For over two decades, Scarlett Johansson has carved a fascinating path through Hollywood. From emotionally rich indie films to billion-dollar blockbusters, her performances have spanned genres, tones, and eras, reflecting both versatility and star power. Whether she’s playing a sentient operating system, a war-time mother, or a deadly assassin, Johansson brings nuance and depth that elevate even the quietest scenes.
Her career hasn’t just been about fame—it’s been about transformation. Across thrillers, romantic dramas, comedies, and science fiction, Johansson has shown that she can just as easily dominate the box office as she can earn awards buzz. With every role, she reinvents her screen presence, never content to remain boxed in by typecasting or industry expectations.
This ranked list explores 20 of Scarlett Johansson’s most notable roles—sorted from solid but lesser-known performances to the defining highlights of her career. Each character reflects a moment in her evolution as an actress, telling the story of an artist who constantly challenges herself and reshapes the boundaries of Hollywood stardom.
17. Katie Armstrong – The Black Dahlia (2006)
Entering the noir world of The Black Dahlia, Johansson plays Katie Armstrong with elegance, though the film itself falters under its ambitions. Her presence provides moments of allure, but the emotional undercurrent feels underwritten. Most of the story’s tension lies outside her character’s arc, limiting her range. Compared to her strongest work, this one falls short in impact. There are flashes of charisma, especially in scenes of moral conflict. Yet the film’s style overshadows its substance, leaving her role feeling ornamental. While she fits the aesthetic beautifully, the performance doesn’t linger. Ultimately, it’s a missed opportunity for greater depth.
16. Janet Leigh – Hitchcock (2012)
Shifting into biopic territory, Johansson steps into the shoes of iconic actress Janet Leigh. As part of Hitchcock, she holds her own alongside a powerhouse cast, though the role remains more of a historical sketch than a character journey. The film emphasizes production nostalgia more than psychological insight. Johansson captures Leigh’s poise, especially in re-creations of Psycho, but she isn’t given much room to explore inner life. Her moments with Anthony Hopkins’ Hitchcock suggest intrigue, but they’re fleeting. Fans of classic cinema may enjoy the homage, yet there’s little beyond mimicry. Her charm carries her through the surface-level material. Overall, it’s a respectful portrayal with modest ambition.
15. Annie Braddock – The Nanny Diaries (2007)
Set against the backdrop of Manhattan’s elite, this comedy-drama introduces Johansson as a college grad caught between privilege and independence. The Nanny Diaries leans into satire, with Johansson offering an earnest performance that struggles against uneven writing. The character of Annie has potential, but the film often opts for caricature over complexity. Moments of authenticity shine through in quiet scenes with the child she cares for. Her narration and comedic timing help ground the narrative. While the story tries to balance romance and class commentary, it rarely lands solidly in either. Johansson’s warmth is the glue holding it together. Still, the film doesn’t quite match her caliber.
14. Mary Boleyn – The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Set in the high-stakes world of Tudor intrigue, this period piece casts Johansson as the gentler Boleyn sister. Mary’s character often serves as a foil to Anne’s ambition, and Johansson embraces the softer, more restrained qualities of the role. She brings a quiet dignity to Mary, though the script offers limited complexity. Many scenes position her reactively, responding to the chaos around her rather than driving it. There’s a touching vulnerability in her early moments of love and betrayal. However, the narrative favors Anne’s fire, leaving Mary in the shadows. Despite her best efforts, Johansson remains sidelined. It’s a performance of subtle grace, but one that rarely commands the frame.
13. Deirdre – Hail, Caesar! (2016)
It’s in the Coen brothers’ quirky universe that Johansson gets to channel a brassy 1950s starlet. In Hail, Caesar!, she plays a pregnant Hollywood swimmer wrapped in studio scandal. The role is brief but bursting with personality. Every line drips with sarcasm, and she nails the fast-talking cadence of Golden Age satire. Her scenes add levity and bite to the film’s ensemble chaos. Although limited in screen time, her character leaves a distinct impression. It’s a fun departure from her more serious roles. Still, it serves more as comic seasoning than a full course.
12. Melanie – Chef (2014)
Dropped into the savory world of Chef, Johansson plays Melanie, a restaurant hostess with effortless cool. Her character provides a steady presence in the whirlwind of food, ego, and redemption. Though it’s a supporting role, her grounded energy helps anchor the film’s early moments. Interactions with Jon Favreau’s character reveal her capacity for empathy and restraint. There’s no melodrama—just an honest depiction of connection and boundary. While not pivotal to the plot, her performance feels honest and lived-in. She exudes confidence without demanding the spotlight. It’s a refreshing turn that adds texture without overstaying its welcome.
11. Grace MacLean – The Horse Whisperer (1998)
Back in her adolescence, Johansson delivered a remarkably mature performance as a grieving girl recovering from trauma. The Horse Whisperer marked a breakout role, revealing her talent for subtle emotional work. As Grace, she communicates pain and confusion with authenticity beyond her years. The bond between girl and horse unfolds quietly, yet powerfully. Scenes with Kristin Scott Thomas and Robert Redford show how well she holds her own. There’s rawness in her silences, especially in confrontational moments with her mother. Though early in her career, it hinted at greatness to come. The role remains a foundational piece in her filmography.
10. Maggie (Stage Role) – Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Broadway, 2013)
On stage, Johansson tackled the emotionally fraught Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a character as fiery as she is fractured. Her live performance drew praise for its intensity and sensuality. In this demanding Tennessee Williams classic, she navigated complex emotional terrain with clarity. Audiences witnessed a different side of Johansson—unfiltered, present, and vocally commanding. The stage stripped away cinematic safety nets, allowing her to inhabit Maggie’s desperation fully. She brought both physicality and intellect to the role. While theater critics were divided, many admired her boldness. It was a significant moment of artistic risk-taking.
9. Griet – Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)
Eyes do much of the talking in Girl with a Pearl Earring, and Johansson excels in this silent intensity. As Griet, she inhabits a world where unspoken glances carry heavy weight. Dialogue is minimal, but every movement feels deliberate. The tension between artist and muse builds with haunting beauty. Cinematography and expression intertwine, and Johansson is the perfect vessel for both. The film’s pace may alienate some, yet her restraint is its quiet strength. She never overplays a beat. It’s a masterclass in stillness and suggestion.
8. Barbara Sugarman – Don Jon (2013)
With a thick Jersey accent and commanding screen presence, Johansson surprises in Don Jon. She plays Barbara with a blend of charisma and control, manipulating and charming her way through Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character arc. Rather than a mere love interest, she becomes a commentary on romantic expectations and cultural stereotypes. Her comedic instincts are sharp, yet she finds emotional truth beneath the surface. The role allows her to explore both satire and sincerity. Her physicality, style, and energy reflect a woman who knows what she wants—but not necessarily what she needs. It’s a bold, distinctive character unlike most in her filmography. Watching her dominate a scene through sheer force of personality is a thrill.
7. Nola Rice – Match Point (2005)
Tension coils tightly around Johansson in Match Point, where she embodies the role of Nola Rice, a magnetic and doomed figure. Her chemistry with Jonathan Rhys Meyers crackles with danger and desire. This isn’t a passive femme fatale—Nola’s pain and desperation spill into every glance. When rejection comes, it transforms her into something raw and real. The performance walks a delicate line between seduction and self-destruction. Woody Allen’s script gives her room to stretch emotionally. She brings American sensuality to London’s chilly class divisions. Few roles in her career are as layered in passion and tragedy.
6. Nicole Barber – Marriage Story (2019)
Emotions run raw in Marriage Story, where Johansson plays Nicole with aching vulnerability. Her monologue during a therapy session is a clinic in character depth. She explores identity, resentment, and sacrifice with painful clarity. Across from Adam Driver, she holds her ground in emotionally brutal exchanges. The role feels deeply lived-in, stripped of glamour or idealism. There’s no attempt to win the audience’s sympathy—only truth. That honesty earned her a deserved Oscar nomination. It stands among her most human, unvarnished performances.
5. Laura / The Alien – Under the Skin (2013)
Alien in every sense, Johansson’s unnamed character in Under the Skin is more presence than persona. In a near-wordless performance, she hypnotizes with stillness and control. The film blends sci-fi, horror, and art cinema, requiring her to erase familiar human traits. Walking the streets of Glasgow, often among real people, she becomes both predator and observer. There’s courage in how she surrenders to ambiguity. Gradually, cracks in her character’s detachment emerge, revealing subtle shifts in awareness. Few performances require this level of physical storytelling. It’s eerie, enigmatic, and unforgettable.
4. Rosie Betzler – Jojo Rabbit
Against the backdrop of Nazi Germany, Johansson delivers one of her most emotionally resonant performances. As Rosie, a mother hiding her values in plain sight, she balances humor with heartbreak. Her interactions with Jojo are tender, playful, and laced with grief. Scenes like the shoe-tying moment foreshadow the story’s darker turns. She brings a theatrical warmth to an otherwise grim setting. The performance never slips into sentimentality, remaining grounded and human. Her wit and resilience give the film its moral compass. In a satire filled with absurdity, she’s the beating heart.
3. Charlotte – Lost in Translation (2003)
In Tokyo’s luminous haze, Charlotte wanders through isolation, and Johansson embodies that search with luminous quiet. At just 18, she delivered a role that felt older, wiser, and deeply introspective. Her chemistry with Bill Murray is enigmatic, never forced. There’s sadness in her silence, comfort in her laughter. Sofia Coppola’s dreamy tone finds its perfect muse in her. She doesn’t chase emotion but lets it settle like dust. Loneliness and connection become tangible in her eyes. This is the role that made critics and audiences take notice.
2. Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow – Marvel Cinematic Universe (2010–2021)
Crowning the list is the role that turned Johansson into a global icon: Natasha Romanoff. Over more than a decade, she transformed the character from sidekick to central hero. In Avengers, Winter Soldier, and finally Black Widow, she added layers of pathos to the stoic spy. Flashbacks, family reunions, and moments of sacrifice reshaped what could’ve been a flat archetype. Johansson brought humanity to Marvel’s action machine. Her arc mirrors her own growth—from blockbuster newcomer to leading force. This wasn’t just a superhero—this was legacy-building. And fans felt every beat of it.
1. Samantha (Voice) – Her
Again in Her, Johansson crafts a full character through voice alone—a feat that few could pull off with such resonance. Her second appearance on this list is well-earned, as the emotional evolution she conveys is staggering. Samantha begins as software and ends as a fully-formed being. The emotional arc is as complex as any live-action character’s. She laughs, weeps, dreams, and questions her own limitations. That she never appears physically only emphasizes her depth. Johansson’s voice is the soul of the film. It remains one of the boldest performances in modern cinema.
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