Scarlett Johansson Reveals the Two Hollywood Legends Who Shaped Her Acting Career

Scarlett Johansson has established herself as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and respected actresses. With a career spanning decades and a range of roles from action-packed blockbusters to deeply emotional dramas, Johansson’s commitment to her craft has earned her a place among the greats of contemporary cinema. Yet, her own remarkable journey as an actress has been shaped by two iconic figures from different eras of film: Judy Garland and Winona Ryder. These two stars have influenced Johansson in profound ways, helping to shape her understanding of vulnerability, emotional depth, and the art of performance.

Early Inspirations: Judy Garland

Johansson’s love for acting was nurtured early in life, and she often credits the performances of Hollywood legends for fueling her passion. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Johansson reflected on the profound impact Judy Garland had on her. “I watched a lot of movies from the golden age of Hollywood and was an enormous Judy Garland fan,” she revealed. “She was so beautiful and vulnerable and was such an incredible actor to watch on film. Her performances all felt so emotionally pure and available.”

Garland, whose career spanned from the 1930s to the 1960s, is best remembered for her roles in The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, A Star is Born, and Judgment at Nuremberg. Her talent as a triple-threat performer—singing, dancing, and acting—was unmatched, but it came at a high personal cost. Garland struggled with physical and mental health challenges, compounded by substance abuse, and tragically passed away at just 47 years old.

For Johansson, Garland’s ability to convey raw, unfiltered emotion on screen became a benchmark for her own work. She was so captivated by Garland’s performances that she would practice acting out scenes from Meet Me in St. Louis in front of a mirror, pushing herself to evoke genuine tears. This connection to Garland’s emotional depth deeply influenced Johansson’s approach to acting, instilling in her the importance of making her performances feel “emotionally pure and available.”

Winona Ryder: A Contemporary Influence

Alongside Garland, another actress who had a profound impact on Johansson’s career was Winona Ryder. Growing up, Johansson admired Ryder for her openness, vulnerability, and unique style, which set her apart in the late ’80s and early ’90s. “I loved Winona Ryder growing up,” Johansson shared in the Vanity Fair interview. “I think she similarly had that kind of openness and vulnerability. And, of course, her style was so great off-screen, too.”

Ryder’s career, which took off with standout performances in Beetlejuice, Little Women, and Girl, Interrupted, was pivotal in shaping Johansson’s own understanding of how to bring authenticity to a role. Perhaps the most significant performance for Johansson was Ryder’s portrayal of Kim in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands (1990). The film marked one of Ryder’s most iconic roles and was a major influence on Johansson’s early development as an actress.

“[Winona] was beautiful in Edward Scissorhands, but she was also just such a teenager in it,” Johansson explained. “She’s finding her independence; she’s kind of still a girl, but she’s becoming a young woman. It’s just such a great character.” This nuanced portrayal of growing up, learning independence, and navigating the complexities of adolescence resonated with Johansson, who recognized Ryder’s ability to imbue her characters with both emotional depth and a sense of youthful authenticity.

Two Eras, One Influence

Though Garland and Ryder came from different cinematic eras, both shared a unique ability to tap into the vulnerability and emotional availability of their characters—traits that Johansson has worked hard to embody in her own performances. Garland’s cinematic legacy represents the classic era of Hollywood, where emotion and authenticity were conveyed through grand gestures and iconic musical moments, while Ryder represents a more modern sensibility, where introspection and emotional complexity became central to her roles.

Together, these two actresses provided Johansson with a blueprint for how to approach acting: with emotional honesty, vulnerability, and a sense of independence. As Johansson’s career has continued to evolve, she has successfully incorporated these lessons into her own work, whether in intimate dramas like Marriage Story or in blockbuster franchises such as Black Widow and The Avengers.

Passing the Torch: Johansson as an Inspiration

As Johansson continues to shine in the industry, it’s clear that she has become an inspiration for a new generation of actors. Just as Judy Garland and Winona Ryder shaped Johansson’s understanding of acting, Johansson’s own career has influenced young actors who admire her versatility and emotional depth. From her breakout performance in Lost in Translation to her more recent roles in Jojo Rabbit and Marriage Story, Johansson continues to challenge herself and expand her acting range, offering a model for others to follow.

Her ability to bring vulnerability and emotional resonance to both dramatic and action-packed roles has solidified her as one of the most respected and beloved actresses of her generation. In a way, the legacy of Judy Garland and Winona Ryder lives on through Johansson, as she combines their influences with her own unique voice to create performances that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Conclusion

Scarlett Johansson’s journey as an actress has been shaped by the performances of two iconic women: Judy Garland and Winona Ryder. From Garland’s emotional depth and vulnerability to Ryder’s portrayal of youthful independence, both actresses left a lasting impression on Johansson, informing her own approach to her craft. As Johansson continues to inspire the next generation of actors, her ability to combine the influences of these legendary stars with her own talents ensures that she will continue to be a driving force in cinema for years to come.