Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson met while casting for the film Match Point in 2004.
During their first meeting, Scarlett Johansson charmed Woody with her sparkling beauty and acting abilities. Both the actress and the director later remarked on the similarity of their interests and approaches to life.
After Match Point, for which Scarlett Johansson received an Oscar nomination, Woody Allen wrote two more roles for the actress in his next films – Scoop and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Scarlett Johansson
Their friendship is still sustained by profound mutual regard and appreciation, which they openly express in interviews and personal communications.
However, the actress admitted that her first film with Woody Allen was difficult for her.
The film includes an erotic scene that was shot in the rain between Johansson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ characters. In addition, the actor bit Scarlett’s lip too hard.
“I’d have to say the only nice thing about it was Jonathan’s warm and sweet embrace. First of all, I was in this very conveniently thin shirt, and it was pouring rain, and it’s that kind of movie rain where it pelts you with this freezing cold water. And I have a slight weed allergy, and it was just miserable. […] He really bit my lip actually,” the actress said in her interview with Movieweb.
Jonathan’s erroneous actions left a visible bruise on her face. The actress did, however, confess that the actor was eager to make amends by giving her flowers, which she certainly deserved.
Scarlett Johansson was one of the few celebrities who defended Allen following one of the high-profile incidents when the director’s adopted daughter accused him of sexual harassment.
Many actors had publicly declared their refusal to work with Woody Allen, making him a Hollywood pariah.
Scarlett Johansson’s co-star Rebecca Hall, who also appeared in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, was among them.
The actress stated that she regretted filming the film and intended to give her whole compensation to the Time’s Up fund for sexual abuse victims.
In response to the claims, Woody Allen stated that he was absolutely innocent. HBO produced a documentary called Allen vs. Farrow in 2021 based on the scandal.
