Scarlett Johansson reveals the movie studio plea she refuses

Scarlett Johansson says there’s one simple thing movie studios keep begging her to do – but she’s digging her heels in.

Actress Scarlett Johansson has revealed in a new interview that you shouldn’t expect to see her on social media anytime soon – despite persistent pressure from movie studio bosses to sign up.

Johansson is an increasingly rare Hollywood actor without any social media presence, but said in a new interview with In Style magazine that she’d just fielded a studio plea to join Instagram to help promote her next blockbuster, Jurassic World Rebirth.

“I mean, even today, I got an email from Universal [Pictures], and they’re like, ‘Hey, would you consider joining Instagram in tandem with the release of Jurassic World: Rebirth?’” Johansson told the outlet.

“I get a lot of pressure to join social media. [It does make me think] … is there a way where I could do this and stay true to who I am? It didn’t feel like I could.”

The mother of two and wife to Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost said she preferred to keep her private life private, and had no desire to share it on social media.

“The work that I put out there is all based in truth. That’s the key ingredient,” she said. “So if I was a person who really enjoyed social media, then I could totally get on the bandwagon. But I’m not. And I think the film will do fine.”

Johansson says she thinks Jurassic World: Rebirth will do “fine” even without her posting about it.

Her lack of social media presence certainly hasn’t harmed Johansson’s success as an actor: Her films have grossed over $US15 billion worldwide, making her the highest-grossing box office female star of all time.

Of course, 40-year-old Johansson has been working as an actor since she was a child, and was a genuine movie star before social media even existed. It seems younger stars don’t quite have the same luxury to refuse to put themselves out there.

Fellow actress Maya Hawke recently spoke up about how much social media influences Hollywood casting decisions in a candid interview – claiming Instagram follower accounts are now just as important as awards or box office receipts when it comes to casting.

Scarlett Johansson’s never had social media … Picture: Getty

… while Maya Hawke says she’s not allowed to delete hers. Picture: Victor Boyko/Getty

Hawke, 26, who has starred in major projects including Stranger Things, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood and Maestro, said on a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast that she has to maintain an active Instagram account to help her chances of landing the acting roles she wants.

“I don’t care about Instagram. Instagram sucks, right? But just so you know, if you have over this many followers, you can get the money movie funded. Well, I want to make the movie … it’s a really confusing line to walk,” said Hawke, who has nine million followers on the platform.

Hawke said she wanted to delete her Instagram account, until she spoke privately with directors who revealed to her how much of a factor it plays in casting and financing a project.

“They’re like, just so you know, when I’m casting a movie with some producers, they hand me a sheet, with the amount of collective followers I have to get all of the cast that I cast. So if you delete your Instagram and I lose those followers, understand that these are the kinds of people that I need to cast around you.”

Hawke said she thought the issue would remain a “lifelong question” in how she handled the demands of her career.

Originally published as Scarlett Johansson reveals the movie studio plea she refuses