Something confining about being sexy: Scarlett Johansson

Actor Scarlett Johansson, who portrays the mighty superheroine Black Widow in Marvel Cinematic Universe films, says that at one point, the film industry had labelled her as a “bombshell”. But she feels there’s something “confining” about being perceived as “sexy”.

“I think for such a long time, I felt kind of pigeonholed as this ingenue -- this kind of girl who is floating between two worlds. Maybe that was just a literal reflection of my life at that time,” Johansson told variety.com.

“I’m a very curious person. I’m a really curious actor. The Marvel universe has opened up so many opportunities for me to stretch myself in ways that I never thought would be possible,” she added.

Further talking about it, Johansson explained: “I think perhaps people at some point in the industry would have had a certain idea of my physical capability -- sort of like a trap. 

“And there was this label put on me as this bombshell. I think while it’s been flattering to be someone who is sexy, there’s something very confining about that. It implies that your strength comes from your sexuality.” 

Johansson is considered as one of Hollywood’s modern sex symbols, and has frequently appeared in published lists of the sexiest women in the world, including when she was named the “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire magazine in both 2006 and 2013.