Scarlett Johansson has revealed the influence that pushed her toward directing, saying her experience with Robert Redford nearly three decades ago left a lasting mark on her career. The 40-year-old actress, best known for her role as Black Widow in the Marvel franchise, reflected on her time working with Redford during the 1998 drama The Horse Whisperer.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johansson said the 89-year-old filmmaker inspired her to take an interest in life behind the camera. “I remember watching Bob choreograph a really complicated scene in the riding arena. He was blocking it out and deciding where the camera was going to be placed … watching him do that and then having this intimate conversation with me as an actor,” Johansson recalled.
That moment, she said, stayed with her. “I felt like it was a very interesting job, and there was a lot to do. I like that. I like being busy on set.” Redford, who directed Ordinary People and won an Academy Award for the film, was already an established figure in Hollywood when he cast Johansson at just 13 years old. Their collaboration became a formative experience, helping shape her interest not just in acting but also in storytelling from a director’s point of view.
Johansson, that early influence finally came full circle with her directorial debut. She recently stepped behind the camera for Eleanor the Great, a project starring veteran actress June Squibb. The film marks a new chapter for Johansson, who has spent more than 25 years in front of the camera and is now exploring what it means to lead a production from the other side.
Johansson described directing as both challenging and fulfilling, saying the experience allowed her to engage with every detail of the filmmaking process. The actress admitted that she enjoyed the opportunity to stay immersed on set, something she first admired while watching Redford work.
Her debut comes as she continues to balance her acting career with new creative opportunities. Beyond blockbuster roles, Johansson has long pursued a range of projects in independent film and theater, and now she is eager to establish herself as a director in her own right.
While Johansson remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, her focus on directing signals an evolution in her career. Eleanor the Great hopes to showcase the same blend of artistry and discipline that she once admired in Redford. For Johansson, the lessons learned as a teenager on The Horse Whisperer are now guiding her as she takes on the challenge of storytelling from behind the camera.