Scarlett Johansson thinks it’s a “good” thing that wasn’t “quickly comfortable” when he walked over set to direct “Eleanor the Great.”
“If I was comfortable right away, that’s probably not the right thing,” she told Page 6 at the Film Society screening for “Eleanor the Great” on Wednesday night.
However, her nerves dissipated after a few weeks. “It becomes easier when the crew are used to each other and understand more about what they need on the day they film,” she said.
“I’m not saying it’s easy, but it makes it even more comfortable.”
It’s the first time Johansson has come behind the camera after decades in front of it.
She made her film debut as a child star in 1994’s “The North,” and seamlessly moved to an adult role that balances blockbusters like “Black Widow” with critics’ independent films like “Marriage Story.”
Earlier this year, she appeared in the latest “Jurassic World” sequel, featuring alongside Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali.
Released Friday, “Eleanor the Great” stars in June Squibb, 95, and after losing her best friend, she moves to New York City for a fresh start, creating a friendship with young journalism students.
Johansson said the film began “as a dry comedy” and “tragic losses continue, but the film takes such an unexpected turn and the stakes are very high.”
The Oscar nominee added that when she first read the script she immediately “invested in the outcome of the story”, acknowledging that it “just not happen” when perusing the script.
One of the attractions of helming movies was working for Squibb.
“To be honest, I was very interested in Squibbing in June wanting to star at this stage of her career,” she leaked.
Other celebrities in the screening include Johansson’s husband, Colin Jost, Juliana Marglies, Michael Stipe, Susie Esman, recent Emmy winners Jeff Hiller, producers Trudy Styler and Celine Ratttrey, and Sony Pictures Classic Thieftens Michael Barker and Tom Bernard.
After seeing the flick, guests headed to the iconic Katz deli on the Lower East Side, where they stirred pastrami sandwiches and pickles.
