Scarlett Johansson, celebrated for her remarkable versatility and skill as an actress, captivates audiences with her memorable performances across diverse film genres. Her talent, undeniable beauty, and undeniable charisma have solidified her status as one of the most iconic and sought-after stars in the Hollywood landscape. However, her beauty can sometimes work against her in landing roles.

In the past, Scarlett Johansson was considered as a potential candidate for the role of David Fincher’s adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Despite delivering an above-average performance during the screening, Fincher ultimately decided against casting her, citing Johansson’s attractiveness as the reason behind his decision.

Scarlett Johansson Auditioned For David Fincher’s Film

While Scarlett Johansson auditioned for the part, Fincher chose Rooney Mara to portray the role of hacker Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Mara expressed her unwavering determination to secure the part, having been under consideration for the film for an extended period of time.

Scarlett Johansson

Prior to selecting Mara, Fincher faced an arduous and extensive casting process, encountering numerous highly skilled contenders. Among them was Scarlett Johansson, whose audition left a strong impression on Fincher. However, it appears that Johansson’s appearance ultimately played a role in her not securing the part.

“We flew in people from New Zealand and Swaziland and all over the place,” he said. “Look, we saw some amazing people. Scarlett Johansson was great. It was a great audition, I’m telling you. But the thing with Scarlett is, you can’t wait for her to take her clothes off.”

According to Fincher, he likened Salander to E.T., illustrating his point by mentioning that if E.T. dolls were introduced prior to the movie’s release, people would question the peculiar appearance of the little creature. However, Fincher emphasized that once E.T. hides under the table and eagerly seizes the Reese’s Pieces, a deep affection for the character is formed.

Scarlett Johansson’s Beauty Came In The Way Of Her Roles

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo might not have been the sole film that Johansson was rejected from due to her appearance. Johansson openly shared her experiences of being deemed “too pretty” for certain roles, a recurring theme during her auditions. While she comprehended the perspective of the directors, she felt she wasn’t being afforded the opportunity to fully immerse herself in her characters and truly vanish into their identities.

Scarlett Johansson

“That’s always an unfortunate thing to figure out, ‘Why can’t you see?!’ For me, I would imagine when casting someone, you would want to challenge yourself in some way. It is so interesting to see actors transform. There are certainly plenty of times when I am definitely not sexy,” she once said, as per Daily Mail.

Ironically, Johansson did not perceive herself as a “sexy” actor and pointed out that she had not actually portrayed those types of roles throughout her career.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Instant Video.

Source: Cheatsheet