Scarlett Johansson Explains Why She Doesn’t Want to Be ‘Identified’ During Her Personal Time

Scarlett Johansson has a simple yet firm rule when it comes to her personal time: no photos with fans. The actress recently opened up in an interview with InStyle about her long-standing policy and the mixed reactions it sometimes generates.

“It really offends a lot of people,” she admitted. “It doesn’t mean I’m not appreciative, of course, that people are fans or happy to see me. But I always say to people, ‘I’m not working.’ [And that means] I don’t want to be identified as being in this time and place with you. I’m doing my own thing.”

While Johansson is happy to accommodate fan requests at professional events like premieres or press appearances, she draws the line when she’s off the clock. Whether she’s running errands or spending time with her children, the Avengers star prefers to maintain her privacy and focus on her own thoughts.

“I like to be in my own thoughts that have nothing to do with what other people think of me,” she said. “I don’t like being self-conscious.”

Johansson also revealed how her approach to privacy extends to her children. She has a daughter with ex Romain Dauriac and a son with husband Colin Jost, and she prioritizes shielding them from the public eye. The actress explained how she recently had to talk her 10-year-old daughter out of making videos for her skincare brand, The Outset.

“She was like, ‘Why can’t I?’ And I said, ‘Well, other than the fact that you’re 10…’” Johansson recounted. She then explained to her daughter that while fame might seem appealing at first, it’s not something you can easily undo. “The reality of it is, there’s a massive loss to that, you know? So I think preserving that for as long as possible until it’s someone’s choice, that’s the choice I make as far as my kids go.”

Johansson’s stance underscores the balance she’s trying to maintain between her highly public career and her personal life. For her, setting boundaries is not about being ungrateful to her fans but about maintaining her humanity, her privacy, and her family’s well-being.