Scarlett Johansson recently got candid about her experience filming Marvel movies, admitting she sometimes felt “a little cagey” during the long productions.
Known for her role as Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, Johansson was a key part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring in hits like The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Infinity War, and her solo film Black Widow. But despite the global success, not every moment on set was creatively fulfilling for the actress.
Speaking to David Harbour in an interview for Interview magazine, Johansson opened up about what it was like being part of such a large, star-studded franchise. She said some movies offered more room for character depth than others. “Some of the films that I did for Marvel engaged my character more than others,” she explained. “Like in Captain America: The Winter Soldier with Chris [Evans], we were really dynamic.”
But that wasn’t always the case. In some of the bigger ensemble movies, Johansson said she felt like just a small cog in a massive machine. “In some of the other films, the cast was so enormous and there was so much plot to serve that you start to feel like you’re a device to move it along,” she said.
The constraints didn’t end with storytelling. Johansson mentioned the personal toll of long shoots, saying she couldn’t even make small lifestyle changes. “I can’t paint my nails, I can’t get a haircut,” she said. “These sound like silly problems, but your identity is wrapped up in this job for a long time, and if you’re not doing engaging work as an actor, you feel a little cagey sometimes.”
David Harbour, who starred alongside Johansson in Black Widow and also spent years playing Jim Hopper in Netflix’s Stranger Things, related to her sentiments. “It’s the same thing with this show,” he said. “There’d be certain seasons where you feel like: ‘I’m going to go in this different direction.’ But a piece of your psyche is occupied with this group of people and this storyline.”
He joked about not painting his nails but fully understood the idea of being locked into a look or character. “I can’t get a haircut or shave this freaking mustache,” he laughed.
Harbour added that as the Stranger Things series wrapped up, he felt the need for change. “When I started, I loved it so much. And then you get to a certain point where you’re like: ‘How much more story is there?’”
Both actors touched on the emotional and creative weight that comes with long-term projects, especially ones with massive fan expectations. While these projects bring fame and opportunity, they also limit freedom, both personal and artistic.
In the end, it’s clear that even Hollywood’s biggest names sometimes crave smaller stories, deeper roles, and a simple haircut.
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