half-brother who lives in Danmark and then two older siblings: Vanessa and Adrian. But Scarlett isn't the youngest in the family: her twin brother Hunter is 3 minutes younger!

At the tender age of 3 Scarlett discovered acting, when she told her mother: 'I have a fire in my brain to act.' But it wasn't until she was 7 (even though this too is very young) that she realised that acting could be a real profession. She gained this knowledge by watching films and going to auditions for ads. The latter was a suggestion of a family friend. But they didn't want Scarlett - only her brother - so she was disappointed. Finally, her mother realised how serious her daughter was and they started auditioning for films. She also enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Institute where she had the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience. Before Scarlett got a film role she made her professional acting debut opposite Ethan Hawke in the off-broadway production of 'Sophistry' at the age of 8.

Her first screen appearances followed in 'North', 'Just Cause', 'If Lucy Fell' and 'Fall'. Her parts in those films were only short, but it is remarkable that Scarlett coming from a non-acting family could get them. She had costars like Bruce Willis or Sean Connery. And even though her roles were short she added something to them that not many very young actors can, she gave them a personality - or maybe just hints of what this child could be if we were to see more of it. And - unlike at the ads - her raspy voice was helping her to be more than just a sweet child.

She first gained recognition as Manny in 'Manny & Lo'. She played the young runaway orphan perfectly, this certain coolness (or whatever you want to call it) that children in such unfortunate circumstances must have was there - even though Scarlett's life was quite protected. She made her breakthrough in Robert Redford's 'The Horse Whisperer', where she played troubled Grace. Grace who has lost her leg and her best friend in a terrible horse riding accident and is then trying to go on. The film itself may not only have got positive reviews but Scarlett's performance was great. And it was then that Robert made the famous statement: 'Scarlett is 13 going on 30'.

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