Scarlett Johansson, 41, says ‘women being pulled apart’ was socially acceptable at the start of her career and details being ‘pigeon-holed as the bombshell’ in the ‘harsh’ time

by

Scarlett Johansson recently discussed how women in the early stages of their careers often face intense scrutiny and criticism based on their appearance.

Actress Scarlett Johansson, 41, shared that she used to feel stuck playing similar types of characters. This made her very self-conscious about her appearance, and she would wake up early to apply a full face of makeup to hide her acne from colleagues.

She confessed she was hesitant because she felt insecure about her skin, and also worried about potential criticism of how she looked.

In an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, she explained that dealing with acne made her feel self-conscious. She described having to spend extra time each morning covering it up before work, which she found exhausting.

It’s really tough when you’re worried about your skin. I understand how much it can affect your confidence and how upsetting it can be.

Scarlett explained that being a young woman in the early 2000s was difficult, describing it as a particularly challenging period.

The actress often takes on roles that are sexually suggestive, and she’s discussed being typecast as a mistress or someone involved in an affair. For example, in the 2009 film He’s Just Not That Into You, her character, Anna, had an affair with Ben, played by Bradley Cooper.

She described being a young woman in the public eye during the early 2000s as a difficult experience. She felt women were heavily criticized for their appearance, and this kind of scrutiny was unfortunately considered normal back then.

Ugh, it was so hard back then. Everything seemed to come down to how you looked, and honestly, it was exhausting. As an actress my age, the roles available were… limited, to say the least. It felt like there just weren’t as many opportunities for women like me. It’s thankfully so much better now, but back then? It was a real struggle. I just wanted to act, you know? Not just be… looked at.

I felt like I’d be constantly typecast into very limited roles – usually as the ‘other woman,’ a temporary fling, or just the attractive, stereotypical character. That’s the kind of part I was offered a lot when I was younger.

Scarlett shared that she first became insecure about her skin while working on the 1998 film, The Horse Whisperer, when she was just 13 years old and starting her acting career.

She shared that she’s been battling skin problems since she was a teenager. She recalled a funny incident on the set of ‘The Horse Whisperer’ where the makeup artist jokingly compared a breakout on her forehead to Mount Vesuvius.

Being a young teenager is already a self-conscious time, and having a makeup artist focus on your flaws while on a movie set, with everyone trying to work around them, is a really terrible experience.

Scarlett, founder of the sensitive-skin skincare company The Outset, also shared the guidance she offers her daughter, Rose, who is turning twelve this year.

She said: ‘I always say to her … be gentle on yourself … be gentle on your skin.’

Read More

2026-04-13 12:24