Scarlett Johansson Opens Up About the Experimental Movie That Pushed Her to the Edge

Scarlett Johansson, one of Hollywood’s most successful and versatile actresses, has built a career that spans across iconic blockbuster roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to standout performances in indie films like Lost in Translation. Known for her ability to tackle both dramatic and action-packed roles, Johansson has undoubtedly become a household name. But when asked about the “wildest” movie in her filmography, one film stands out—Under the Skin (2013).

The Search for “Wildness” in Scarlett Johansson’s Career

To determine which of her many roles Johansson might consider her “wildest,” we delved into interviews and rankings that discuss the uniqueness of her performances. While many of her movies are known for their unconventional elements, Under the Skin repeatedly emerges as the standout candidate. In interviews, Johansson has described the film as one of her most challenging and transformative experiences.

Under the Skin: A Boundary-Pushing Experience

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, Under the Skin is an adaptation of Michel Faber’s novel about an extraterrestrial being preying on men in Scotland. The film, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2013, features Johansson in a minimalist role, with her character speaking only a handful of lines throughout the entire film. The experience of filming Under the Skin was physically demanding and emotionally taxing, as Johansson often had to improvise dialogue and shoot in difficult conditions, including winter months with little clothing.

As described in The Guardian (2014), Johansson reflected on the role with a sense of both awe and exhaustion. She was drawn to the opportunity to play a character devoid of typical human emotions—“free of judgment,” as she put it—and was immersed in an experimental process. Hidden cameras were used during filming, and Johansson’s character was filmed picking up unsuspecting men off the streets, adding an element of unpredictability to the movie’s production. This, along with the film’s disturbing and surreal storyline, solidified its reputation as one of the most unconventional works of Johansson’s career.

The film’s reception mirrored its unconventional nature, with the Venice premiere receiving mixed reactions—some hailing it as an “intoxicating marvel,” while others dismissed it as “laughably bad” (Time Out). Regardless of its critical divide, Under the Skin remains one of Johansson’s most daring and “wild” projects, showing her ability to take on roles that stretch the boundaries of traditional filmmaking.

A Comparison to Other “Wild” Roles

While Under the Skin undoubtedly stands out, Johansson’s career is filled with roles that can be described as “wild” in their own right. Below is a comparison of some of her other films, which, while unique, don’t quite match the boundary-pushing nature of Under the Skin:

• The Spirit (2008): Johansson plays a femme fatale in a Nazi uniform in this campy adaptation of the graphic novel. Its garbled dialogue and over-the-top aesthetic make it a bizarre entry in her filmography, though not as deeply experimental as Under the Skin.

• Rough Night (2017): A raunchy comedy where Johansson’s character and friends accidentally kill a stripper during a wild night out. Though the film embraces outrageous humor, it is far more genre-specific and lacks the depth or experimentation seen in Under the Skin.

• Lucy (2014): This action-packed sci-fi film, in which Johansson’s character becomes increasingly super-intelligent after taking a powerful drug, brings a thrilling and absurd level of action. While Lucy is a bonkers action-thriller, it falls more in the mainstream category than the indie, minimalist nature of Under the Skin.

• Eight Legged Freaks (2002): A kitschy monster movie where Johansson fights killer spiders. While this film has wild elements, it is primarily a genre film that doesn’t match the emotional and artistic weight of Under the Skin.

• The Island (2005): A Michael Bay-directed sci-fi film about clones escaping an evil corporation. While the film’s premise is eccentric, it is rooted in mainstream action and lacks the deeply artistic and avant-garde nature of Under the Skin.

Why Under the Skin Truly Stands Out

Unlike most of her other roles, Under the Skin required Johansson to step far outside her comfort zone, pushing her to perform in a way that few mainstream films demand. The film’s minimalist dialogue, emotionally vacant character, and experimental filming techniques made it an undeniably “wild” choice for the actress, one that was marked by a level of rawness and unpredictability.

The emotional challenges of embodying an extraterrestrial being were compounded by the difficult filming conditions, including hidden camera sequences where Johansson’s reactions were captured in real-time. This level of experimentation in both performance and production makes Under the Skin the wildest, most unconventional film in Johansson’s career.

Conclusion

Though Jennifer Lawrence’s career boasts numerous iconic roles, Under the Skin stands out as her most “wild” film. Its departure from mainstream cinema conventions, coupled with Johansson’s powerful, nuanced performance, has cemented it as a defining moment in her career. With a role that required a perfect blend of emotional restraint and physical endurance, Under the Skin remains a testament to Johansson’s versatility and willingness to take creative risks. It is, without a doubt, the role she herself deems her most challenging and unique, and continues to be a standout in her incredible body of work.