March Release: In the (new) March issue of W magazine
Actors Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman talk about monogamy, Johansson's Promiscuity, and Barack vs. Hillary
(February 12, 2008, New York, NY) Scarlett Johansson tells W magazine what it is like being labeled as someone who is promiscuous: “I’ve been battered for saying that I don’t believe humans are monogamous by nature. The response was, like, ‘What a ho-bag!’ I didn’t mean that I don’t practice monogamy in my own life—of course I do! I’m not going to be in some tarty relationship. But I stick by what I said. I remember another time, I said I get tested for AIDS twice a year, and again that got spun as me being promiscuous. But I was single at the time, and I think it’s important to do that!”
Following are other comments from Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman’s interview found in the March issue of W. The complete article can also be read at www.Wmagazine.com.
SCARLET JOHANSSON
ON HATING GOSSIP MAGAZINES…“You’re never going to find me at the Ivy. I don’t care how good the Cobb salad is. These tabloid magazines—I think they’re hideous and the downfall of society.”
ON SUPPORTING BARACK OBAMA…“I will continue stumping for Obama until he’s elected. The past eight years have been painful for a lot of people. We’re in a state of emergency.”
ON HER RECENT SCUFFLE WITH US WEEKLY OVER ALLEGATIONS THAT SHE HAD A NOSE JOB…“It was as ridiculous as if they’d showed side-by-side pictures of me at 11 and 20 and saying, ‘Look, she grew breasts!'”
ON WHY SHE CHOSE TO ACCEPT THE ROLE IN THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL…“Natalie was already attached when I read the script. And I was desperate to work with her. She was the most attractive aspect of the project to me from the beginning.”
ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE NOT BEING LEGAL…“It’s so archaic. It’s just, like, bizarre to me. I feel like in 10 or 15 years’ time our children are going to look back and say, ‘What? You were around when gay people weren’t allowed to get married?'”
ON HELPING PORTMAN WITH HER FEAR OF CONFRONTATION WHILE FILMING THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL…“Natalie would be uncomfortable in her costume and not say anything. She’d tell me, ‘My rib is killing me.’ I’d be like, ‘Natalie, why don’t you say something?’ I’d have to be like, ‘Hellooo, someone, Natalie’s rib is hurting! Can you fix her zipper?'”
ON PORTMAN BEING A VEGAN…“Don’t you miss quesadillas? I mean, I could not eat meat, but the cheese, the cheese! I would miss tuna too. And yogurt…'”
NATALIE PORTMAN
ON MONOGAMY…“I’m into monogamy. But I’m not really into marriage right now. I sort of hate the legal aspect of it. What does the state have to do with it? Why are they making rules that say my lover can stay in the United States if they’re foreign or share my health care benefits because I’m straight—but if you’re gay, you can’t have that?”
ON IMPRESSED BY HILLARY CLINTON WHEN SHE MET HER BEFORE THE SENATE…“I met with about 10 representatives that day and Hillary was by far the sharpest. Did you read Gloria Steinem’s op-ed piece? Hillary’s just so experienced..”
ON BEING STEREOTYPED A “GOOD GIRL” WHEREAS JOHANSSON SAYS SHE IS STEREOTYPED A “HARLOT”…“I get branded a lot as a good girl. I’m, like, the prude, and you’re more sexy…”
ON HER PUBLIC PROFILE…“The only thing that’s a little bit annoying, is I feel that I come off kind of boring sometimes.'”
ON JOHANSSON GETTING TESTED FOR AIDS TWICE A YEAR…“That’s totally responsible. A great role-model thing to talk about.”
ON WANTING TO AVOID CONFRONTATION AS AN ACTOR…“…my avoidance is a bit much. As an actor, you have to respect your position and know that you are fulfilling someone else’s vision. Mike Nichols always quotes Mamet’s line: ‘Film is a collaborative business: bend over.'”
Please credit the March issue of W for the above. For additional information or to schedule an interview with a W editor, please contact Engelman & Co. at 212.645.9222. Thank you.
