STACK May 2016 Issue 139

14 / 101

THE SECRET LIFE
OF SCARLETT
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Captain America: CivilWar
C aptain America: Civil War features
the return of Marvel favourites Steve
Rogers, Tony Stark, and Scarlett
Johansson’s catsuit-clad Black Widow. Just
like her Russian spy alter ego, Johansson
conducts her private life with stealth-like
secrecy, and since she married her French
beau Romain Dauriac and became a mother
to 18-month-old daughter Rose, she has
become even more elusive. But Civil War
sees her back in the spotlight in what
promises to be the darkest instalment yet in
the Marvel universe.
“The process of making this film is
different than even making The Avengers.
The Russos have a different way of working
than any other director,” explains the 31-year-
old, referring to Anthony and Joe Russo, who
also directed Captain America: Winter Soldier
in 2014. “With this film, I think we have the
added challenge of looking towards whatever
the next steps are for these characters.”
Civil War is set one year after the events
of Avengers: Age of Ultron and features
the squad in another international
incident that results in collateral
damage, prompting politicians to
form a system of accountability
and a governing body to control
the team. This results in the
fracturing of the Avengers into
two opposing factions; one
led by Tony Stark and
another that includes
Captain America.
For Johansson’s
character in particular,
this division causes
problems, as her head
is with Stark but her
heart remains with
her old friend the
Cap. The benefit
of the returning
directors, she
says, is that they
visit CINEMA INTERVIEW
14 MAY 2016
CINEMA
Reprising her role as BlackWidow in Captain America: Civil War, Scarlett Johansson
reveals the secrets to being as fit as an Avenger and which of her character’s
unusual talents she’d most like to possess.
The process of making
this film is different
than even making
The Avengers
have a particular soft spot
for the relationship between
Captain America and Black
Widow, allowing it to blossom
throughout the franchise.
Aside from the emotional
demands of the role, filming
was also extremely physical,
with its rollercoaster of
stunts, fights, and hand-
to-hand combat. But
Johansson, having starred
in so many action films, wasn’t daunted by
the prospect, saying she tries to maintain
a certain level of fitness and is used to the
rigorous training regimes. She has also
worked extensively with her stunt double,
Heidi Moneymaker, over the years and says
the gymnast-turned-stuntwoman acts as a
workout buddy and mentor.
“I try everything and Heidi will tell me I’m
doing a double back bend and I won’t be
able to do that,” admits the star, “I’m pretty
physically active in my life so I know where
my limitations are. Sometimes I try things
and it just doesn’t work.”
Whilst it’s sometimes hard to believe
Johansson is a mere mortal, you have
to wonder if playing a superhero ever
makes her wish she possessed any of her
character’s super powers.
“Just her ability to kill with her thighs,
that’s about it!” she laughs.
• Captain
America:
Civil War
is in cinemas
now.