Scarlett Johansson says discomfort directing Eleanor the Great was a good sign
In a Cinema Society screening, the actor-turned-director explains why nerves early on were productive, and describes working with June Squibb on her debut before the film’s Friday release.
Scarlett Johansson says it was a good thing she wasn’t immediately comfortable when she walked on set to direct her feature debut, Eleanor the Great. Speaking at a Cinema Society screening on Wednesday night, she told Page Six that nerves in the first days were expected. 'If I were immediately comfortable, then it would probably not be the right thing,' she said. Her nerves, she added, dissipated after a couple of weeks as the crew grew familiar with one another and she understood what was required on shooting days. 'I wouldn’t say easier, but it gets more comfortable.'
Earlier this year Johansson starred in the latest Jurassic World sequel and has spent decades in front of the camera, from child star roles in 1994’s North to blockbuster and indie turns. Eleanor the Great, which opens Friday, stars June Squibb, 95, who after losing her best friend moves to New York City for a fresh start and forms a bond with a young journalism student. The film starts as a dry comedy before turning to tragedy, with the stakes climbing high as the story unfolds. Johansson said she was immediately invested in the outcome when she read the script, something she said doesn’t happen often.
One major draw of stepping into the director's chair was working with Squibb. 'Honestly, I was just so curious about what June Squibb wanted to star in at this stage in her career,' she told Page Six, adding that directing is 'an amazing opportunity that I don’t take for granted.' Johansson attended the screening with her husband, Colin Jost.
Other attendees at the screening included Julianna Margulies, Michael Stipe, Susie Essman, recent Emmy winner Jeff Hiller, and producers Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray, along with Sony Pictures Classics chiefs Michael Barker and Tom Bernard. After viewing the film, guests headed to Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side for pastrami sandwiches and pickles.
Johansson’s career includes balancing blockbuster roles with acclaimed independent films. The director said the opportunity came from her curiosity about Squibb's work and a belief in intimate, character-driven storytelling. As she steps further into directing, she remains attached to projects she deems meaningful, while continuing to act in high-profile projects, including the Jurassic World sequel she starred in earlier this year.