Scarlett Johansson Admits Elizabeth Olsen “Put Her to Shame” in Marvel Performances
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Scarlett Johansson has long been regarded as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and accomplished actors, building a career that spans independent dramas, acclaimed performances in films like Lost in Translation and Ghost World, and blockbuster success as Natasha Romanoff, better known as Black Widow, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But despite her status as one of the industry’s most celebrated stars, Johansson has never shied away from acknowledging the talents of her peers — including Elizabeth Olsen, whose portrayal of Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, she admits left her in awe.
A Welcome Balance on the Avengers Set
Speaking in an interview with Sirius XM, Johansson reflected on the dynamics of the MCU’s sprawling ensemble, particularly the lack of female presence in its early years. “It was so great when Lizzie came on because, y’know, we had [Cobie Smulders]. It was basically the two of us kind of holding down the fort. And then when Lizzie came on it semi-balanced out,” she said. “It was very heavy on the testosterone for a very long time, and now it has like… it calibrated.”
For Johansson, who carried the torch as Marvel’s most prominent female superhero for much of the franchise’s first decade, Olsen’s arrival as Wanda marked a shift not only in representation but also in the creative energy on set.
In Awe of Olsen’s Performance
While Johansson has performed some of the MCU’s most demanding action sequences, she was quick to acknowledge the unique challenges Olsen faced in embodying Scarlet Witch. “What she was doing was so hard. Even the physicality of what she was doing was so hard that I would work with her, and I was amazed at what she was creating out of nothing,” Johansson revealed.
Unlike Black Widow’s grounded, combat-driven style, Scarlet Witch’s powers demanded that Olsen craft an entirely new physical language to convey magic and energy manipulation on screen. Johansson praised her co-star’s creativity and passion, noting: “She created this whole… again, this physicality. And her character has such a sensuality to her, and she has such a passion… I was amazed by it. It put me to shame.”
Humility Behind the Superstar
Johansson’s candid remarks reflect the humility that has defined her career as much as her talent. Despite her place as one of the MCU’s original stars and its first leading female superhero, she openly celebrates the contributions of those who joined the franchise after her.
Her admiration for Olsen underscores the collaborative spirit behind the success of the Marvel films — a reminder that even its biggest stars are inspired and pushed by one another. And in Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, Johansson found not just a colleague but a performer whose artistry challenged her to see the craft of acting in a new light.
Would you like me to make this article more MCU-focused, highlighting the significance of Olsen’s Scarlet Witch in reshaping Marvel’s female representation, or keep it as a personal reflection piece centered on Johansson’s humility?
