Actress Scarlett Johansson has been a part of the MCU for over 10 years now. With her “classified” Marvel projects underway, the actress has some big plans for her future in the franchise. The actress first appeared as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in 2010’s Iron Man 2. As of now, the actress has made it clear that her time as Black Widow has officially ended.

For Johannson, the toughest part about playing that character was the intense workout sessions. Before Iron Man 2, the actress was unfamiliar with a gym. Since 2009, the actress has been training with trainer Eric Johnson. In 2019, the trainer talked about Johansson’s progress over the years.

Scarlett Johansson’s trainer talked about her first rope climb

Scarlett JohanssonScarlett Johansson
In 2009, actress Scarlett Johansson hired fitness trainer Eric Johnson to prepare her for the role of Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in 2010’s Iron Man 2. This was Johansson’s first time stepping into a gym. In a 2019 interview, Eric Johnson talked about Johansson’s first rope climb,
“On the way up, she kneed me in the face and gave me a nice bloody nose. She was celebrating and I’m fighting back tears, gushing blood. She’s dangerous even when she’s not in the Black Widow costume!”
Eric Johnson is the co-founder of Homage, a New York-based fitness company. He has also trained Ryan Gosling and Sebastian Stan.

 

How did Scarlett Johansson prepare for her Marvel debut?

Scarlett JohanssonScarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff
The training was light at first, but as Johansson continued to make her appearances in the MCU, her training included a 245-pound deadlift, pull-ups, single-leg pistol squats, and push-ups with a 45-pound plate on the actress’ back.

Johnson summarised their main goal by stating that they were “trying to create this crazy comic book hero in real life with somebody who’s normal.” The intense training eventually paid off as Johansson’s physique was remarkable.

 

Scarlett Johansson struggled with cardio

Scarlett JohanssonScarlett Johansson
Johansson, who is a proud mom of two, often struggles with cardio. The actress once claimed that “balance is a myth” and it’s “hard to fit everything in when you try to balance motherhood, training, and work.” Despite struggling with some exercises, her trainer revealed that she has no “pain face,”
“Many people make an ugly face when they train. Scarlett doesn’t really have a pain face,” adding, “We’re always pushing her ceiling so anything below that is attainable and easier.”
The diet also plays a key role in maintaining a proper physique. The actress explained that she reduced carbs in her diet before filming so she can look more muscular. Apart from that, Johansson also religiously trains her core.

 

Source: The Hollywood Reporter