Scarlett Johansson, one of the most recognized actresses of her generation, spoke openly about how the representation of women in the film industry has changed since she began her career. In a recent interview with The Times of London, the Avengers star reflected on the roles she used to get when she started and how, over time, Hollywood has started to offer more depth and diversity to female characters.

Johansson recalled that early in her career, the characters she was offered were clearly tailored to male interests and desires.

“A lot of the roles I was offered, or aspired to, had ambitions or story arcs that were based on their own attractiveness, the male gaze, or a male-centric story,” she explained.

However, she highlighted that such narratives are “less common” today and that “something has changed.”

Celebrates the changes in Hollywood

The actress also celebrated the fact that there are more female role models in the industry today and that women are occupying positions of power that were previously denied to them.

“The message is different: there are many more role models, women are in positions of power, and the opportunities I’ve had to play women who don’t have to be just one thing or another have increased,” she said.

This isn’t the first time Johansson has spoken out about her experience in Hollywood. In 2022, she spoke about how she was hypersexualized from a young age, which limited her opportunities and made her feel pigeonholed.

“I was objectified and pigeonholed to such an extent that I felt like I wasn’t being offered work for what I wanted,” she revealed. She even thought that, because of how she was perceived in the industry, she looked “40 years old,” even though she was still very young.

Today, Johansson is hopeful about the current landscape and celebrates that new generations of actresses are finding a broader and fairer space to develop their careers, far from the objectification and stereotypes that marked its very beginning.