Scarlett Johansson has reached a milestone. In Cannes, she no longer comes to defend a role but her own film. Thus, at 40, the American star presented Eleanor the Great, her first feature film as a director. It is an intimate drama, screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the Festival.
June Squibb plays Eleanor Morgenstein, a 94-year-old widow forced to reinvent her life. The film explores the loneliness of old age, but also the sweetness of new friendships. However, beyond the script, it is Johansson’s transition that is striking.
An actress turned filmmaker with humility
Known for her roles in Lost in Translation or Marriage Story, Scarlett Johansson has always sought to avoid the label of a mere star. Since her debut in The Horse Whisperer, she alternates between mainstream success and bold choices. Moreover, her move behind the camera is part of a desire for artistic independence.
Eleanor the Great carries a rare feminine imprint in Hollywood. The intimate narrative, attention to detail, and direction of actors demonstrate an evident sincerity. This project marks a deliberate break from major productions.
On the red carpet, a supportive couple
On the Croisette, Johansson was not alone. She walked the steps with Colin Jost, her husband since 2020. The Saturday Night Live comedian shares a discreet but solid relationship with her. Thus, she almost stumbled on her pastel dress. For this reason, she retraced her steps. She returned to take her husband’s hand and pose with him.
The couple raises their son Cosmo together, born in 2021. Johansson is also the mother of Rose, from her previous union with French journalist Romain Dauriac. In Cannes, she displayed a calm and smiling image, far from the clichés of isolated celebrity.
A personal commitment against artificial intelligence
Johansson recently drew attention for a completely different subject. In May 2024, OpenAI launched a voice assistant whose voice strangely resembled that of the actress. Yet, she had twice refused to collaborate. According to her, Sam Altman had approached her to reassure AI users. She said no.
The controversy highlighted her refusal to be captured without consent. This gesture recalls her constant vigilance against the pitfalls of celebrity. Moreover, it gives weight to a voice that Hollywood had sometimes frozen in glamorous roles.
A faithful muse of Wes Anderson
Alongside her directorial debut, Scarlett Johansson remains on the bill of The Phoenician Scheme, the latest Wes Anderson. She plays an eccentric cousin in a 1940s aesthetic. The film, in official competition, once again illustrates the chemistry between the star and the filmmaker.
Since Asteroid City, Anderson considers her one of his muses. Together, they explore a stylized and poetic cinema, against the grain of Hollywood standards. This dual role – actress and director – embodies the fragile balance between exposure and freedom.
A unique voice in the Hollywood landscape
In Cannes, Scarlett Johansson did not just show a film. She affirmed a trajectory. That of a child star who became a free woman. That of an actress who refuses to become a product. And that of a filmmaker who dares to speak of old age and love off the beaten path.
Her future behind the camera seems promising. And if Eleanor the Great was just the beginning, the Cannes Festival will have witnessed the birth of a director whose voice matters, in every sense of the word.