A Golden Scarlett Earring

At the tender age of 19 Scarlett Johansson shines in Peter Webber's Pearl masterpiece

There's little question that Scarlett Johansson is the "it" girl of the moment. Reeling from the stellar reviews she received for her work as Charlotte in Sofia Coppola's independent feature Lost in Translation, the 19-year-old actress is the talk of Tinsel Town.
After making her theatre debut at the age of eight in an off-Broadway play with Ethan Hawke, she garnered international attention in Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer when she was just 13. Over the past four years the teenager was seen in the Coen Brothers' The Man Who Wasn't There with Billy Bob Thornton; starred in the cult classic Ghost World alongside Thora Birch; and recently wrapped The Perfect Score opposite John Travolta.
But this week she is starring in Girl With a Pearl Earring, Peter Webber's directorial debut based on the novel by Tracy Chevalier. The story centres on Griet (Johansson), a 16-year-old girl who appears in Johannes Vermeer's painting which carries the movie's title. Set in 17th century Holland, Griet is employed by Vermeer (Colin Firth) as a housekeeper to care for his six children, his jealous pregnant wife (Essie Davis) and his uncommunicative mother-in-law (Judy Parfitt). Tensions arise when Vermeer's wife suspects intimacy between her husband and the girl, and climax when she discovers that Griet borrowed her inestimable pearl earrings to sit for the now famous portrait.
Johansson made Golden Globe history last week by being nominated as best actress for both Lost in Translation and Girl With a Pearl Earring.
Tandem talked to Scarlett Johansson when she was in Toronto.

This was one of the most coveted roles in Hollywood for young actresses. How did you land it?
"I went in for a reading and didn't have the part yet. The minute I read the script, I wanted the part. Peter [Webber] came to Vancouver where I was filming The Perfect Score and pretty much begged me to do the role. He says that he came crawling across a floor of gravel with weights on his feet and asked me to do the part."

My understanding is you began filming Girl With a Pearl Earring in Luxembourg only two weeks after you finished shooting Lost in Translation in Tokyo. You must've been exhausted.
"I was. I was so emotionally vulnerable that I figured that I would stay that way, which I did for another couple of months. It hasn't always been this crazy, but there has been very little time in my life where I haven't been promoting or filming something."

Do you regret having done these two films back to back?
"No, no. I really need a vacation, but it has been so wonderful to feel recognized when you put your hard work into something. And I have two films out this year that I am really proud of and that I really worked hard on. So, I'm just trying to keep my head on straight."

You are the hottest thing in Hollywood these days. How do you keep grounded?
"My family, my friends. I've been in work mode and I suppose that prevents me for going into Hollywood starlet mode."

You performance in Girl With a Pearl Earring is a quiet but powerful one. Was it difficult keeping the tone low?
"Less is more, that's my mantra. I'd rather not be over the top. Some actors like to do a lot of screaming! Then they whisper... and then they scream again! And it's like, all right, you're getting the point across, but it's really tacky. I guess I don't want to be a big dork. I'd much rather not fumble with cheesy bad dialogue. What could fill the void of silence in Girl With a Pearl Earring? 'Vermeer, your hair is so long!' You know? I just don't know what you would say."

Your interest in the film goes beyond your role. Directors have said you want to know the technical details of the movies you do.
"Yeah. On Girl With a Pearl Earring I was there every day, in every scene. I got there before the crew and I left after them at night. I knew every detail of what was happening in that film. I guess because I want to be a director, I'm always asking things like, 'What are you doing with that light?' "

What kind of films would you like to direct?
"I appreciate all different kinds of movies, whether it's Being John Malkovich or Oklahoma!. I was thinking of making a combination of the two, actually. No, I think I will write stuff. I've got a lot of different stories floating around in my head; I just need time, some months with nothing going on. But it'll be soon."

Your husky voice has earned comparisons to Lauren Bacall. Does this bother you?
"It's just the way it is. I mean, what do you do? It's your voice. Somebody said today, what does it make you feel like when people say you have this sexy voice? Well, it's nice that people think a part of you is sexy or interesting or different - that's flattering - but I really didn't do anything. My parents' DNA just made it."

One can never accuse you of choosing mindless roles. What do you look for in a script?
"Obviously you're trying to better your career, so there are lots of factors. The director, the actors, the script. But you're going to be sacrificing so much time to make a movie, time you could otherwise spend watching Rikki Lake and eating doughnuts, so the most important thing is, is it going to be a nice, fun experience? I know that sounds kind of simple, but it's true."

Girl With a Pearl Earring is currently playing in local cinemas.

Publication Date: 2004-01-18
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3543