Are you able to differentiate between the two parties??
How are you able to differentiate between Scarlett Johansson and Natasha Romanoff???
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Scarlett Ingrid Johansson is an American actress. She was the world's highest-paid actress in 2018 and 2019, and has featured multiple times on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list.
Her films have grossed over $14.3 billion worldwide, making Johansson the ninth-highest-grossing box office star of all time.
Natasha Romanoff
Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck, the character debuted in Tales of Suspense #52.
Natasha Romanoff AKA Black Widow is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck, the character debuted in Tales of Suspense #52.
The character was introduced as a Russian spy, an antagonist of the superhero Iron Man.
More Information. . .
Scarlett Johansson
Johansson began acting during childhood, after her mother started taking her to auditions. She made her professional acting debut at the age of eight in the off-Broadway production of "Sophistry" with Ethan Hawke, at New York's Playwrights Horizons. She would audition for commercials but took rejection so hard her mother began limiting her to film tryouts. She made her film debut at the age of nine, as John Ritter's character's daughter in the fantasy comedy North (1994). Following minor roles in Just Cause (1995), as the daughter of Sean Connery and Kate Capshaw's character, and If Lucy Fell (1996), she played the role of Amanda in Manny & Lo (1996). Her performance in Manny & Lo garnered a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female, and positive reviews, one noting, "[the film] grows on you, largely because of the charm of Scarlett Johansson, while San Francisco Chronicle critic Mick LaSalle commentated on her "peaceful aura", and wrote, "If she can get through puberty with that aura undisturbed, she could become an important actress."
After appearing in minor roles in Fall (1997) and Home Alone 3 (1997), Johansson garnered widely spread attention for her performance in The Horse Whisperer (1998), directed by Robert Redford, where she played Grace MacLean, a teenager traumatized by a riding accident. She received a nomination for the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actress for the film. In 1999, she appeared in My Brother the Pig (1999) and in the music video for Mandy Moore's single, "Candy". Although the film was not a box office success, she received praise for her breakout role in Ghost World (2001), credited with "sensitivity and talent [that] belie her age".
She was also featured in the Coen Brothers' dark drama The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Frances McDormand. She appeared in the horror comedy Eight Legged Freaks (2002) with David Arquette and Kari Wuhrer.
In 2003, she was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, one for drama (Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)) and one for comedy (Lost in Translation (2003)), her breakout role, starring opposite Bill Murray, and receiving rave reviews and a Best Actress Award at the Venice Film Festival. Her film roles include the critically acclaimed Weitz brothers' film In Good Company (2004), as well as starring opposite John Travolta in A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004), which garnered her a third Golden Globe Award nomination.
She dropped out of Mission: Impossible III (2006) due to scheduling conflicts. Her next film role was in The Island (2005) alongside Ewan McGregor which earned weak reviews from U.S. critics. After this, she appeared in Woody Allen's Match Point (2005) and was nominated again for a Golden Globe Award. In May 2008, she released her album "Anywhere I Lay My Head", a collection of Tom Waits covers featuring one original song. Also that year, she starred in Frank Miller's The Spirit (2008), the Woody Allen film Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), and played Mary Boleyn opposite Natalie Portman in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).
Since then, she has appeared as part of an ensemble cast in the romantic comedy He's Just Not That Into You (2009), the action superhero film Iron Man 2 (2010), the comedy-drama We Bought a Zoo (2011) and starred as the original scream queen, Janet Leigh, in Hitchcock (2012). She then played her character, Black Widow, in the blockbuster action films The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Black Widow (2021), and also headlined the sci-fi action thriller Lucy (2014), a box office success. With more than a decade of work already under her belt, Scarlett has proven to be one of Hollywood's most talented young actresses. Her other starring roles are in the sci-fi action thriller Ghost in the Shell (2017) and the dark comedy Rough Night (2017).
Scarlett and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds were engaged in May 2008 and married in September of that year. In 2010, the couple announced their separation, and subsequently divorced a year later. In 2013, she became engaged to French journalist Romain Dauriac, the couple married a year later. In January 2017, the couple announced their separation, and subsequently divorced in March of that year. They have a daughter, Rose Dorothy Dauriac (born 2014).
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Pedro Borges
Family (4)
Spouse
Colin Jost (October 2020 - present) (1 child)
Romain Dauriac (1 October 2014 - 12 September 2017) (divorced) (1 child)
Ryan Reynolds (27 September 2008 - 1 July 2011) (divorced)
Children
Rose Dauriac
Cosmo Jost
Parents
Melanie Sloan
Karsten Johansson
Relatives
Vanessa Johansson (sibling)
Hunter Johansson (sibling)
Adrian Johansson (sibling)
Christian Johansson (half sibling)
Ejner Johansson (grandparent)
Trade Mark (4)
Often plays characters who look and act older than their age
Full lips and green eyes
Seductive husky voice
Contralto singing voice
Trivia (116)
Received an "introducing" credit for The Horse Whisperer (1998) although this was her seventh feature film.
Attended and graduated from Professional Children's School in Manhattan, New York City (2002).
Granddaughter of writer Ejner Johansson.
Scarlett's mother, Melanie Sloan, who is from the Bronx, is from an Ashkenazi Jewish family (from Poland, Belarus and Russia). Scarlett's father, Karsten Johansson, is Danish (his own paternal grandfather was Swedish, while his other family is Danish).
Invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in June 2004.
Applied to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for the fall 2003 semester, but was not accepted. The rejection allowed her to focus on her career, which blossomed soon after.
Shortly after Lost in Translation (2003) was released, she said she had a connection to older men and could not see herself dating anyone under 30. True to her word, she had a relationship with actor Benicio Del Toro, who is 17 years her senior.
She was cast as Rebecca in the comedy film Thumbsucker (2005), but dropped out before filming commenced and was replaced by Kelli Garner.
Her father Karsten Johansson, a New York architect, and mother Melanie Sloan, her manager, now divorced, separated when she was age 13.
Campaigned for John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election.
Celebrated her 20th birthday at Disneyland on November 22, 2004.
Auditioned for a role in The Parent Trap (1998), which finally went to Lindsay Lohan.
Christian Johansson's younger half-sister, Adrian Johansson & Vanessa Johansson's little sister, Hunter Johansson's twin sister and Fenan Sloan's adoptive older half-sister.
Planned to attend Purchase University to study film.
Her older sister Vanessa Johansson is also an actress.
Prepared for her role in Lost in Translation (2003) by living on Hokkaido with then-boyfriend Faiz Ahmad.
Is three minutes older than her twin brother Hunter Johansson. She says these three minutes are the most important in her life.
First role (uncredited) was in a skit, during the first year of Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993), at age 8. She relived this moment during an interview with Conan on July 12, 2005, twelve years later. Also in the skit was 11-year-old Melissa Claire Egan.
Ranked #9 in the 2005 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World". And was also the highest ranking new entry to the list.
Is often ranked on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women list. She was ranked #63 in 2002, #13 in 2004, #24 in 2005, #6 in 2006, #3 in 2007, #2 in 2008, #34 in 2009, #14 in 2011, #17 in 2012, #15 in 2013 and #2 in 2014.
Director Sofia Coppola directed both Scarlett and her boyfriend Josh Hartnett, but not in the same movie. Scarlett was in Coppola's Lost in Translation (2003) and Hartnett starred in The Virgin Suicides (1999)
She donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign.
Chosen by FHM readers as "Sexiest Woman Alive" in the 2006 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".
Has a cat named Trooper and a chihuahua named Maggie.
Named "Sexiest Woman Alive" by Esquire magazine. [October 2006]
Named #1 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement.
Was a member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 2004.
Has been named the Sexiest Celebrity of 2007 by Playboy magazine.
Is a huge fan of Woody Allen.
She was considered for the role of Susan Storm/Invisible Girl in Fantastic Four (2005), which went to Jessica Alba.
She was offered the role of Lindsey Farris in Mission: Impossible III (2006), which went to Keri Russell.
She was offered the role of Evey in V for Vendetta (2005), which went to Natalie Portman.
She was offered the role of Lois Lane in Superman Returns (2006), which went to Kate Bosworth.
Is an alumna of the Lee Strasberg Institute such as actors Frank Miranda, Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson, Dennis Hopper, Julia Roberts.
Ranked #12 on Forbes magazine's list of the 20 Top-Earning Young Superstars (2007).
In 2006, she was earning $2 million per year representing L'Oreal cosmetics.
In 2007, Forbes magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $5 million.
Supports Barack Obama.
Was ranked #1 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actress list (2008).
Raised money for international relief organization Oxfam by auctioning off two tickets for He's Just Not That Into You (2009) on eBay, giving the winning bidders the opportunity to mingle with her. By January 2014, she has severed her connection with Oxfam. [March 2008]
(May 5, 2008) Announced her engagement to Ryan Reynolds, having been in a relationship with him since February 2007.
Was in a relationship with Josh Hartnett (2005-2007).
(September 27, 2008) Married her fiancé of 4 months, Ryan Reynolds at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
An avid fan of Tom Waits, she recorded an album comprised entirely of Tom Waits covers, titled "Anywhere I Lay My Head". The album was released on May 16, 2008, but was not widely recognized.
Replaced Brazilian Gisele Bündchen as the face of "Dolce & Gabbana" perfumes (2009).
The French synth band The Teenagers wrote a song about her called "Starlett Johansson".
According to a poll of 5000 people conducted by Glamour magazine, Johansson was voted as having the "World's Sexiest Body".
She was cast as Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2 (2010) after Emily Blunt dropped out due to other commitments.
Has another sister named Fenan. She was adopted by Johansson's mother Melanie Sloan from Ethopia in May 2010.
In 2010, she won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play after making her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge".
Johansson was named by GQ (men's magazine) as "Babe of the Year" for 2010.
Her ex-husband, Ryan Reynolds was named as the "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine (2010) during the same time that Johansson was named as "Babe of the Year" by GQ magazine.
Has been the ambassador of Moet & Chandon Champagne since 2009.
(December 14, 2010) Her husband Ryan Reynolds filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
Has appeared in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein, L'Oreal and Louise Vuitton. In 2009, she was also the face of Dolce & Gabbana make-up.
In 2009, she became the face of Spanish clothing company Mango.
Ranked #7 on Ask men's top 99 "most desirable" women of 2011.
She was considered for the role of Dr. Ryan Stone in Gravity (2013), but Sandra Bullock was cast instead.
In 2006, she signed an endorsement deal with cosmetics brand L'Oreal for $4,000,000.
The Looney Tunes Show (2011) created a character called Starlet Johansson in The Looney Tunes Show: Casa de Calma (2011) who resembles her.
Johansson was voted as the "World's Most Natural Beauty" according to a UK poll (2011).
Voted as having the "Best Breasts" in Hollywood by In Touch magazine (2006) and the "Best Female Bum" according to a British poll.
Named "Hollywood's Most Natural Beauty" by a survey of make-up artists (2006).
Ranked #32 in the 100 Hot Girls list by FHM UK (2011). Previously, she was ranked #23 in 2010, #13 in 2009, #6 in 2008, #5 in 2007, #3 in 2006 and #68 in 2005.
Named one of the Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine (2007 and 2010).
Ranked #22 in Who magazine's "Most Beautiful People" (2010).
Named one of the "Twenty Most Beautiful People of the Decade" by Interview magazine (2009).
Ranked #3 in the 2009 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".
Ranked #5 in the 2008 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".
Ranked #4 Sexiest Woman in the World (2011) by the Spanish version of DT magazine.
Italian artist Francesco Clemente included a portrait of Scarlett in his deck of 78 custom-painted tarot cards, with her portrayed as the Queen of Swords.
Often ranked as having one of the "Most Beautiful Famous Faces" by "The Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Famous Faces From Around the World". She was ranked #42 in 2010, #71 in 2009, #72 in 2008, #34 in 2007, #43 in 2006, #39 in 2005, #37 in 2004, #45 in 2003, and #48 in 2002.
She was considered for the role of Maggie Beauford in Lawless (2012), but Jessica Chastain was cast instead.
Auditioned for the role of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). However, she did not get the role because she was considered too attractive for this. Rooney Mara was cast instead.
Featured in "The Beauty Book for Brain Cancer", a 312-page coffee-table book by photographer Darren Tieste. The book features photos of celebrities, musicians and models who donated their time to bring attention to brain cancer. Scarlett Johansson was also chosen to be on the cover of the book (2011).
In 2008, a UK-based bidder paid £20,000 British pounds on an eBay auction to benefit Oxfam, winning a pair of tickets to accompany Johansson on a 20-minute date to the world premiere of the film He's Just Not That Into You (2009).
Has been an ambassador for Oxfam International since 2005.
Ranked #12 in Men's Health 100 Hottest Women of All Time (2011).
Ranked #7 on Ask men's top 99 "most desirable" women of 2012.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6931 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 2, 2012. At the ceremony were her mother Melanie Sloan, grandmother, sister Vanessa Johansson and her The Avengers (2012) co-star Jeremy Renner.
She appeared as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in nine films: Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Captain Marvel (2019), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Black Widow (2021).
Very close friends with her co-star, Chris Evans, with whom she has appeared in nine films: The Perfect Score (2004), The Nanny Diaries (2007), The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Captain Marvel (2019) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
She appeared with Samuel L. Jackson in eight films: The Spirit (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Captain Marvel (2019) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Named as one of the "most desirable" famous women for 2013 by Ask men's list of the top 99 "most desirable" women.
Lives in ultra trendy Los Angeles neighborhood, Los Feliz. Giovanni Ribisi, Bo Barrett, Brad Pitt, Chris Pine, Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Stuart, Michael Cera and Robert Pattinson are among the other actors who also call Los Feliz home.
She recorded the single "Before My Time" to the documentary film Chasing Ice (2012) and the song was eventually nominated for Best Original Song at The Oscars (2013). Subsequently, she was approached to perform the song at the show, but was prevented to do so, due to her commitments with "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" on Broadway.
Was romantically involved with Jack Antonoff of indie/folk band, Steel Train. The songs, "Better Love", "2 O'Clock", "I Feel Weird" and "Dig", all contain references to Scarlett.
She auditioned for the roles of Judy Shepherd in Jumanji (1995) and Claire Colburn in Elizabethtown (2005). Both roles went to Kirsten Dunst instead.
Ex-girlfriend of Jared Leto (2004-2005).
Dislikes the nickname, ScarJo that is commonly used by the media in reference to her.
Along with her siblings, attended the Junior School at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre as a young actor taking classes in acting, singing and dancing.
Mr. Skin ranked her nude scenes from Under the Skin (2013) at #1 on their list of "The Top 150 Greatest Celebrity Nude Scenes of All Time". [August 2014]
Her great-uncle, 1st Lt Philip Schlamberg, US Army Air Force, was a P-51 Mustang pilot with the 15th Fighter Group at Iwo Jima in World War II and died over Japan on August 14, 1945, the day the Japanese surrendered.
Suffers from a morbid fear of birds (ornithophobia) and cockroaches (katsaridaphobia).
Had to have several stunt doubles whilst filming Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) due to her pregnancy.
Is the first woman to play Kaa the python, in The Jungle Book (2016).
Her favorite movie is the comedy movie Auntie Mame (1958).
Has appeared on screen with Chris Evans more than any other leading man thus far.
Highest-grossing actress of all time and 10th highest grossing actor of all time, bringing in $3.327 billion to the box office. In 2016 alone, she added $1.2 billion to that record which can possibly move her up to the top three highest grossing actors of all time. She was the highest grossing actor of the year.
Twice chosen as the Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire magazine.
Has 2 children: daughter, Rose Dauriac (b. August 30, 2014) with ex-husband, Romain Dauriac & son, Cosmo Jost (b. August 18, 2021) with husband, Colin Jost.
(March 7, 2017) Filed for divorce from her second husband of two years Romain Dauriac following the separation since last summer.
Is the only actress to play a clone (The Island (2005)), an alien (Under the Skin (2013)), an intelligent operative system (Her (2013)), a snake (The Jungle Book (2016)), a robot (Ghost in the Shell (2017)) and a dog (Isle of Dogs (2018)).
Funko manufactured and released POP! action figures of Scarlett Johansson's character Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and The Major from Ghost in the Shell (2017).
She learned on the program Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012) that her maternal great-grandfather's brother, Mosze Szlamberg, was killed in the Holocaust in Poland, along with at least two of his children, Zlata and Mandlit.
She auditioned for the role of Fantine in Les Misérables (2012), which went to Anne Hathaway, which gave her an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress.
She appeared in Justin Timberlake's music video "What Goes Around... Comes Around" (2007).
She wore her hair with a fringe in five films: Lost in Translation (2003), The Perfect Score (2004), Under the Skin (2013), Chef (2014) and Ghost in the Shell (2017).
Sir Sean Connery, who played her father in Just Cause (1995), starred as the main antagonist in The Avengers (1998) based on the classic British television series. Scarlett Johansson later went on to play Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in The Avengers (2012) based on the Marvel comic book.
(May 19, 2019) Johannson has announced her engagement to Colin Jost, after a two-year relationship.
As of 2020, she appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Lost in Translation (2003), Her (2013), Jojo Rabbit (2019) and Marriage Story (2019).
Scarlett is the 12th person to be nominated for two Oscars in the acting category the same year, none of them won both, seven of them won at least one and five of them lost both. All five who lost are actresses. Scarlett is one of the five.
Has two Barbie dolls made in her likeness, both of them based on her character, Black Widow, from Black Widow (2021). The first one wears the black suit, while the second one wears the white suit.
She has a rating of "gorgeous" on WikiFeet.
Born at 7:00 AM (EST).
Is an avid beekeeper.
Personal Quotes (73)
I'm so tired of hearing casting directors ask if I have a sore throat. The people who have told me that my voice is distinctive, it's unusual... those people have always been close to my heart.
[on why she was glad that the drama Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) was a small foreign production] It would be hellish to have the pressure of putting on a Hollywood ending or putting in a scene where Vermeer sees Griet washing her breasts.
I always check in the mirror to make sure nothing is see-through.
I have a lot of actor friends who worked with their parents closely and have had really horrible experiences. They end up suing or being emancipated. The wonderful thing about my mom [who is also her manager] is that she completely respects my creative weirdness and supports any decision I make.
As long as people keep buying tabloids, they will keep harassing people in the public eye. They will make up stories.
[on David Hasselhoff, after they had both worked on The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)] I so fancied him when I was young, that to see my name on the credits next to his makes me go all girly. He was a hunk back in those days.
I have an obsessive character. I manicure my nails at three in the morning because nobody else can do it the right way. Maybe that's the secret to my success.
It's a great thing to get older and learn. I don't feel bound in any way by how many years I've lived. I identify just as much with my 86-year-old grandmother as I do with my sister.
People forget what it's like to be a child. When you're a child actress, people sometimes regress into being obnoxious and patronizing. But there's no reason to dumb things down just because you're working with kids.
What I respect most in people is naturalness and authenticity. I like to be able to see into their soul. I aspire to being a truthful person.
The most precious moment in life is when you're about to fall in love. You're lying in bed together and he's gazing at you and you're gazing at him and there's a sense that something truly wondrous is about to happen. It's a nervous moment - but it's exhilarating.
I am very independent. I can look after myself but I still need a lot of love and care.
I don't talk about my personal relationships, it always ends up kicking you in the face. But I've read a lot of things about myself and think, "Wow! That girl sounds really saucy.".
I think that I sort of see other actresses are kind of proud of the way they look and show it off. That's never really been my style. I really don't think that it's disgusting or wrong, if you're 18 you're 18, it's your body, it's your right to show yourself, however, I don't really take a part in that. I like to look nice, but I think that there's ways of doing it that are more tasteful than just wearing a bikini wherever you go.
I don't know if I've got swept up. It's so shocking when you hear that Calvin Klein wants you for their new campaign. You're like "who me?". I guess you have to decide where you draw the line between you saying, this is fun, pretty and fabulous, and being over-exposed.
Well, you put a little piece of yourself into every character that you do. Even if you're playing some psychotic person, which of course I'm not, some part of you is in that character and it's hopefully believable. I always come back to the fact that my own instinct is better than something I build in my mind.
Tons of that stuff comes to me, but a lot of it is awful. All these teenage slaying movies, and movies about girls that have deformities that become cheerleaders and then marry the prom king!
I always had the chance to do whatever I wanted to do, my parents were very open about that. Acting has been a passion of mine. I wanted to be in musicals as a kid, and took tap dance, so for me it's a dream come true, my childhood was filled with things that I loved to do, and also very normal things: I lived in New York, I have a family life and went to a regular school. If anything, I look back and think, "Wow, I did a lot of things that a lot of people don't get to do in their lifetime.".
It's a place of solace. I love London, it's an amazing city. I've met some wonderful people there and I also have some family there. I'm from New York, so I feel very at home in London. It's like a metropolitan breeding ground for culture, art, music and diversity. It's a beautiful city, with beautiful history. In Hollywood, it's hard to step outside of the circle once you're in it. But in London, I was really moved by how accepted I felt there. There was definitely less need to wear my big sunglasses!
[on filming The Island (2005)] I came home and I thought I was going to die. I was in agony. I had muscles that had atrophied. I couldn't run any longer and it was only the first day. But actually, Ewan was in the same boat. He had black and blue marks all over him. So it wasn't so bad since someone else was in agony.
I don't think there's any kind of preparation for sudden celebrity. I think you almost have this slight nervous breakdown when that kind of media attention happens. I mean, you're doing the same kind of thing that you do all the time, only you have to make these weird adjustments. Like, you're buying a slice of pizza and somebody's outside photographing you which is weird - that's not normal! It's very uncomfortable.
Everyone in Hollywood is so damn skinny and you constantly feel like you're not skinny enough. But I have 'fat days' and I accept that I'm never going to be rail thin. It's hard not to feel pressure in this industry and I already use anti-aging products on my skin. I try not to let the pressure get to me but Los Angeles is a very hard place to be unless you have people here that love you. It can be very, very lonely, and it can eat you up if you don't take care of yourself.
I was driving through Los Angeles and I look up and see the biggest photo of me I have ever seen in my life on a massive ad space. I screamed and slammed on the brakes. I couldn't believe it. It's very strange to see my cleavage the size of a brontosaurus. My breasts were huge. I had long hair and my goodness, I couldn't get past the cleavage.
I don't think human beings are monogamous by nature. It's difficult - you have to put a lot of effort into a relationship. I think it's hard for actors to date each other because they are so damn moody. You are away from people constantly and having a relationship that is strictly by phone, it is miserable. Or if you say to him/her, "Hey, (even though) I am doing a very sexy scene with this very sexy girl/boy, I love you and I'm going to be thinking of you when I am rolling around in bed with this person!".
We are supposed to be liberated in America but if our President had his way, we wouldn't be educated about sex at all. Every woman would have six children and we wouldn't be able to have abortions.
Whose life would I like to step into for the day? The president's. I could probably get some things done in the Oval Office.
Do I ever get nervous about this, right now, being the pinnacle of my career? Yeah, I do. At the end of (filming) every movie I think, "Wow - this is the last one! Nice working with you.".
[on Woody Allen] I just adore Woody. We have a lot in common. We're New Yorkers, Jewish. We have a very easygoing relationship.
[on getting to entertain US troops in the Persian Gulf in 2008] This USO tour to the Gulf region truly means a lot. I've wanted to go over and visit for some time, and now my moment has arrived. It's one thing to reply to a letter or extend your thanks to service members in a speech, but it's another thing to visit them and spend time with those that do so much for us back home.
[on comparisons with Marilyn Monroe] I love Marilyn. I think she was incredibly beautiful and a very underrated actress. I am a curvy woman who is blonde, and perhaps we are both comfortable in our femininity, but I think that is as far as the comparison goes.
My natural hair color is dirty blonde. I've been a bottle blonde before, very yellow - and a white blonde. My dad is Danish and he's a natural blonde. I've even taken a clipping from his hair to the salon so I can have it tinted the same color!
[on Katy Perry's song, "I Kissed a Girl", which was inspired by Scarlett Johansson] That's flattering, but my lips are kind of taken.
[on her trip to Rwanda and initiative to help fight against AIDS in Africa] It was important for me to come here and see the issues we're up against firsthand. I came here with an open mind, wanting to listen, understand and learn; I leave with the overwhelming understanding that the small action of making a (RED) choice in your purchases... has an enormous impact on the lives of people in countries like Rwanda.
I read a lot of things about myself that aren't true... I've read that I've been with people I've never met. It's not nice to have any attachment, but likewise, it's nice to have a boyfriend. I'm open to that. But it's hard, when you're working constantly, to spend enough time with someone.
There was this rumor mill cranking out stories that I had lost 14 pounds - I could never lose 14 pounds. I can't look at somebody who is 6 feet tall and 120 pounds and say, I'm going to get that body. That's just never going to happen. You have to work with what you've got.
[on her marriage to Ryan Reynolds] I never really thought about getting married - it just kind of happened. It seemed natural, the right thing to do. It was kind of a celebration of the time... I'm kind of making my own little family now, which is funny. It's like a little bit of a tribe. You hope that a relationship makes you better, that you learn things about yourself.
I would love to work on Broadway, but I don't know that it would manifest itself in musical theater... I have terrible stage fright that I'd have to get over. It came on when I was a teenager, and I think it somehow sticks with you. There are plenty of moments on stage where you think, "If one of my boobs just fell out right now..."
I love to get ready for the red carpet, but being on it is very uncomfortable. It's so freakish and weird. I get flop sweats, dry mouth, heart palpitations, all-over panic!
I try to stay fit and eat healthily, but I am not anxious to starve myself and become unnaturally thin. I don't find that look attractive on women and I don't want to become part of that trend. It's unhealthy and it puts too much pressure on women in general who are being fed this image of the ideal, which it is not. I think America has become obsessed with dieting rather than focusing on eating well, exercising and living a healthy life. I also think that being ultra-thin is not sexy at all. Women shouldn't be forced to conform to unrealistic and unhealthy body images that the media promote. I don't need to be skinny to be sexy.
[on winning a Tony Award] Being welcomed into this community has been a dream come true for me. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be on Broadway, and here I am.
[on working on Broadway] It was strange to think that this show is going to go on whether it's good or bad. They will let the audience in at some point, and they will see it, and we are going to be exposed for better or for worse.
[on how she spends her free time] I'm still trying to figure out what to do when I'm not making movies. I just don't do that many things.
[on being the face of Moet & Chandon Champagne] I am honored to have been chosen as their ambassador and to make history with the brand, as the first celebrity face of champagne.
[on her 2011 photo shoot for Mango clothing] Yes, it has been great working with Mango. I loved working with the whole team - I think between Mario, the makeup and hairdressing teams and the stylist, we have created something special.
Sharing food is one of life's pleasures. On a global scale, we don't share fairly. Close to a billion people go to bed hungry every night. The fact is: the global food system is a broken one. All of us, from Kentucky to Kenya, deserve enough to eat. That's why I'm joining Oxfam's Grow campaign.
I'm curvy - I'm never going to be 5' 11' and 120 pounds. But I feel lucky to have what I've got. I feel comfortable as a young woman - a young, modern, liberal person. I feel comfortable with my sexuality. However, I am protective of my private life. I don't think that if you are in the public eye, your life is public. I am an actor. But you can't take things too seriously.
I don't feel mature. I always feel about the age I am. I know Robert Redford described me as, '13 going on 30', but that's not how I felt at the time. I am still dorky. I watch cheesy television with TV dinners and, at one point, could not stop watching Jerry Springer.
I started acting when I was seven. I had a couple of lines in this play called "Sophistry" with Ethan Hawke. I studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute, and that really gave me an opportunity to perform before live audiences. There's absolutely a difference between that and working in film... like you can mess up in film and not worry about it.
[on the alleged nude photos of her which were stolen by hackers] Just because you're in the spotlight, or just because you're an actor or making films or whatever, doesn't mean that you're not entitled to your own personal privacy. I think no matter what the context, if that is besieged in some way, it feels unjust. It feels wrong.
[on her divorce in 2011] At first, I was quite depressed. After about a week or so, I pulled myself together and started to go to the gym all the time. Luckily, I've got a few very close girlfriends who have been by my side for 15 years now, whom I can talk to about everything and confide in. I have a close relationship with my twin brother Hunter as well. And then there's my grandmother Dorothy. She's an incredibly sweet, lovely and wise woman.
I don't have a Facebook or a Twitter account, and I don't know how I feel about this idea of, "Now, I'm eating dinner, and I want everyone to know that I'm having dinner at this time," or "I just mailed a letter and dropped off my kids." That, to me, is a very strange phenomenon. I can't think of anything I'd rather do less than have to continuously share details of my everyday life. I guess they [celebrities] use it in a way that works for them. But I'd rather that people had less access to my personal life. If I could keep it that way, I'd be a happy lady.
There's a lot of things that I want to pursue and hopefully, eventually will when all of this falls apart. I work with a lot of nongovernmental organizations. I don't know if I'd want to start my own, but I think I'd dedicate more of my time to that. It'd also be nice to have a vineyard somewhere, an organic farm or something like that. That's like a hippie-dippy wish - but a really good one.
One of the most exciting thing about The Avengers (2012), is that in my opening scene the first thing you see is my character getting punched in the face. Everybody is like "Damn, it's nice to see a girl get the shit kicked out of her.".
Unfortunately, my generation had a shitty time. Horrible bubblegum pop boy bands and rap metal. It just wasn't my scene. There was some good hip hop, though, like Fugees.
When I was 13, I loved Radiohead's "The Bends" and I loved Nine Inch Nails. When I graduated to a CD player, I'd listen to a lot of old Depeche Mode and New Order, actually. I'd start rummaging through what my older brother had and discover all this weird progressive new wave music that he had been listening to 10 years prior.
The first time I had a really private experience with an album was when I was 10 and somebody gave me an Abbey Road cassette tape as a Christmas stocking stuffer. I knew that goddamn tape backwards and forwards. I had one of those Walkmans that you didn't have to flip over. It had auto reverse and would just play over and over.
I wanted to be Frank Sinatra and sing like him. He's got a voice like gold bullion. His voice is like velvet cake. I loved all the Vegas stuff, but I liked the polka dot and moonbeams stuff best. Early Frank, when he was just "Frankie", a whisper of what he would someday be. I was a ham as a kid. I loved musical theater, so from a young age, I admired how show-stopping Sinatra was.
My parents' music became my music.
One of my favorite Waits (Tom Waits) songs is "Burma Shave". We tried to do that... and couldn't. I asked myself, "What is the essence of this song?" and I realized that I couldn't do it because it's Tom. Tom is the essence.
A song like "Who You Are" is such a personal thing for Tom Waits. I can't even pretend to imagine what it was born out of. I would never try to interpret somebody else's emotion. I can only read the lyrics and associate them with my own life experience. I had to sing them from my own gut. The same way you would take somebody's written dialogue and breathe your own life into it. I have the perspective that I have and I can only work through that.
I grew up in a household that was very politically conscious... it was just understood that it was important, that it was our responsibility.
My brother was totally geeked-out by Katie Couric. I think he followed her around the entire night. I was chasing after him, and I turned around, and I had a bunch of Republican senators chasing after me.
I think I understand my emotional state and my complexities now in a much clearer way, and I can put them to rest in a way that there's almost a catharsis that happens through the work, where I can do it and then find myself again.
[on being thought of as a sex symbol] Are you asking me if I feel objectified? I think that, sure, I've been a 'victim' of that, if you want to call it that, but only as much as anyone else. I don't feel particularly singled out more than any other person. All you have to do is go to a nightclub to see that happening every day. A man is not always trying to undress a woman's brain first.
[on varying the roles she accepts] It would be such a waste to just continue to do the same thing and not take a risk. I don't have anything to lose, really. Even if it doesn't work out, the gain if it does is so much greater. Taking those risks is something I feel more and more comfortable with.
I just didn't think that I would be able to stay in that kind of twisted frenzy that a lot of actors feel they need in order to work.
I was always terrible at commercials because my voice was so deep. At the age of 9, I sounded like a whiskey-drinking, chain-smoking fool.
With Her (2013), it was about finding the shape of things and building this character that's almost a babe - but just fresh out of the package in every way.
Jonathan Glazer is such a sensitive, engaged, funny person. But then you see the film and you're like "Jesus, is that what's in his mind all the time?".
I associate [ScarJo] with, like, pop stars. It sounds tacky. It's lazy and flippant... And there's something kind of violent about it. There's something insulting about it.
[on her role as Natasha Romanoff] Well you know, I don't think I have never really seen a film of this genre, where the female characters' sex appeal sort of came second. I mean of course they're sexy characters. When you have a sexy secretary, or a girl swinging around by her ankles in a catsuit, you know that's innately sexy, but the fact is that these characters are intelligent. They're ambitious. They're motivated and calculated to some degree.
I wouldn't say I'm a particular sci-fi fan. I mean, I guess I like some sci-fi movies, but I think it's sort of a trend that reflects the time that we're living in, the question of identity, [...] as we kind of advance in this digital age and how it affects our own identity.
[on backing out to portray Dante "Tex" Gill for the canceled Rub & Tug film] While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante's story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film. I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues.
Natasha Romanoff
Natasha Romanoff was born in the Soviet Union as Natalia Alianovna Romanova (Наталия Альяновна Романова). Although her exact parentage is unknown, it is rumored that she is related to the late Romanov dynasty—the former rulers of Russia—but those claims have so far been unproven. Orphaned as a child, she was rescued during an attack on Stalingrad by a man named Ivan Petrovitch Bezukhov, who looked after and trained the girl.
As she grew older, Natasha's talents caught the attention of Soviet Intelligence, soon to be known as the KGB, and was recruited into their ranks. During World War II, Natasha was kidnapped by the Hand, who sought to make her a brainwashed master assassin. Luckily, she was rescued by Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Logan (who would later become Wolverine). During the War, the young Natasha served in the Russian army where she fell in love with another young soldier named Nikolai. Despite their initial happiness, their union did not end blissfully. Nikolai was killed in the war and the baby girl they conceived did not survive birth.
Following World War II, Natasha progressed into the Black Widow Program, where young girls like her were conditioned to become sleeper agents. Trained at a facility called the Red Room, Natasha was also enhanced with the Soviets' version of the Super-Soldier serum, gifting her with peak human strength and stamina, as well as resistance to disease and slowed-down aging. Natasha has memories of studying to be a ballerina as a cover during this time. However, because her psyche was tampered with by the government, it is unclear if she actually was ever a ballerina, or these memories were implanted.
As her Black Widow training progressed, she encountered (and romanced) Captain America's former best friend and sidekick, James Buchanan Barnes, who had been brainwashed into the becoming the assassin known as the Winter Soldier. Their relationship didn't last long as she was set up to marry Alexei Shostakov, a renowned test pilot. Though they had a happy marriage, the KGB faked his death during an experimental rocket test in order to make him into the Red Guardian, the USSR's version of Captain America, a hero who would represent and defend the nation.
Natasha's grief over his death drove her further into the clutches and control of the Red Room Academy and she finally earned the title of Black Widow.
Although she initially worked against the Avengers and United States on the behest of her superiors, Natasha ended up defecting to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and later the Avengers to become a true Super Hero.
The Red Death
Her extensive training in the Red Room made Natasha into a warrior with few peers. She is skilled in many forms of martial arts including aikido, judo, karate, savate, and boxing. In addition, she is an amazing gymnast, and uses her acrobatics to gain an edge in combat.
Her fighting skills are augmented by a variant of the Super-Soldier serum, which she was given as part of the Black Widow program. Although this treatment doesn't give her superhuman strength like Captain America, Natasha operates at peak human condition. The serum also grants her an improved immune system and enhanced durability, which explains why she has barely aged over the years, retaining her youthful appearance.
Natasha Romanoff never comes unprepared and brings many gadgets to help her combat her enemies. Her black body suit is composed of a kevlar-like substance created for maximum protection. It is equipped with two bracelets on each wrist that fire the "widow's bite"—a high-frequency electrostatic bolt with a range of 20 feet that discharges up to 30,000 volts, able to stop even a superhuman opponent. These bracelets can also act as radio transmitters and contain tear gas cartridges that Natasha can deploy. The fingers and feet of her costume have microscopic suction cups that allow her to stick to any regular building surface. Her belt occasionally contains discs with the explosive power of four pounds of TNT.
Along with her extraordinary fighting abilities, Natasha has a few other talents that make her one of the best spies and assassins in the world. She is multilingual; in addition to speaking Russian and English, she also is fluent in French, German, Chinese, and more. An excellent markswoman and expert in weaponry, she uses automatic weapons and knives as needed to fulfill her missions. Her skills of infiltration and stealth, coupled with an ironclad will, make Black Widow a force to be reckoned with.
Crime and Punishment
Although Natasha Romanoff's initial enemies were Iron Man and the Avengers, she has since joined the side of good and faced off against a cadre of Super Villains.
These enemies are often linked to whichever team she is helping at the time. When she fights alongside Daredevil, she assists him in taking down his villains, like the Hand, Purple Man, or Mr. Fear. As a member of the Champions, Natasha's foes include Warlord Kaa, Swarm, Godzilla, MODOK, Doctor Doom, and the Vanisher's Sentinels, among others. She also assists Hercules with this team to fight his enemy Pluto, the Olympian God of Death.
As part of S.H.I.E.L.D. and one of Nick Fury's best agents, she takes on any enemy of the counter-terrorist organization, most often Hydra or A.I.M. Her long history of Avengers membership means that she has battled most of the enemies that have stood against the Super Hero team.
One of her more persistent foes is Damon Dran, AKA Indestructible Man, who captures Ivan Petrovich in order to lure Black Widow and defeat her and replace her with a fake that would kill Nick Fury. Natasha thwarts this plot and others, finally bringing Dran to S.H.I.E.L.D. to be imprisoned (where he is killed by a rogue agent).
Given her dark history, she also regularly combats adversaries from her past in the Red Room, who still seek to destroy her life. The personal nature of these enemies makes them all the more difficult to deal with for her, as Natasha deeply regrets her time working for the KGB and wants to eliminate her superiors and the havoc they have wreaked on the world.
Of all her Red Room opponents, the most noteworthy is Yelena Belova, a rival Black Widow who trained after Natasha. While they work together occasionally, and Natasha tries to help her find redemption, Belova is most often linked to criminal organizations like Hydra, so the two remain at odds. Belova's own considerable talents make her a worthy adversary and foil to Natasha.
Finally, while not a traditional villain by any measure, Black Widow is tormented by her guilt and is continually seeking to assuage it.
From Russia with Love
For a super spy who was trained and conditioned to have no emotional attachments, Natasha Romanoff has actually developed a considerable number of friends and allies, whom she works hard to support and defend and who care about her deeply as well.
Although their relationship began in conflict, Natasha has a close relationship with fellow Avenger Iron Man. She often assists him in battle, and Iron Man helps her when the Red Room activates a dormant persona and triggers a brainwashed state. They even enjoy a romantic interlude during a trip to Russia where they defeat her former student and partner Boris Bullski (Titanium Man), although their relationship progresses no further. Natasha also backs Iron Man during the first Super Hero Civil War and supports his efforts to legitimize the Superhuman Registration Act.
Another Avenger with whom Natasha maintains a warm friendship is Captain America. She values the heroism of Steve Rogers and respects his dedication to his moral compass. While they occasionally find themselves on opposite sides of conflict—like when she manipulated him on Fury's behalf or when they were on opposing sides during the super human Civil War—they always end up remaining close friends.
Natasha has had a few romantic relationships with her fellow heroes, which all play important roles in her development and mean very much to her. Some notable ex-lovers include Clint Barton (Hawkeye), Matt Murdock (Daredevil), Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier), and Alexei Shostakov.
Although her marriage with Shostakov is arranged by the KGB, it is a happy one, and Natasha is devastated by his apparent death. Their story is one of great tragedy; every time she discovers that Shostakov is alive, he is either almost immediately seemingly killed, a life-model decoy, or a villain. Still, she remembers their initial time together as a happy one.
While Hawkeye and Natasha have not been romantically linked in a long time, his influence was instrumental in helping her defect and join the Avengers, setting her on a path of redemption. For this reason, he will always be an incredibly important person in her life, and she values the heroic archer very much, though she often teases him when they work together. She considers him one of her best friends, and he feels the same way about her.
Daredevil is also a significant person in Natasha's life. The two work together on and off for years, and they can rely on each other always coming to the other's aid. Although they realize they can never be together, Natasha will always protect Daredevil (and whatever love of his is in trouble at the time), and he will similarly help her through difficult times in her life.
Bucky Barnes is one of the few figures who, while coming from the Red Room, Natasha trusts and cherishes. They first develop a romantic relationship when Barnes trains her as his Winter Soldier persona in the Red Room, though they are eventually split by their superiors. They reconnect and renew their romantic relationship later again when Barnes becomes the new Captain America, thanks to her support. She also appreciates him being one of the few people who understands the depth of the grief and shame that she feels over her past, as he has a very similar one.
Another small, but not unimportant, ally is the stray cat that takes a liking to Natasha and worms his way into her home and heart. Though she ironically names him Liho, meaning misfortune in Russian, she cares for her little furry friend.
HEIGHT
5'7''
WEIGHT
131 lbs.
GENDER
Female
EYES
Blue
HAIR
Red-auburn
· UNIVERSE
o Marvel Universe
· OTHER ALIASES
o Natalia "Natasha" Romanova, Nadine Roman, Nat, Tsarina, Oktober, Laura Matthers, Nancy Rushman, Black Pearl, Natalia Shostakova, Natuska, Czarina
· EDUCATION
o Unrevealed (formerly believe to be college graduate), intensive espionage training through Taras Romanov and The Red Room Academy
· PLACE OF ORIGIN
o Stalingrad, Former U.S.S.R
· IDENTITY
o Publicly known
· KNOWN RELATIVES
o Vindiktor (alleged brother, deceased), Alexi Shostakov (Red Guardian, estranged spouse)
· POWERS
o Slowed Aging
o Superhuman Durability
· GROUP AFFILIATION
o Avengers
o S.H.I.E.L.D.
o Secret Avengers
The Elusive Avenger
As a Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff completed many missions for the KGB. On her first one in the United States, she and operative Boris Turgenov were sent to assassinate a Russian scientist, Anton Vanko.
Vanko had defected to the United States with his Crimson Dynamo armor and began working with Tony Stark. In addition to eliminating Vanko, Romanoff and Turgenov were also tasked with taking back the Crimson Dynamo, killing Tony Stark, and sabotaging his plant. The mission went south, however, when Vanko sacrificed his life to defend his armor and Stark. He was killed, along with Turgenov.
Having failed in her mission, Natasha remained in the U.S. in order to right her wrongs. At first, she faked her own defection (unlike Vanko's legitimate switch) and romanced Tony Stark until she was able to steal his anti-gravity ray gun. However, Stark soon uncovered that she was the cause of the destruction against the U.S. and deactivated the device.
With her cover blown, the ever-resourceful Natasha partnered with Hawkeye, an outlaw at the time, manipulating him into working for her against Iron Man. After improving Hawkeye's archery arsenal by adding high-tech arrows, the two attacked Iron Man. During the course of the battle, Stark deflected an explosive arrow to defend himself, but it ended up injuring Natasha. Hawkeye—in love with the Russian spy—rushed to help her, allowing Stark to get away.
She continued to try to get him to help on her missions, but it was Hawkeye who ended up influencing Natasha. Though misguided at the time due to her manipulation and his love for her, Hawkeye was still a hero at heart, and his idealism and strong moral compass helped Natasha find her own. Despite a lifetime of conditioning, Natasha chose to pursue her own destiny and defected.
The KGB was not eager to let their operative go and first extorted and then brainwashed her into submission, forcing her to fight the Avengers (which Hawkeye had joined in the meantime). Still, iron-willed as ever, Natasha fought past these violations and truly severed ties with her past.
She began to work for Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. and assisted the Avengers on missions against Super Villains like the Sons of the Serpent, the Ultroids, and more. During one such assignment, she and Hawkeye were captured by General Yuri Brushov, and Natasha discovered that her husband, Alexei Shostakov was alive and had become the Red Guardian. Like his wife, Alexei also had little love for his superiors and wanted to support the Avengers—so much, that he seemingly sacrificed himself to protect the Super Hero team.
Once again, Natasha had no idea that Shostakov had actually survived, and, devastated, she left the Avengers before they offered her full membership. During this trying time, Natasha considered accepting Hawkeye's proposal of marriage, as she cared for him deeply, and also mourned when she briefly believed him to be dead.
However, when her old mentor Ivan Petrovitch resurfaced in the U.S. to serve as her friend and confidant, Natasha's spirits lifted and she broke ties with Hawkeye to pursue a solo vigilante career, fighting the Astrologer, Watchlord, and others.
It was then that Natasha encountered someone who would become very important to her—Matt Murdock. She saved Daredevil from the Owl, although neither knew at the time that this had been a manipulation by the evil android, Mr. Kline. As part of a grand scheme to affect the future, Kline framed Natasha for murder in order to have Matt Murdock defend her in court. The stressful nature of the trial pushed her to become romantically intertwined with Murdock, all according to the android's plans. Although Kline died before he could finish his plans, Daredevil and Black Widow became a crime-fighting duo. At one point, the couple moved to California in order to continue their quest against evil, only returning to New York to stand against Magneto after an encounter with a resentful Hawkeye. Natasha once again left the Avengers after her stint in New York, feeling unsure about her place on a team, and resumed crime-fighting in California with Daredevil.
She ended their relationship soon after, as Natasha felt that Murdock did not see her as an equal, although she decided to stay in California. Despite her reservations about team membership, she joined the Los Angeles-based Champions, whose roster included Angel (Warren Worthington III), Iceman (Bobby Drake), the vigilante Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze), and the Avenger Hercules, with whom Natasha developed a romantic relationship. As a master tactician, Natasha became the team leader with unanimous backing from her fellow heroes. The group helped her defeat several Russian villains seeking vengeance and worked together to conquer a cadre of Super Villains. It ultimately dissolved, however, due conflicts between the various members' personalities and priorities.
Natasha returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, assisting both as she could. One such mission included helping the Avengers battle Korvac—a cosmically-powered being seeking to overthrow the universe and become its benevolent ruler. During this fight, Natasha realized how insignificant mortal relationships must seem to beings who live eternally, including Hercules, effectively ending their romantic relationship. Natasha then helped the Avengers rescue Daredevil when he was mind-controlled by the criminal Death-Stalker (Philip Sterling).
Luck turned for the super-spy when new Avengers leadership forced a roster change, excluding her, and she was captured by the Viper. While she escaped, she retreated into a pre-programmed S.H.I.E.L.D. persona—schoolteacher Nancy Rushman. When her true mind was restored, she helped Spider-Man and other heroes rescue a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier from Viper.
After this, Natasha's path once again crossed with Daredevil's. First, she helped him defeat Bullseye after her abduction by the cruel assassin. Then, she was fatally poisoned by Daredevil's enemy, the Hand, an evil ninja order. She was immediately resurrected by Stone, a member of the Chaste (a group of warriors opposed to the Hand). She joined Daredevil and Stone in trying and failing to prevent the revival of Elektra Natchios—a vicious assassin who was both Murdock's great love and enemy.
Her Super Hero duties also often forced Natasha to face her past demons. She was manipulated by Russian dissidents using a life-model decoy of Alexei Shostakov. After rejoining the Avengers and becoming deputy leader, she battled Starlight, another former Russian operative who had become the Red Guardian after Shostakov. She had to contend with being overtaken by a long-dormant persona "Oktober," part of her conditioning in the Red Room Academy. Thanks to Iron Man, Natasha broke free of the brainwashing.
After an internal dispute over the Kree-Shi'ar War, Captain America left his active position at the Avengers. Black Widow became the team leader, a role she took very seriously. Natasha always cared deeply about the well-being of those close to her, making the apparent death of Daredevil and then the likely death of her mentor Ivan Petrovich at the hands of Red Skull very difficult on her. Adding her teammates only made things harder. When Iron Man faked his death, then Captain America and Nick Fury seemingly perished, Natasha mourned deeply. And when most of the active Avengers roster was wiped out fighting Onslaught, she blamed herself and suffered from survivor's guilt. She unsuccessfully tried to rebuild the team by seeking out new recruits, like her old teammates Angel and Iceman, but was forced to shut down the team after numerous rejections.
Driven by self-reproach, Natasha worked almost obsessively to bring in all of the Avengers' previous foes. It was Daredevil, fearing for her condition, who helped her work through her guilt. This was, of course, easier to do once the Avengers resurfaced alive.
She did not rejoin as a full-time member, however, and assisted Nick Fury in a counter-terrorist mission in Latveria. Unfortunately, this operation forced her to manipulate Wolverine, Captain America, Daredevil, and others on Fury's behalf. She attempted to atone for her role in this by renewing her ties with Iron Man and helping him fight some Super Villains of his own.
Her next reunion with Daredevil was more difficult than the last, as he had been drugged by Mysterio (Quentin Beck) into believing that an innocent baby was the Anti-Christ. Although she helped Daredevil overcome his delusions, Bullseye was able to kill the baby and Karen Page, Murdock's lover. Though the grief-stricken Murdock reconciled with Natasha, they both understood they could never be together.
Natasha was once again forced to confront her past with the appearance of Yelena Belova, her Black Widow successor, who was eager to prove herself as the superior one. Horrified at the thought that another woman would go through what she did, Natasha had their faces surgically swapped so that Yelena could see that she was being manipulated and considered expendable. Despite her good intentions, however, Yelena felt violated by what had been done. Later, Yelena would demonstrate how different she was from Natasha by agreeing to be transformed into the new Super-Adaptoid by A.I.M. and Hydra.
Soon after, a mad Scarlet Witch turned on the Avengers and unleashed simulacrums of their greatest enemies, leading Hawkeye to sacrifice his life to defend them against the forces of the alien Kree. The group disbanded and a weary Natasha retired to Arizona.
Unfortunately, Natasha didn't get to live in peace as she was targeted by a corporation called Gynacon, who was hunting down ex-Black Widow agents and killing them. They had recently purchased biotechnology from the Red Room and wanted to make sure nobody else was using it. During her investigation, to her horror, Natasha also discovered just how much she had been manipulated. She killed the CEO of Gynacon, Ian McMasters, making her a wanted criminal.
Always looking to make up for her past, Natasha then sided with Iron Man during the Super Hero Civil War. This was despite the fact that many of her friends and allies, notably Captain America, opposed the Superhuman Registration Act. After Steve Rogers was killed during the conflict, Natasha convinced Bucky Barnes, with whom she'd rekindled her romance, to take his best friend's mantle and become Captain America.
Continuing her spy work for Nick Fury, Natasha posed as Yelena Belova in order to infiltrate a group called Thunderbolts, led by the corrupt tycoon Norman Osborn. Despite Osborn discovering her identity and manipulating her to his own ends by impersonating Fury, she evaded capture and death. She then helped ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill and others restore Tony Stark's consciousness after he wiped his mind to guard knowledge from Osborn.
When Steve Rogers returned alive, Natasha joined his new team, the Secret Avengers, while working to clear her name after she had been framed in a plot targeting spies. Teaming up with Hawkeye and Mockingbird for the investigation, she discovered that the true conspirator behind it all was her presumed-dead ex-husband, Alexei Shostakov. Despite their history, Natasha defeated him in order to stop his evil plans.
Natasha continued to work hard to atone while working for the Avengers, taking paid jobs outside of the team's missions in order to put money into trusts for families who had been affected by her past misdeeds.
When a sentient Cosmic Cube named Kobik created a Captain America loyal to Hydra (thanks to the manipulation of Red Skull), Black Widow joined the fight against her former friend, determined to not let the world fall to Hydra domination. Though others in the resistance were reluctant to kill Captain America, Natasha felt this was the only way to truly stop him and worked on her own to defeat him. She also intended to kill the fascist Cap herself to spare Spider-Man from having to do so—as it was predicted by Ulysses Cain, the Inhuman psychic, that he would.
However, her good intentions led to disastrous results. As she intervened to protect Morales, the villainous version of Captain America struck her with his shield, breaking her neck.
The Black Widow could never die so easily, though, as her friends Hawkeye and the Winter Soldier discovered. After they teamed up to investigate assassinations seemingly linked to her, they uncovered a clone of Natasha, who had been created by the Red Room in case their agents had ever fallen. This clone, true to Natasha's nature, rebelled against her superiors and worked to bring down the Red Room.
While it's unclear what adventures Natasha Romanoff will embark on next, one thing is certain—the strong-willed Super Hero will use her many talents and skills to bring down her enemies and protect the innocent, working hard to achieve redemption by her own standards.
In 2003, she was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, one for drama (Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)) and one for comedy (Lost in Translation (2003)), her breakout role, starring opposite Bill Murray, and receiving rave reviews and a Best Actress Award at the Venice Film Festival. Her film roles include the critically acclaimed Weitz brothers' film In Good Company (2004), as well as starring opposite John Travolta in A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004), which garnered her a third Golden Globe Award nomination.
She dropped out of Mission: Impossible III (2006) due to scheduling conflicts. Her next film role was in The Island (2005) alongside Ewan McGregor which earned weak reviews from U.S. critics. After this, she appeared in Woody Allen's Match Point (2005) and was nominated again for a Golden Globe Award. In May 2008, she released her album "Anywhere I Lay My Head", a collection of Tom Waits covers featuring one original song. Also that year, she starred in Frank Miller's The Spirit (2008), the Woody Allen film Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), and played Mary Boleyn opposite Natalie Portman in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).
Since then, she has appeared as part of an ensemble cast in the romantic comedy He's Just Not That Into You (2009), the action superhero film Iron Man 2 (2010), the comedy-drama We Bought a Zoo (2011) and starred as the original scream queen, Janet Leigh, in Hitchcock (2012). She then played her character, Black Widow, in the blockbuster action films The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Black Widow (2021), and also headlined the sci-fi action thriller Lucy (2014), a box office success. With more than a decade of work already under her belt, Scarlett has proven to be one of Hollywood's most talented young actresses. Her other starring roles are in the sci-fi action thriller Ghost in the Shell (2017) and the dark comedy Rough Night (2017).
Scarlett and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds were engaged in May 2008 and married in September of that year. In 2010, the couple announced their separation, and subsequently divorced a year later. In 2013, she became engaged to French journalist Romain Dauriac, the couple married a year later. In January 2017, the couple announced their separation, and subsequently divorced in March of that year. They have a daughter, Rose Dorothy Dauriac (born 2014).
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Pedro Borges
Family (4)
Spouse
Colin Jost (October 2020 - present) (1 child)
Romain Dauriac (1 October 2014 - 12 September 2017) (divorced) (1 child)
Ryan Reynolds (27 September 2008 - 1 July 2011) (divorced)
Children
Rose Dauriac
Cosmo Jost
Parents
Melanie Sloan
Karsten Johansson
Relatives
Vanessa Johansson (sibling)
Hunter Johansson (sibling)
Adrian Johansson (sibling)
Christian Johansson (half sibling)
Ejner Johansson (grandparent)
Trade Mark (4)
Often plays characters who look and act older than their age
Full lips and green eyes
Seductive husky voice
Contralto singing voice
Trivia (116)
Received an "introducing" credit for The Horse Whisperer (1998) although this was her seventh feature film.
Attended and graduated from Professional Children's School in Manhattan, New York City (2002).
Granddaughter of writer Ejner Johansson.
Scarlett's mother, Melanie Sloan, who is from the Bronx, is from an Ashkenazi Jewish family (from Poland, Belarus and Russia). Scarlett's father, Karsten Johansson, is Danish (his own paternal grandfather was Swedish, while his other family is Danish).
Invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in June 2004.
Applied to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for the fall 2003 semester, but was not accepted. The rejection allowed her to focus on her career, which blossomed soon after.
Shortly after Lost in Translation (2003) was released, she said she had a connection to older men and could not see herself dating anyone under 30. True to her word, she had a relationship with actor Benicio Del Toro, who is 17 years her senior.
She was cast as Rebecca in the comedy film Thumbsucker (2005), but dropped out before filming commenced and was replaced by Kelli Garner.
Her father Karsten Johansson, a New York architect, and mother Melanie Sloan, her manager, now divorced, separated when she was age 13.
Campaigned for John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election.
Celebrated her 20th birthday at Disneyland on November 22, 2004.
Auditioned for a role in The Parent Trap (1998), which finally went to Lindsay Lohan.
Christian Johansson's younger half-sister, Adrian Johansson & Vanessa Johansson's little sister, Hunter Johansson's twin sister and Fenan Sloan's adoptive older half-sister.
Planned to attend Purchase University to study film.
Her older sister Vanessa Johansson is also an actress.
Prepared for her role in Lost in Translation (2003) by living on Hokkaido with then-boyfriend Faiz Ahmad.
Is three minutes older than her twin brother Hunter Johansson. She says these three minutes are the most important in her life.
First role (uncredited) was in a skit, during the first year of Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993), at age 8. She relived this moment during an interview with Conan on July 12, 2005, twelve years later. Also in the skit was 11-year-old Melissa Claire Egan.
Ranked #9 in the 2005 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World". And was also the highest ranking new entry to the list.
Is often ranked on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women list. She was ranked #63 in 2002, #13 in 2004, #24 in 2005, #6 in 2006, #3 in 2007, #2 in 2008, #34 in 2009, #14 in 2011, #17 in 2012, #15 in 2013 and #2 in 2014.
Director Sofia Coppola directed both Scarlett and her boyfriend Josh Hartnett, but not in the same movie. Scarlett was in Coppola's Lost in Translation (2003) and Hartnett starred in The Virgin Suicides (1999)
She donated many items to Rocky Stone to be given to less fortunate kids as part of the Toy Mountain Campaign.
Chosen by FHM readers as "Sexiest Woman Alive" in the 2006 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".
Has a cat named Trooper and a chihuahua named Maggie.
Named "Sexiest Woman Alive" by Esquire magazine. [October 2006]
Named #1 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement.
Was a member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 2004.
Has been named the Sexiest Celebrity of 2007 by Playboy magazine.
Is a huge fan of Woody Allen.
She was considered for the role of Susan Storm/Invisible Girl in Fantastic Four (2005), which went to Jessica Alba.
She was offered the role of Lindsey Farris in Mission: Impossible III (2006), which went to Keri Russell.
She was offered the role of Evey in V for Vendetta (2005), which went to Natalie Portman.
She was offered the role of Lois Lane in Superman Returns (2006), which went to Kate Bosworth.
Is an alumna of the Lee Strasberg Institute such as actors Frank Miranda, Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson, Dennis Hopper, Julia Roberts.
Ranked #12 on Forbes magazine's list of the 20 Top-Earning Young Superstars (2007).
In 2006, she was earning $2 million per year representing L'Oreal cosmetics.
In 2007, Forbes magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $5 million.
Supports Barack Obama.
Was ranked #1 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actress list (2008).
Raised money for international relief organization Oxfam by auctioning off two tickets for He's Just Not That Into You (2009) on eBay, giving the winning bidders the opportunity to mingle with her. By January 2014, she has severed her connection with Oxfam. [March 2008]
(May 5, 2008) Announced her engagement to Ryan Reynolds, having been in a relationship with him since February 2007.
Was in a relationship with Josh Hartnett (2005-2007).
(September 27, 2008) Married her fiancé of 4 months, Ryan Reynolds at Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
An avid fan of Tom Waits, she recorded an album comprised entirely of Tom Waits covers, titled "Anywhere I Lay My Head". The album was released on May 16, 2008, but was not widely recognized.
Replaced Brazilian Gisele Bündchen as the face of "Dolce & Gabbana" perfumes (2009).
The French synth band The Teenagers wrote a song about her called "Starlett Johansson".
According to a poll of 5000 people conducted by Glamour magazine, Johansson was voted as having the "World's Sexiest Body".
She was cast as Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2 (2010) after Emily Blunt dropped out due to other commitments.
Has another sister named Fenan. She was adopted by Johansson's mother Melanie Sloan from Ethopia in May 2010.
In 2010, she won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play after making her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge".
Johansson was named by GQ (men's magazine) as "Babe of the Year" for 2010.
Her ex-husband, Ryan Reynolds was named as the "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine (2010) during the same time that Johansson was named as "Babe of the Year" by GQ magazine.
Has been the ambassador of Moet & Chandon Champagne since 2009.
(December 14, 2010) Her husband Ryan Reynolds filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
Has appeared in advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein, L'Oreal and Louise Vuitton. In 2009, she was also the face of Dolce & Gabbana make-up.
In 2009, she became the face of Spanish clothing company Mango.
Ranked #7 on Ask men's top 99 "most desirable" women of 2011.
She was considered for the role of Dr. Ryan Stone in Gravity (2013), but Sandra Bullock was cast instead.
In 2006, she signed an endorsement deal with cosmetics brand L'Oreal for $4,000,000.
The Looney Tunes Show (2011) created a character called Starlet Johansson in The Looney Tunes Show: Casa de Calma (2011) who resembles her.
Johansson was voted as the "World's Most Natural Beauty" according to a UK poll (2011).
Voted as having the "Best Breasts" in Hollywood by In Touch magazine (2006) and the "Best Female Bum" according to a British poll.
Named "Hollywood's Most Natural Beauty" by a survey of make-up artists (2006).
Ranked #32 in the 100 Hot Girls list by FHM UK (2011). Previously, she was ranked #23 in 2010, #13 in 2009, #6 in 2008, #5 in 2007, #3 in 2006 and #68 in 2005.
Named one of the Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine (2007 and 2010).
Ranked #22 in Who magazine's "Most Beautiful People" (2010).
Named one of the "Twenty Most Beautiful People of the Decade" by Interview magazine (2009).
Ranked #3 in the 2009 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".
Ranked #5 in the 2008 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".
Ranked #4 Sexiest Woman in the World (2011) by the Spanish version of DT magazine.
Italian artist Francesco Clemente included a portrait of Scarlett in his deck of 78 custom-painted tarot cards, with her portrayed as the Queen of Swords.
Often ranked as having one of the "Most Beautiful Famous Faces" by "The Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Famous Faces From Around the World". She was ranked #42 in 2010, #71 in 2009, #72 in 2008, #34 in 2007, #43 in 2006, #39 in 2005, #37 in 2004, #45 in 2003, and #48 in 2002.
She was considered for the role of Maggie Beauford in Lawless (2012), but Jessica Chastain was cast instead.
Auditioned for the role of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011). However, she did not get the role because she was considered too attractive for this. Rooney Mara was cast instead.
Featured in "The Beauty Book for Brain Cancer", a 312-page coffee-table book by photographer Darren Tieste. The book features photos of celebrities, musicians and models who donated their time to bring attention to brain cancer. Scarlett Johansson was also chosen to be on the cover of the book (2011).
In 2008, a UK-based bidder paid £20,000 British pounds on an eBay auction to benefit Oxfam, winning a pair of tickets to accompany Johansson on a 20-minute date to the world premiere of the film He's Just Not That Into You (2009).
Has been an ambassador for Oxfam International since 2005.
Ranked #12 in Men's Health 100 Hottest Women of All Time (2011).
Ranked #7 on Ask men's top 99 "most desirable" women of 2012.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6931 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 2, 2012. At the ceremony were her mother Melanie Sloan, grandmother, sister Vanessa Johansson and her The Avengers (2012) co-star Jeremy Renner.
She appeared as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in nine films: Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Captain Marvel (2019), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Black Widow (2021).
Very close friends with her co-star, Chris Evans, with whom she has appeared in nine films: The Perfect Score (2004), The Nanny Diaries (2007), The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Captain Marvel (2019) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
She appeared with Samuel L. Jackson in eight films: The Spirit (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Captain Marvel (2019) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Named as one of the "most desirable" famous women for 2013 by Ask men's list of the top 99 "most desirable" women.
Lives in ultra trendy Los Angeles neighborhood, Los Feliz. Giovanni Ribisi, Bo Barrett, Brad Pitt, Chris Pine, Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo, Kristen Stuart, Michael Cera and Robert Pattinson are among the other actors who also call Los Feliz home.
She recorded the single "Before My Time" to the documentary film Chasing Ice (2012) and the song was eventually nominated for Best Original Song at The Oscars (2013). Subsequently, she was approached to perform the song at the show, but was prevented to do so, due to her commitments with "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" on Broadway.
Was romantically involved with Jack Antonoff of indie/folk band, Steel Train. The songs, "Better Love", "2 O'Clock", "I Feel Weird" and "Dig", all contain references to Scarlett.
She auditioned for the roles of Judy Shepherd in Jumanji (1995) and Claire Colburn in Elizabethtown (2005). Both roles went to Kirsten Dunst instead.
Ex-girlfriend of Jared Leto (2004-2005).
Dislikes the nickname, ScarJo that is commonly used by the media in reference to her.
Along with her siblings, attended the Junior School at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre as a young actor taking classes in acting, singing and dancing.
Mr. Skin ranked her nude scenes from Under the Skin (2013) at #1 on their list of "The Top 150 Greatest Celebrity Nude Scenes of All Time". [August 2014]
Her great-uncle, 1st Lt Philip Schlamberg, US Army Air Force, was a P-51 Mustang pilot with the 15th Fighter Group at Iwo Jima in World War II and died over Japan on August 14, 1945, the day the Japanese surrendered.
Suffers from a morbid fear of birds (ornithophobia) and cockroaches (katsaridaphobia).
Had to have several stunt doubles whilst filming Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) due to her pregnancy.
Is the first woman to play Kaa the python, in The Jungle Book (2016).
Her favorite movie is the comedy movie Auntie Mame (1958).
Has appeared on screen with Chris Evans more than any other leading man thus far.
Highest-grossing actress of all time and 10th highest grossing actor of all time, bringing in $3.327 billion to the box office. In 2016 alone, she added $1.2 billion to that record which can possibly move her up to the top three highest grossing actors of all time. She was the highest grossing actor of the year.
Twice chosen as the Sexiest Woman Alive by Esquire magazine.
Has 2 children: daughter, Rose Dauriac (b. August 30, 2014) with ex-husband, Romain Dauriac & son, Cosmo Jost (b. August 18, 2021) with husband, Colin Jost.
(March 7, 2017) Filed for divorce from her second husband of two years Romain Dauriac following the separation since last summer.
Is the only actress to play a clone (The Island (2005)), an alien (Under the Skin (2013)), an intelligent operative system (Her (2013)), a snake (The Jungle Book (2016)), a robot (Ghost in the Shell (2017)) and a dog (Isle of Dogs (2018)).
Funko manufactured and released POP! action figures of Scarlett Johansson's character Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and The Major from Ghost in the Shell (2017).
She learned on the program Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2012) that her maternal great-grandfather's brother, Mosze Szlamberg, was killed in the Holocaust in Poland, along with at least two of his children, Zlata and Mandlit.
She auditioned for the role of Fantine in Les Misérables (2012), which went to Anne Hathaway, which gave her an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress.
She appeared in Justin Timberlake's music video "What Goes Around... Comes Around" (2007).
She wore her hair with a fringe in five films: Lost in Translation (2003), The Perfect Score (2004), Under the Skin (2013), Chef (2014) and Ghost in the Shell (2017).
Sir Sean Connery, who played her father in Just Cause (1995), starred as the main antagonist in The Avengers (1998) based on the classic British television series. Scarlett Johansson later went on to play Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in The Avengers (2012) based on the Marvel comic book.
(May 19, 2019) Johannson has announced her engagement to Colin Jost, after a two-year relationship.
As of 2020, she appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Lost in Translation (2003), Her (2013), Jojo Rabbit (2019) and Marriage Story (2019).
Scarlett is the 12th person to be nominated for two Oscars in the acting category the same year, none of them won both, seven of them won at least one and five of them lost both. All five who lost are actresses. Scarlett is one of the five.
Has two Barbie dolls made in her likeness, both of them based on her character, Black Widow, from Black Widow (2021). The first one wears the black suit, while the second one wears the white suit.
She has a rating of "gorgeous" on WikiFeet.
Born at 7:00 AM (EST).
Is an avid beekeeper.
Personal Quotes (73)
I'm so tired of hearing casting directors ask if I have a sore throat. The people who have told me that my voice is distinctive, it's unusual... those people have always been close to my heart.
[on why she was glad that the drama Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003) was a small foreign production] It would be hellish to have the pressure of putting on a Hollywood ending or putting in a scene where Vermeer sees Griet washing her breasts.
I always check in the mirror to make sure nothing is see-through.
I have a lot of actor friends who worked with their parents closely and have had really horrible experiences. They end up suing or being emancipated. The wonderful thing about my mom [who is also her manager] is that she completely respects my creative weirdness and supports any decision I make.
As long as people keep buying tabloids, they will keep harassing people in the public eye. They will make up stories.
[on David Hasselhoff, after they had both worked on The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)] I so fancied him when I was young, that to see my name on the credits next to his makes me go all girly. He was a hunk back in those days.
I have an obsessive character. I manicure my nails at three in the morning because nobody else can do it the right way. Maybe that's the secret to my success.
It's a great thing to get older and learn. I don't feel bound in any way by how many years I've lived. I identify just as much with my 86-year-old grandmother as I do with my sister.
People forget what it's like to be a child. When you're a child actress, people sometimes regress into being obnoxious and patronizing. But there's no reason to dumb things down just because you're working with kids.
What I respect most in people is naturalness and authenticity. I like to be able to see into their soul. I aspire to being a truthful person.
The most precious moment in life is when you're about to fall in love. You're lying in bed together and he's gazing at you and you're gazing at him and there's a sense that something truly wondrous is about to happen. It's a nervous moment - but it's exhilarating.
I am very independent. I can look after myself but I still need a lot of love and care.
I don't talk about my personal relationships, it always ends up kicking you in the face. But I've read a lot of things about myself and think, "Wow! That girl sounds really saucy.".
I think that I sort of see other actresses are kind of proud of the way they look and show it off. That's never really been my style. I really don't think that it's disgusting or wrong, if you're 18 you're 18, it's your body, it's your right to show yourself, however, I don't really take a part in that. I like to look nice, but I think that there's ways of doing it that are more tasteful than just wearing a bikini wherever you go.
I don't know if I've got swept up. It's so shocking when you hear that Calvin Klein wants you for their new campaign. You're like "who me?". I guess you have to decide where you draw the line between you saying, this is fun, pretty and fabulous, and being over-exposed.
Well, you put a little piece of yourself into every character that you do. Even if you're playing some psychotic person, which of course I'm not, some part of you is in that character and it's hopefully believable. I always come back to the fact that my own instinct is better than something I build in my mind.
Tons of that stuff comes to me, but a lot of it is awful. All these teenage slaying movies, and movies about girls that have deformities that become cheerleaders and then marry the prom king!
I always had the chance to do whatever I wanted to do, my parents were very open about that. Acting has been a passion of mine. I wanted to be in musicals as a kid, and took tap dance, so for me it's a dream come true, my childhood was filled with things that I loved to do, and also very normal things: I lived in New York, I have a family life and went to a regular school. If anything, I look back and think, "Wow, I did a lot of things that a lot of people don't get to do in their lifetime.".
It's a place of solace. I love London, it's an amazing city. I've met some wonderful people there and I also have some family there. I'm from New York, so I feel very at home in London. It's like a metropolitan breeding ground for culture, art, music and diversity. It's a beautiful city, with beautiful history. In Hollywood, it's hard to step outside of the circle once you're in it. But in London, I was really moved by how accepted I felt there. There was definitely less need to wear my big sunglasses!
[on filming The Island (2005)] I came home and I thought I was going to die. I was in agony. I had muscles that had atrophied. I couldn't run any longer and it was only the first day. But actually, Ewan was in the same boat. He had black and blue marks all over him. So it wasn't so bad since someone else was in agony.
I don't think there's any kind of preparation for sudden celebrity. I think you almost have this slight nervous breakdown when that kind of media attention happens. I mean, you're doing the same kind of thing that you do all the time, only you have to make these weird adjustments. Like, you're buying a slice of pizza and somebody's outside photographing you which is weird - that's not normal! It's very uncomfortable.
Everyone in Hollywood is so damn skinny and you constantly feel like you're not skinny enough. But I have 'fat days' and I accept that I'm never going to be rail thin. It's hard not to feel pressure in this industry and I already use anti-aging products on my skin. I try not to let the pressure get to me but Los Angeles is a very hard place to be unless you have people here that love you. It can be very, very lonely, and it can eat you up if you don't take care of yourself.
I was driving through Los Angeles and I look up and see the biggest photo of me I have ever seen in my life on a massive ad space. I screamed and slammed on the brakes. I couldn't believe it. It's very strange to see my cleavage the size of a brontosaurus. My breasts were huge. I had long hair and my goodness, I couldn't get past the cleavage.
I don't think human beings are monogamous by nature. It's difficult - you have to put a lot of effort into a relationship. I think it's hard for actors to date each other because they are so damn moody. You are away from people constantly and having a relationship that is strictly by phone, it is miserable. Or if you say to him/her, "Hey, (even though) I am doing a very sexy scene with this very sexy girl/boy, I love you and I'm going to be thinking of you when I am rolling around in bed with this person!".
We are supposed to be liberated in America but if our President had his way, we wouldn't be educated about sex at all. Every woman would have six children and we wouldn't be able to have abortions.
Whose life would I like to step into for the day? The president's. I could probably get some things done in the Oval Office.
Do I ever get nervous about this, right now, being the pinnacle of my career? Yeah, I do. At the end of (filming) every movie I think, "Wow - this is the last one! Nice working with you.".
[on Woody Allen] I just adore Woody. We have a lot in common. We're New Yorkers, Jewish. We have a very easygoing relationship.
[on getting to entertain US troops in the Persian Gulf in 2008] This USO tour to the Gulf region truly means a lot. I've wanted to go over and visit for some time, and now my moment has arrived. It's one thing to reply to a letter or extend your thanks to service members in a speech, but it's another thing to visit them and spend time with those that do so much for us back home.
[on comparisons with Marilyn Monroe] I love Marilyn. I think she was incredibly beautiful and a very underrated actress. I am a curvy woman who is blonde, and perhaps we are both comfortable in our femininity, but I think that is as far as the comparison goes.
My natural hair color is dirty blonde. I've been a bottle blonde before, very yellow - and a white blonde. My dad is Danish and he's a natural blonde. I've even taken a clipping from his hair to the salon so I can have it tinted the same color!
[on Katy Perry's song, "I Kissed a Girl", which was inspired by Scarlett Johansson] That's flattering, but my lips are kind of taken.
[on her trip to Rwanda and initiative to help fight against AIDS in Africa] It was important for me to come here and see the issues we're up against firsthand. I came here with an open mind, wanting to listen, understand and learn; I leave with the overwhelming understanding that the small action of making a (RED) choice in your purchases... has an enormous impact on the lives of people in countries like Rwanda.
I read a lot of things about myself that aren't true... I've read that I've been with people I've never met. It's not nice to have any attachment, but likewise, it's nice to have a boyfriend. I'm open to that. But it's hard, when you're working constantly, to spend enough time with someone.
There was this rumor mill cranking out stories that I had lost 14 pounds - I could never lose 14 pounds. I can't look at somebody who is 6 feet tall and 120 pounds and say, I'm going to get that body. That's just never going to happen. You have to work with what you've got.
[on her marriage to Ryan Reynolds] I never really thought about getting married - it just kind of happened. It seemed natural, the right thing to do. It was kind of a celebration of the time... I'm kind of making my own little family now, which is funny. It's like a little bit of a tribe. You hope that a relationship makes you better, that you learn things about yourself.
I would love to work on Broadway, but I don't know that it would manifest itself in musical theater... I have terrible stage fright that I'd have to get over. It came on when I was a teenager, and I think it somehow sticks with you. There are plenty of moments on stage where you think, "If one of my boobs just fell out right now..."
I love to get ready for the red carpet, but being on it is very uncomfortable. It's so freakish and weird. I get flop sweats, dry mouth, heart palpitations, all-over panic!
I try to stay fit and eat healthily, but I am not anxious to starve myself and become unnaturally thin. I don't find that look attractive on women and I don't want to become part of that trend. It's unhealthy and it puts too much pressure on women in general who are being fed this image of the ideal, which it is not. I think America has become obsessed with dieting rather than focusing on eating well, exercising and living a healthy life. I also think that being ultra-thin is not sexy at all. Women shouldn't be forced to conform to unrealistic and unhealthy body images that the media promote. I don't need to be skinny to be sexy.
[on winning a Tony Award] Being welcomed into this community has been a dream come true for me. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be on Broadway, and here I am.
[on working on Broadway] It was strange to think that this show is going to go on whether it's good or bad. They will let the audience in at some point, and they will see it, and we are going to be exposed for better or for worse.
[on how she spends her free time] I'm still trying to figure out what to do when I'm not making movies. I just don't do that many things.
[on being the face of Moet & Chandon Champagne] I am honored to have been chosen as their ambassador and to make history with the brand, as the first celebrity face of champagne.
[on her 2011 photo shoot for Mango clothing] Yes, it has been great working with Mango. I loved working with the whole team - I think between Mario, the makeup and hairdressing teams and the stylist, we have created something special.
Sharing food is one of life's pleasures. On a global scale, we don't share fairly. Close to a billion people go to bed hungry every night. The fact is: the global food system is a broken one. All of us, from Kentucky to Kenya, deserve enough to eat. That's why I'm joining Oxfam's Grow campaign.
I'm curvy - I'm never going to be 5' 11' and 120 pounds. But I feel lucky to have what I've got. I feel comfortable as a young woman - a young, modern, liberal person. I feel comfortable with my sexuality. However, I am protective of my private life. I don't think that if you are in the public eye, your life is public. I am an actor. But you can't take things too seriously.
I don't feel mature. I always feel about the age I am. I know Robert Redford described me as, '13 going on 30', but that's not how I felt at the time. I am still dorky. I watch cheesy television with TV dinners and, at one point, could not stop watching Jerry Springer.
I started acting when I was seven. I had a couple of lines in this play called "Sophistry" with Ethan Hawke. I studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute, and that really gave me an opportunity to perform before live audiences. There's absolutely a difference between that and working in film... like you can mess up in film and not worry about it.
[on the alleged nude photos of her which were stolen by hackers] Just because you're in the spotlight, or just because you're an actor or making films or whatever, doesn't mean that you're not entitled to your own personal privacy. I think no matter what the context, if that is besieged in some way, it feels unjust. It feels wrong.
[on her divorce in 2011] At first, I was quite depressed. After about a week or so, I pulled myself together and started to go to the gym all the time. Luckily, I've got a few very close girlfriends who have been by my side for 15 years now, whom I can talk to about everything and confide in. I have a close relationship with my twin brother Hunter as well. And then there's my grandmother Dorothy. She's an incredibly sweet, lovely and wise woman.
I don't have a Facebook or a Twitter account, and I don't know how I feel about this idea of, "Now, I'm eating dinner, and I want everyone to know that I'm having dinner at this time," or "I just mailed a letter and dropped off my kids." That, to me, is a very strange phenomenon. I can't think of anything I'd rather do less than have to continuously share details of my everyday life. I guess they [celebrities] use it in a way that works for them. But I'd rather that people had less access to my personal life. If I could keep it that way, I'd be a happy lady.
There's a lot of things that I want to pursue and hopefully, eventually will when all of this falls apart. I work with a lot of nongovernmental organizations. I don't know if I'd want to start my own, but I think I'd dedicate more of my time to that. It'd also be nice to have a vineyard somewhere, an organic farm or something like that. That's like a hippie-dippy wish - but a really good one.
One of the most exciting thing about The Avengers (2012), is that in my opening scene the first thing you see is my character getting punched in the face. Everybody is like "Damn, it's nice to see a girl get the shit kicked out of her.".
Unfortunately, my generation had a shitty time. Horrible bubblegum pop boy bands and rap metal. It just wasn't my scene. There was some good hip hop, though, like Fugees.
When I was 13, I loved Radiohead's "The Bends" and I loved Nine Inch Nails. When I graduated to a CD player, I'd listen to a lot of old Depeche Mode and New Order, actually. I'd start rummaging through what my older brother had and discover all this weird progressive new wave music that he had been listening to 10 years prior.
The first time I had a really private experience with an album was when I was 10 and somebody gave me an Abbey Road cassette tape as a Christmas stocking stuffer. I knew that goddamn tape backwards and forwards. I had one of those Walkmans that you didn't have to flip over. It had auto reverse and would just play over and over.
I wanted to be Frank Sinatra and sing like him. He's got a voice like gold bullion. His voice is like velvet cake. I loved all the Vegas stuff, but I liked the polka dot and moonbeams stuff best. Early Frank, when he was just "Frankie", a whisper of what he would someday be. I was a ham as a kid. I loved musical theater, so from a young age, I admired how show-stopping Sinatra was.
My parents' music became my music.
One of my favorite Waits (Tom Waits) songs is "Burma Shave". We tried to do that... and couldn't. I asked myself, "What is the essence of this song?" and I realized that I couldn't do it because it's Tom. Tom is the essence.
A song like "Who You Are" is such a personal thing for Tom Waits. I can't even pretend to imagine what it was born out of. I would never try to interpret somebody else's emotion. I can only read the lyrics and associate them with my own life experience. I had to sing them from my own gut. The same way you would take somebody's written dialogue and breathe your own life into it. I have the perspective that I have and I can only work through that.
I grew up in a household that was very politically conscious... it was just understood that it was important, that it was our responsibility.
My brother was totally geeked-out by Katie Couric. I think he followed her around the entire night. I was chasing after him, and I turned around, and I had a bunch of Republican senators chasing after me.
I think I understand my emotional state and my complexities now in a much clearer way, and I can put them to rest in a way that there's almost a catharsis that happens through the work, where I can do it and then find myself again.
[on being thought of as a sex symbol] Are you asking me if I feel objectified? I think that, sure, I've been a 'victim' of that, if you want to call it that, but only as much as anyone else. I don't feel particularly singled out more than any other person. All you have to do is go to a nightclub to see that happening every day. A man is not always trying to undress a woman's brain first.
[on varying the roles she accepts] It would be such a waste to just continue to do the same thing and not take a risk. I don't have anything to lose, really. Even if it doesn't work out, the gain if it does is so much greater. Taking those risks is something I feel more and more comfortable with.
I just didn't think that I would be able to stay in that kind of twisted frenzy that a lot of actors feel they need in order to work.
I was always terrible at commercials because my voice was so deep. At the age of 9, I sounded like a whiskey-drinking, chain-smoking fool.
With Her (2013), it was about finding the shape of things and building this character that's almost a babe - but just fresh out of the package in every way.
Jonathan Glazer is such a sensitive, engaged, funny person. But then you see the film and you're like "Jesus, is that what's in his mind all the time?".
I associate [ScarJo] with, like, pop stars. It sounds tacky. It's lazy and flippant... And there's something kind of violent about it. There's something insulting about it.
[on her role as Natasha Romanoff] Well you know, I don't think I have never really seen a film of this genre, where the female characters' sex appeal sort of came second. I mean of course they're sexy characters. When you have a sexy secretary, or a girl swinging around by her ankles in a catsuit, you know that's innately sexy, but the fact is that these characters are intelligent. They're ambitious. They're motivated and calculated to some degree.
I wouldn't say I'm a particular sci-fi fan. I mean, I guess I like some sci-fi movies, but I think it's sort of a trend that reflects the time that we're living in, the question of identity, [...] as we kind of advance in this digital age and how it affects our own identity.
[on backing out to portray Dante "Tex" Gill for the canceled Rub & Tug film] While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante's story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film. I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues.
Natasha Romanoff was born in the Soviet Union as Natalia Alianovna Romanova (Наталия Альяновна Романова). Although her exact parentage is unknown, it is rumored that she is related to the late Romanov dynasty—the former rulers of Russia—but those claims have so far been unproven. Orphaned as a child, she was rescued during an attack on Stalingrad by a man named Ivan Petrovitch Bezukhov, who looked after and trained the girl.
As she grew older, Natasha's talents caught the attention of Soviet Intelligence, soon to be known as the KGB, and was recruited into their ranks. During World War II, Natasha was kidnapped by the Hand, who sought to make her a brainwashed master assassin. Luckily, she was rescued by Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Logan (who would later become Wolverine). During the War, the young Natasha served in the Russian army where she fell in love with another young soldier named Nikolai. Despite their initial happiness, their union did not end blissfully. Nikolai was killed in the war and the baby girl they conceived did not survive birth.
Following World War II, Natasha progressed into the Black Widow Program, where young girls like her were conditioned to become sleeper agents. Trained at a facility called the Red Room, Natasha was also enhanced with the Soviets' version of the Super-Soldier serum, gifting her with peak human strength and stamina, as well as resistance to disease and slowed-down aging. Natasha has memories of studying to be a ballerina as a cover during this time. However, because her psyche was tampered with by the government, it is unclear if she actually was ever a ballerina, or these memories were implanted.
As her Black Widow training progressed, she encountered (and romanced) Captain America's former best friend and sidekick, James Buchanan Barnes, who had been brainwashed into the becoming the assassin known as the Winter Soldier. Their relationship didn't last long as she was set up to marry Alexei Shostakov, a renowned test pilot. Though they had a happy marriage, the KGB faked his death during an experimental rocket test in order to make him into the Red Guardian, the USSR's version of Captain America, a hero who would represent and defend the nation.
Natasha's grief over his death drove her further into the clutches and control of the Red Room Academy and she finally earned the title of Black Widow.
Although she initially worked against the Avengers and United States on the behest of her superiors, Natasha ended up defecting to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and later the Avengers to become a true Super Hero.
The Red Death
Her extensive training in the Red Room made Natasha into a warrior with few peers. She is skilled in many forms of martial arts including aikido, judo, karate, savate, and boxing. In addition, she is an amazing gymnast, and uses her acrobatics to gain an edge in combat.
Her fighting skills are augmented by a variant of the Super-Soldier serum, which she was given as part of the Black Widow program. Although this treatment doesn't give her superhuman strength like Captain America, Natasha operates at peak human condition. The serum also grants her an improved immune system and enhanced durability, which explains why she has barely aged over the years, retaining her youthful appearance.
Natasha Romanoff never comes unprepared and brings many gadgets to help her combat her enemies. Her black body suit is composed of a kevlar-like substance created for maximum protection. It is equipped with two bracelets on each wrist that fire the "widow's bite"—a high-frequency electrostatic bolt with a range of 20 feet that discharges up to 30,000 volts, able to stop even a superhuman opponent. These bracelets can also act as radio transmitters and contain tear gas cartridges that Natasha can deploy. The fingers and feet of her costume have microscopic suction cups that allow her to stick to any regular building surface. Her belt occasionally contains discs with the explosive power of four pounds of TNT.
Along with her extraordinary fighting abilities, Natasha has a few other talents that make her one of the best spies and assassins in the world. She is multilingual; in addition to speaking Russian and English, she also is fluent in French, German, Chinese, and more. An excellent markswoman and expert in weaponry, she uses automatic weapons and knives as needed to fulfill her missions. Her skills of infiltration and stealth, coupled with an ironclad will, make Black Widow a force to be reckoned with.
Crime and Punishment
Although Natasha Romanoff's initial enemies were Iron Man and the Avengers, she has since joined the side of good and faced off against a cadre of Super Villains.
These enemies are often linked to whichever team she is helping at the time. When she fights alongside Daredevil, she assists him in taking down his villains, like the Hand, Purple Man, or Mr. Fear. As a member of the Champions, Natasha's foes include Warlord Kaa, Swarm, Godzilla, MODOK, Doctor Doom, and the Vanisher's Sentinels, among others. She also assists Hercules with this team to fight his enemy Pluto, the Olympian God of Death.
As part of S.H.I.E.L.D. and one of Nick Fury's best agents, she takes on any enemy of the counter-terrorist organization, most often Hydra or A.I.M. Her long history of Avengers membership means that she has battled most of the enemies that have stood against the Super Hero team.
One of her more persistent foes is Damon Dran, AKA Indestructible Man, who captures Ivan Petrovich in order to lure Black Widow and defeat her and replace her with a fake that would kill Nick Fury. Natasha thwarts this plot and others, finally bringing Dran to S.H.I.E.L.D. to be imprisoned (where he is killed by a rogue agent).
Given her dark history, she also regularly combats adversaries from her past in the Red Room, who still seek to destroy her life. The personal nature of these enemies makes them all the more difficult to deal with for her, as Natasha deeply regrets her time working for the KGB and wants to eliminate her superiors and the havoc they have wreaked on the world.
Of all her Red Room opponents, the most noteworthy is Yelena Belova, a rival Black Widow who trained after Natasha. While they work together occasionally, and Natasha tries to help her find redemption, Belova is most often linked to criminal organizations like Hydra, so the two remain at odds. Belova's own considerable talents make her a worthy adversary and foil to Natasha.
Finally, while not a traditional villain by any measure, Black Widow is tormented by her guilt and is continually seeking to assuage it.
From Russia with Love
For a super spy who was trained and conditioned to have no emotional attachments, Natasha Romanoff has actually developed a considerable number of friends and allies, whom she works hard to support and defend and who care about her deeply as well.
Although their relationship began in conflict, Natasha has a close relationship with fellow Avenger Iron Man. She often assists him in battle, and Iron Man helps her when the Red Room activates a dormant persona and triggers a brainwashed state. They even enjoy a romantic interlude during a trip to Russia where they defeat her former student and partner Boris Bullski (Titanium Man), although their relationship progresses no further. Natasha also backs Iron Man during the first Super Hero Civil War and supports his efforts to legitimize the Superhuman Registration Act.
Another Avenger with whom Natasha maintains a warm friendship is Captain America. She values the heroism of Steve Rogers and respects his dedication to his moral compass. While they occasionally find themselves on opposite sides of conflict—like when she manipulated him on Fury's behalf or when they were on opposing sides during the super human Civil War—they always end up remaining close friends.
Natasha has had a few romantic relationships with her fellow heroes, which all play important roles in her development and mean very much to her. Some notable ex-lovers include Clint Barton (Hawkeye), Matt Murdock (Daredevil), Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier), and Alexei Shostakov.
Although her marriage with Shostakov is arranged by the KGB, it is a happy one, and Natasha is devastated by his apparent death. Their story is one of great tragedy; every time she discovers that Shostakov is alive, he is either almost immediately seemingly killed, a life-model decoy, or a villain. Still, she remembers their initial time together as a happy one.
While Hawkeye and Natasha have not been romantically linked in a long time, his influence was instrumental in helping her defect and join the Avengers, setting her on a path of redemption. For this reason, he will always be an incredibly important person in her life, and she values the heroic archer very much, though she often teases him when they work together. She considers him one of her best friends, and he feels the same way about her.
Daredevil is also a significant person in Natasha's life. The two work together on and off for years, and they can rely on each other always coming to the other's aid. Although they realize they can never be together, Natasha will always protect Daredevil (and whatever love of his is in trouble at the time), and he will similarly help her through difficult times in her life.
Bucky Barnes is one of the few figures who, while coming from the Red Room, Natasha trusts and cherishes. They first develop a romantic relationship when Barnes trains her as his Winter Soldier persona in the Red Room, though they are eventually split by their superiors. They reconnect and renew their romantic relationship later again when Barnes becomes the new Captain America, thanks to her support. She also appreciates him being one of the few people who understands the depth of the grief and shame that she feels over her past, as he has a very similar one.
Another small, but not unimportant, ally is the stray cat that takes a liking to Natasha and worms his way into her home and heart. Though she ironically names him Liho, meaning misfortune in Russian, she cares for her little furry friend.
HEIGHT
5'7''
WEIGHT
131 lbs.
GENDER
Female
EYES
Blue
HAIR
Red-auburn
· UNIVERSE
o Marvel Universe
· OTHER ALIASES
o Natalia "Natasha" Romanova, Nadine Roman, Nat, Tsarina, Oktober, Laura Matthers, Nancy Rushman, Black Pearl, Natalia Shostakova, Natuska, Czarina
· EDUCATION
o Unrevealed (formerly believe to be college graduate), intensive espionage training through Taras Romanov and The Red Room Academy
· PLACE OF ORIGIN
o Stalingrad, Former U.S.S.R
· IDENTITY
o Publicly known
· KNOWN RELATIVES
o Vindiktor (alleged brother, deceased), Alexi Shostakov (Red Guardian, estranged spouse)
· POWERS
o Slowed Aging
o Superhuman Durability
· GROUP AFFILIATION
o Avengers
o S.H.I.E.L.D.
o Secret Avengers
The Elusive Avenger
As a Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff completed many missions for the KGB. On her first one in the United States, she and operative Boris Turgenov were sent to assassinate a Russian scientist, Anton Vanko.
Vanko had defected to the United States with his Crimson Dynamo armor and began working with Tony Stark. In addition to eliminating Vanko, Romanoff and Turgenov were also tasked with taking back the Crimson Dynamo, killing Tony Stark, and sabotaging his plant. The mission went south, however, when Vanko sacrificed his life to defend his armor and Stark. He was killed, along with Turgenov.
Having failed in her mission, Natasha remained in the U.S. in order to right her wrongs. At first, she faked her own defection (unlike Vanko's legitimate switch) and romanced Tony Stark until she was able to steal his anti-gravity ray gun. However, Stark soon uncovered that she was the cause of the destruction against the U.S. and deactivated the device.
With her cover blown, the ever-resourceful Natasha partnered with Hawkeye, an outlaw at the time, manipulating him into working for her against Iron Man. After improving Hawkeye's archery arsenal by adding high-tech arrows, the two attacked Iron Man. During the course of the battle, Stark deflected an explosive arrow to defend himself, but it ended up injuring Natasha. Hawkeye—in love with the Russian spy—rushed to help her, allowing Stark to get away.
She continued to try to get him to help on her missions, but it was Hawkeye who ended up influencing Natasha. Though misguided at the time due to her manipulation and his love for her, Hawkeye was still a hero at heart, and his idealism and strong moral compass helped Natasha find her own. Despite a lifetime of conditioning, Natasha chose to pursue her own destiny and defected.
The KGB was not eager to let their operative go and first extorted and then brainwashed her into submission, forcing her to fight the Avengers (which Hawkeye had joined in the meantime). Still, iron-willed as ever, Natasha fought past these violations and truly severed ties with her past.
She began to work for Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. and assisted the Avengers on missions against Super Villains like the Sons of the Serpent, the Ultroids, and more. During one such assignment, she and Hawkeye were captured by General Yuri Brushov, and Natasha discovered that her husband, Alexei Shostakov was alive and had become the Red Guardian. Like his wife, Alexei also had little love for his superiors and wanted to support the Avengers—so much, that he seemingly sacrificed himself to protect the Super Hero team.
Once again, Natasha had no idea that Shostakov had actually survived, and, devastated, she left the Avengers before they offered her full membership. During this trying time, Natasha considered accepting Hawkeye's proposal of marriage, as she cared for him deeply, and also mourned when she briefly believed him to be dead.
However, when her old mentor Ivan Petrovitch resurfaced in the U.S. to serve as her friend and confidant, Natasha's spirits lifted and she broke ties with Hawkeye to pursue a solo vigilante career, fighting the Astrologer, Watchlord, and others.
It was then that Natasha encountered someone who would become very important to her—Matt Murdock. She saved Daredevil from the Owl, although neither knew at the time that this had been a manipulation by the evil android, Mr. Kline. As part of a grand scheme to affect the future, Kline framed Natasha for murder in order to have Matt Murdock defend her in court. The stressful nature of the trial pushed her to become romantically intertwined with Murdock, all according to the android's plans. Although Kline died before he could finish his plans, Daredevil and Black Widow became a crime-fighting duo. At one point, the couple moved to California in order to continue their quest against evil, only returning to New York to stand against Magneto after an encounter with a resentful Hawkeye. Natasha once again left the Avengers after her stint in New York, feeling unsure about her place on a team, and resumed crime-fighting in California with Daredevil.
She ended their relationship soon after, as Natasha felt that Murdock did not see her as an equal, although she decided to stay in California. Despite her reservations about team membership, she joined the Los Angeles-based Champions, whose roster included Angel (Warren Worthington III), Iceman (Bobby Drake), the vigilante Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze), and the Avenger Hercules, with whom Natasha developed a romantic relationship. As a master tactician, Natasha became the team leader with unanimous backing from her fellow heroes. The group helped her defeat several Russian villains seeking vengeance and worked together to conquer a cadre of Super Villains. It ultimately dissolved, however, due conflicts between the various members' personalities and priorities.
Natasha returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers, assisting both as she could. One such mission included helping the Avengers battle Korvac—a cosmically-powered being seeking to overthrow the universe and become its benevolent ruler. During this fight, Natasha realized how insignificant mortal relationships must seem to beings who live eternally, including Hercules, effectively ending their romantic relationship. Natasha then helped the Avengers rescue Daredevil when he was mind-controlled by the criminal Death-Stalker (Philip Sterling).
Luck turned for the super-spy when new Avengers leadership forced a roster change, excluding her, and she was captured by the Viper. While she escaped, she retreated into a pre-programmed S.H.I.E.L.D. persona—schoolteacher Nancy Rushman. When her true mind was restored, she helped Spider-Man and other heroes rescue a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier from Viper.
After this, Natasha's path once again crossed with Daredevil's. First, she helped him defeat Bullseye after her abduction by the cruel assassin. Then, she was fatally poisoned by Daredevil's enemy, the Hand, an evil ninja order. She was immediately resurrected by Stone, a member of the Chaste (a group of warriors opposed to the Hand). She joined Daredevil and Stone in trying and failing to prevent the revival of Elektra Natchios—a vicious assassin who was both Murdock's great love and enemy.
Her Super Hero duties also often forced Natasha to face her past demons. She was manipulated by Russian dissidents using a life-model decoy of Alexei Shostakov. After rejoining the Avengers and becoming deputy leader, she battled Starlight, another former Russian operative who had become the Red Guardian after Shostakov. She had to contend with being overtaken by a long-dormant persona "Oktober," part of her conditioning in the Red Room Academy. Thanks to Iron Man, Natasha broke free of the brainwashing.
After an internal dispute over the Kree-Shi'ar War, Captain America left his active position at the Avengers. Black Widow became the team leader, a role she took very seriously. Natasha always cared deeply about the well-being of those close to her, making the apparent death of Daredevil and then the likely death of her mentor Ivan Petrovich at the hands of Red Skull very difficult on her. Adding her teammates only made things harder. When Iron Man faked his death, then Captain America and Nick Fury seemingly perished, Natasha mourned deeply. And when most of the active Avengers roster was wiped out fighting Onslaught, she blamed herself and suffered from survivor's guilt. She unsuccessfully tried to rebuild the team by seeking out new recruits, like her old teammates Angel and Iceman, but was forced to shut down the team after numerous rejections.
Driven by self-reproach, Natasha worked almost obsessively to bring in all of the Avengers' previous foes. It was Daredevil, fearing for her condition, who helped her work through her guilt. This was, of course, easier to do once the Avengers resurfaced alive.
She did not rejoin as a full-time member, however, and assisted Nick Fury in a counter-terrorist mission in Latveria. Unfortunately, this operation forced her to manipulate Wolverine, Captain America, Daredevil, and others on Fury's behalf. She attempted to atone for her role in this by renewing her ties with Iron Man and helping him fight some Super Villains of his own.
Her next reunion with Daredevil was more difficult than the last, as he had been drugged by Mysterio (Quentin Beck) into believing that an innocent baby was the Anti-Christ. Although she helped Daredevil overcome his delusions, Bullseye was able to kill the baby and Karen Page, Murdock's lover. Though the grief-stricken Murdock reconciled with Natasha, they both understood they could never be together.
Natasha was once again forced to confront her past with the appearance of Yelena Belova, her Black Widow successor, who was eager to prove herself as the superior one. Horrified at the thought that another woman would go through what she did, Natasha had their faces surgically swapped so that Yelena could see that she was being manipulated and considered expendable. Despite her good intentions, however, Yelena felt violated by what had been done. Later, Yelena would demonstrate how different she was from Natasha by agreeing to be transformed into the new Super-Adaptoid by A.I.M. and Hydra.
Soon after, a mad Scarlet Witch turned on the Avengers and unleashed simulacrums of their greatest enemies, leading Hawkeye to sacrifice his life to defend them against the forces of the alien Kree. The group disbanded and a weary Natasha retired to Arizona.
Unfortunately, Natasha didn't get to live in peace as she was targeted by a corporation called Gynacon, who was hunting down ex-Black Widow agents and killing them. They had recently purchased biotechnology from the Red Room and wanted to make sure nobody else was using it. During her investigation, to her horror, Natasha also discovered just how much she had been manipulated. She killed the CEO of Gynacon, Ian McMasters, making her a wanted criminal.
Always looking to make up for her past, Natasha then sided with Iron Man during the Super Hero Civil War. This was despite the fact that many of her friends and allies, notably Captain America, opposed the Superhuman Registration Act. After Steve Rogers was killed during the conflict, Natasha convinced Bucky Barnes, with whom she'd rekindled her romance, to take his best friend's mantle and become Captain America.
Continuing her spy work for Nick Fury, Natasha posed as Yelena Belova in order to infiltrate a group called Thunderbolts, led by the corrupt tycoon Norman Osborn. Despite Osborn discovering her identity and manipulating her to his own ends by impersonating Fury, she evaded capture and death. She then helped ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill and others restore Tony Stark's consciousness after he wiped his mind to guard knowledge from Osborn.
When Steve Rogers returned alive, Natasha joined his new team, the Secret Avengers, while working to clear her name after she had been framed in a plot targeting spies. Teaming up with Hawkeye and Mockingbird for the investigation, she discovered that the true conspirator behind it all was her presumed-dead ex-husband, Alexei Shostakov. Despite their history, Natasha defeated him in order to stop his evil plans.
Natasha continued to work hard to atone while working for the Avengers, taking paid jobs outside of the team's missions in order to put money into trusts for families who had been affected by her past misdeeds.
When a sentient Cosmic Cube named Kobik created a Captain America loyal to Hydra (thanks to the manipulation of Red Skull), Black Widow joined the fight against her former friend, determined to not let the world fall to Hydra domination. Though others in the resistance were reluctant to kill Captain America, Natasha felt this was the only way to truly stop him and worked on her own to defeat him. She also intended to kill the fascist Cap herself to spare Spider-Man from having to do so—as it was predicted by Ulysses Cain, the Inhuman psychic, that he would.
However, her good intentions led to disastrous results. As she intervened to protect Morales, the villainous version of Captain America struck her with his shield, breaking her neck.
The Black Widow could never die so easily, though, as her friends Hawkeye and the Winter Soldier discovered. After they teamed up to investigate assassinations seemingly linked to her, they uncovered a clone of Natasha, who had been created by the Red Room in case their agents had ever fallen. This clone, true to Natasha's nature, rebelled against her superiors and worked to bring down the Red Room.
While it's unclear what adventures Natasha Romanoff will embark on next, one thing is certain—the strong-willed Super Hero will use her many talents and skills to bring down her enemies and protect the innocent, working hard to achieve redemption by her own standards.
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