Before she became the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a muse for prestige directors, and one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, Scarlett Johansson’s journey was a decade-long study in precocious talent and evolving style. Her career began in the mid-1990s, where she progressed rapidly from bit parts to critically praised roles by the age of 17. The photos from this era—from the acid-yellow dresses and baby barrettes of the 90s to the rebellious nose-ring and sophisticated glamour of the early 2000s—chronicle a transition not just from girlhood to womanhood, but from promising child actor to global icon. Her unique early presentation, often marked by a confident, close-lipped smirk on the red carpet, hinted at the serious, world-weary talent that would soon define her most celebrated performances.
The Child Star’s Debut and the Indie Gem Era (90s)
Born and raised in New York City, Scarlett Johansson’s path to the screen began early, nurtured by a deep interest in the craft and training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. Her official film debut came at the age of nine in the 1994 fantasy comedy North, a minor role that nonetheless gave her a pivotal first experience on a major film set. She would later reflect that, even at that young age, she knew intuitively what to do in front of the camera, a clear indicator of her innate talent.
However, her first significant critical notice arrived two years later with the 1996 independent film Manny & Lo. Her compelling portrayal of Amanda “Manny,” a spirited orphaned girl on the run, earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead. By the time she landed the role of Grace MacLean in Robert Redford’s 1998 blockbuster, The Horse Whisperer, she was only 13, but demonstrated a potent emotional range that belied her age. This pivotal performance cemented her status as a young actress capable of carrying significant dramatic weight, ensuring she was no longer just a talented child but a serious contender on the horizon of Hollywood’s elite.
Finding Her Edge: The Turn of the Millennium
As the calendar flipped to the year 2000, Johansson began to shed the remnants of her child-actor image, both on-screen and on the red carpet. This period marked a transition into more complex, challenging roles, starting with films like the Coen brothers’ neo-noir The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) and the critically acclaimed cult hit Ghost World (2001).
In Ghost World, Johansson played Rebecca Doppelmeyer, an observant, cynical teenager navigating post-high school angst alongside Thora Birch. This role was crucial, showing her ability to embody a distinctly modern, disillusioned young adult, one step removed from the wholesome roles of her past. It was during this time that her public style also shifted, moving away from the quirky, brightly colored ensembles of the 90s—like the acid-yellow mesh dress and baby barrettes worn for her Manny & Lo premiere—toward a more self-aware, subtly rebellious aesthetic.
The early 2000s saw her experimenting with darker hair, bangs, and even a nose ring, indicating an actress who was starting to dress for herself rather than for the approval of the cameras. The photos from this phase, capturing her at various premieres and launch parties, show a young star testing her boundaries, a visual reflection of the complex, often non-linear roles she was starting to champion in independent cinema.
The Breakthrough: From Teen to Global Star
The true turning point in Johansson’s career came in 2003, a year that saw her star in two career-defining films, solidifying her status as the era’s reigning cinematic ingenue.
At just 18, she starred in Sofia Coppola’s poignant comedy-drama Lost in Translation as Charlotte, a troubled college graduate who forges an unlikely connection with an older actor (Bill Murray) in Tokyo. Her subtle, melancholic performance was lauded globally, earning her a Golden Globe nomination and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress. That same year, she gave an equally captivating performance as Griet, a humble 17th-century servant who becomes the subject of a painting in Girl with a Pearl Earring. The contrast between the two roles—a modern, emotionally guarded American and a silent, deeply expressive historical figure—showcased her remarkable versatility and cemented her status as a serious dramatic force. These back-to-back hits were the definitive signal that the child star had successfully navigated the precarious transition into adult leading roles, instantly becoming a sought-after A-lister worldwide.
The Bombshell’s New Style & Defining the Mid-2000s
With her newfound status, the mid-2000s saw Johansson consciously embrace a sophisticated, often bombshell-esque glamour, solidifying the signature image that would dominate the decade.
The shift was evident in her collaborations with acclaimed director Woody Allen, beginning with the 2005 thriller Match Point. In this film, her role as Nola Rice, a struggling, captivating American actress, required her to embody a mature, alluring persona—a role that fully leveraged her transition. Her red carpet appearances around this time reflected this change, as she moved away from her previous experimental, grunge-adjacent outfits toward tailored gowns, defined hair, and a return to a more classic, sensual style reminiscent of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Even in major studio blockbusters like Michael Bay’s The Island (2005), her presence lent a palpable cinematic weight. The photographs of Scarlett Johansson from 2004 and 2005, often featured in major magazines like Elle, showcase this perfected image: a blend of youthful allure with an undeniable, old-school cinematic poise. Her early years had been about finding her voice; the mid-2000s became about mastering her presence, setting the stage for her eventual global domination as Black Widow and beyond.
