STACK #139 May 2016

CINEMA INTERVIEW

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THE SECRET LIFE OF SCARLETT Reprising her role as BlackWidow in Captain America: Civil War, Scarlett Johansson reveals the secrets to being as fit as an Avenger and which of her character’s unusual talents she’d most like to possess.

C aptain America: Civil War features the return of Marvel favourites Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, and Scarlett Johansson’s catsuit-clad Black Widow. Just like her Russian spy alter ego, Johansson conducts her private life with stealth-like secrecy, and since she married her French beau Romain Dauriac and became a mother to 18-month-old daughter Rose, she has become even more elusive. But Civil War sees her back in the spotlight in what promises to be the darkest instalment yet in the Marvel universe. “The process of making this film is different than even making The Avengers . The Russos have a different way of working than any other director,” explains the 31-year- old, referring to Anthony and Joe Russo, who also directed Captain America: Winter Soldier in 2014. “With this film, I think we have the added challenge of looking towards whatever the next steps are for these characters.” Civil War is set one year after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and features

• Captain America: Civil War is in cinemas now.

Captain America: CivilWar

CINEMA

Avengers: Age of Ultron

The process of making this film is different than even making The Avengers

the squad in another international incident that results in collateral damage, prompting politicians to form a system of accountability and a governing body to control the team. This results in the fracturing of the Avengers into two opposing factions; one

in so many action films, wasn’t daunted by the prospect, saying she tries to maintain a certain level of fitness and is used to the rigorous training regimes. She has also worked extensively with her stunt double, Heidi Moneymaker, over the years and says the gymnast-turned-stuntwoman acts as a workout buddy and mentor. “I try everything and Heidi will tell me I’m doing a double back bend and I won’t be able to do that,” admits the star, “I’m pretty physically active in my life so I know where my limitations are. Sometimes I try things and it just doesn’t work.” Whilst it’s sometimes hard to believe Johansson is a mere mortal, you have to wonder if playing a superhero ever makes her wish she possessed any of her character’s super powers. “Just her ability to kill with her thighs, that’s about it!” she laughs.

led by Tony Stark and another that includes Captain America. For Johansson’s character in particular, this division causes problems, as her head is with Stark but her heart remains with her old friend the

have a particular soft spot for the relationship between Captain America and Black Widow, allowing it to blossom throughout the franchise. Aside from the emotional demands of the role, filming was also extremely physical, with its rollercoaster of stunts, fights, and hand- to-hand combat. But Johansson, having starred

Cap. The benefit of the returning directors, she says, is that they

MAY 2016

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