Scarlett Johansson recalls feeling ‘hopeless’ after losing dream role to Sandra Bullock

Actress Scarlett Johansson can take her pick of any movie in Hollywood, but it seems the one she wanted the most was out of reach.

Scarlett Johansson felt hopeless after losing dream role to Sandra Bullock

Scarlett Johansson may be one of the biggest players in her field, but even she is not immune to Hollywood rejection.

In a candid interview with Variety, the 38-year-old admitted she battled through a dark period of feeling “hopeless” after losing her dream role in the 2013 sci-fi thriller Gravity to Sandra Bullock.

“I got turned down for two roles – the first was Iron Man 2 and then the other one was Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity,” she recalled.

Scarlett Johansson says she was devastated after losing a major role to Sandra Bullock. Picture: Valerie Macon/AFP

“I had wanted that role so much. It was sort of the straw that broke the camel’s back. I felt really frustrated and hopeless. Like, ‘Am I doing the right job?’ The work I was being offered felt deeply unfulfilling.”

Johansson said she felt pigeonholed and recalled being offered “every Marilyn Monroe script ever”, but that was not the direction she wanted to take her career.

“I was like, ‘Is this the end of the road creatively?’” she said.

Scarlett Johansson went on to portray Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, in the Marvel films. Picture: Disney

It’s easy to see why Johannson was devastated after being overlooked for Sandra Bullock, whose character in the film must find a way to survive after an accident leaves her and fellow astronaut (played by George Clooney) stranded in outer space.

Gravity was a huge success in the box office, grossing $US723 million ($1.06 billion) worldwide.

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney starred alongside each other in the 2013 film Gravity. Picture: Jim Spellman/WireImage

Sandra Bullock plays an astronaut in the sci-fi thriller Gravity. Picture: Warner Bros

It went on to win seven Oscars, including Best Director for Cuarón. Bullock was also nominated for Best Actress, but the title went to Aussie actress Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine.

Fortunately Johansson’s misfortune took a turn. Emily Blunt dropped out of Iron Man 2, paving the way for Johansson to play the coveted role of Black Widow, aka Natasha Romanoff.

Despite being killed off in Avengers: Endgame in 2021, Johansson’s Black Widow spin-off film went on to gross $US379 million ($A560 million) at the box office.