Scarlett Johansson says ‘any actor should be able to play anybody’, and social media lights up again
- Actress who was contentiously cast in the lead role of Japanese anime adaptation Ghost In The Shell causes fresh controversy with her views on on-screen representation
- ‘Art should be free of restrictions’, she is quoted as saying, but a transgender critic says on social media ‘trans people should play trans people. Period’
As the battle over on-screen representation in the movies continues to rage, actress Scarlett Johansson once again stepped into the crossfire.
In an interview with As If magazine, the actress made the bold and – particularly in left-leaning Hollywood – unpopular statement that she feels political correctness is antithetical to art.
“You know, as an actor I should be allowed to play any person, or any tree, or any animal because that is my job and the requirements of my job,” Johansson said. “I feel like it’s a trend in my business and it needs to happen for various social reasons, yet there are times it does get uncomfortable when it affects the art because I feel art should be free of restrictions.”
“I think society would be more connected if we just allowed others to have their own feelings and not expect everyone to feel the way we do,” she added.
Backlash on social media was swift.