Scarlett Johansson says she was ‘hypersexualised’ as a teenager in Hollywood

Actor spoke in a round-table with a number of other high-profile actors, including Lupita Nyong'o and Jennifer Lopez, about her experience in the film industry

Scarlett Johansson has said she believes she was “hypersexualised” as a teenager in Hollywood.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the Avengers star spoke about how an image of her was created “by a bunch of dudes” that fuelled the narrative of her as an on-screen siren.

During a round-table, which also included Jennifer Lopez, Lupita Nyong’o, Laura Dern, Akwafina and Renee Zellweger, explained that she eventually became “frustrated” with being typecast as the seductive woman through her twenties.

“When I was working in my early twenties, and even my late teens, I felt that I got somehow typecast as hypersexualised, which I guess at the time seemed OK to everyone,” she said.

“It was another time – even though it wasn’t part of my own narrative, it was kind of crafted for me by probably a bunch of dudes in the industry.”

She added: “The climate is so different now, there are so many wonderful opportunities for women of every age to play all different types of people.”

Nyong’o contributed her own thoughts to roles in Hollywood, making a point about how she was keen for representation to not be “a fad”.

“I’m very grateful to have come into the industry at the time that I have because I am benefiting from the efforts of a lot of other women who have come before me, other black women who have had it a lot rougher than I have,” she said.

“This is a time where there is a concerted effort to consider diversity and inclusion. What I really want is it to not be a fad, not be a trend. Right now, it’s really dope and cool and on-trend to work with women and underrepresented groups, but the moment of maturity in the industry is when it’s just the norm.”

Johansson’s most recent project is a starring role opposite Adam Driver in Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story – read our review here.