Scarlett Johansson Biography

Scarlett Johansson, actress

Birthdate: November 22, 1984

Birthplace: New York City, New York

Sign: Sagittarius

Actress Scarlett Johansson rose to fame in the 1998 movie "The Horse Whisperer," but it was her portrayal in the 2003 film "Lost in Translation" that made her an overnight success. In "Lost in Translation," Johansson played the misguided and complicated Charlotte and was nominated for a Golden Globe and won a BAFTA for Best Actress.

Johansson was born November 22, 1984 in New York City. Her architect father, Karsten Johansson, is Danish and her paternal grandfather was a screenwriter and director. Her mother came from a Jewish family and grew up in the Bronx. Johansson's mom, Melanie Sloan, is a producer who met Johansson's dad in Denmark. They are divorced.

Johansson has an older sister, Vanessa, who is also an actress, and an older brother, Adrian. Johansson also has a twin brother, Hunter, who is also an actor. Johansson is three minutes older than her twin.

Johansson claims she grew up in a home that had "little money" but that her mother was a movie buff. Johansson began her theater training by attending and graduating from the Professional Children's School in Manhattan in 2002.

When she was little, Johansson's mom took her on auditions and she made her film debut in 1994 in the movie "North." Four years later she gained widespread attention for her role as the daughter in "The Horse Whisperer."

Her portrayal of the complicated character Charlotte opposite Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation" earned her the "Upstream Prize" for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival and she was also nominated for a Golden Globe and won a BAFTA for Best Actress.

Johansson has appeared in three Woody Allen films and was quoted as saying, "If I would have been a 70 year old man, I would be Woody Allen, and if he would have been a 21 year old woman, he would be Scarlett Johansson."

Johansson has appeared in numerous films, carrying the film "The Nanny Diaries" in 2007. She is set to appear as Mary, Queen of Scots and will be a pilates instructor opposite a star-studded cast in the film "He's Just Not That Into You."

Johansson is a natural red head and also a singer. Her first album, featuring cover versions of Tom Waits songs, will be released in May 2008.

Johansson is well-known for her statement that she likes older men, and says she doesn't believe she could date anyone under the age of 30, although she dated actor Josh Hartnett for two years and he was not yet 30. She is currently said to be dating Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds who is 31.

Johansson has made the list numerous times of "Sexiest Women" or "Beautiful People" in a variety of magazines. She and actress Keira Knightley posed nude on the cover of the March 2006 issue of Vanity Fair.

Johansson is a democrat and campaigned for John Kerry in 2004. She is currently campaigning for Barack Obama.

She is outspoken about her belief that Hollywood likes their female stars too skinny, and believes a few curves are good. In that respect, she says she is addicted to eating cheese and won't conform to Hollywood standards of being ultra thin.