The only actor who terrified Scarlett Johansson

(Credits: YouTube still)

Mon 6 Jan 2025 6:15 PM, UK

Scarlett Johansson has made some bold creative choices over the years, with exciting performances in films like Under the skin, marriage story and Lost in translationto name just a few.

In addition to her starring roles in the Marvel universe, the actress has built a distinctive career that combines commercial success with independent projects, seamlessly combining genres in a body of work that includes superhero blockbusters, romantic dramas and psychological horrors. However, a career highlight came in 2012, when he worked with Anthony Hopkins on a lesser-known film, which he described as one of the most terrifying on-screen experiences of his life.

hitchcockdirected by Sacha Gervasi, follows the life of the great director Alfred Hitchcock after the release of North by northwest and the creation of Psychopathwhich charts the tense production of the film and his relationship with his wife, Alma Reville.

Johansson plays Janet Leigh in the picture, recreating the iconic shower scene that has established P.sicho as one of the scariest movies of all time. However, perhaps even scarier for Johansson was acting alongside Anthony Hopkins, who plays Hitchcock in the film and was the one who stabbed her during the title scene.

Describing the shoot, he said: “You have to be brave, get in the shower and face Anthony Hopkins while Hitchcock hits you in the face with a 12-inch kitchen knife. As much as Anthony Hopkins is a pussycat, he’s terrifying. maybe i saw The silence of the lambs too many times as a child. Maybe he was having some flashbacks. So I didn’t need much preparation for the scene.”

Hopkins made a name for himself as one of the greatest villains of all time after his performance in The silence of the lambsplaying the sinister and brooding Hannibal Lecter, who became known for eating his victims. Acting in such a high-stakes scene with an actor like Hopkins, known for his ability to transform into such dangerous characters, proved to be a challenge. A rather intimidating experience for Johansson.

Despite the film’s iconic status, it initially divided audiences with its subject matter, following the twisted relationship between Norman Bates and his mother. But despite this, the film was beloved by audiences, with strong box office participation and multiple Academy Award nominations. Janet Leigh is now considered one of the quintessential scream queens, which is even more fitting given that her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, became the scream queen of her generation after starring in John Carpenter’s film. Hallowe’en.

While the task of reprising such an iconic role would make many actors uneasy, Johansson took on the character with ease, with a deft ability to adapt to the challenges of any shoot after starting out in the industry as a child. Since then, she has expanded her dramatic ability working with directors such as Jonathan Glazer, Noah Baumbach and Spike Jonze, displaying an unwavering commitment to challenging herself and branching out into worlds of stories less traveled and unknown to her, which perhaps makes her the perfect actress to return to Hitchcock’s world.