Happy Birthday, Scarlett Johansson! Snakkle Looks Back at Her Rise to Stardom

scarlett johansson audition tape photo 1993

Audition Tape, 1993

Who would have guessed that this wide-eyed 9-year-old would become one of the most sought after actresses of her generation? Even in this brief clip, Scarlett's talent is obvious.

Did you know: Scarlett has two siblings who are also in the entertainment biz! Click here for more celebrity siblings.

scarlett johansson manny and lo movie photo 1996

Manny and Lo, 1996

In one of her first feature film roles, Johansson starred alongside Mary Kay Place as a foster child on the run with her pregnant older sister, trying to make a better life. Her ease in front of a camera is apparent.

scarlett johansson horse whisperer movie photo 1998

The Horse Whisperer, 1998

Johansson gained international acclaim and recognition in this Robert Redford-helmed film. This would be the first in a long line of films in which Johansson would share the screen with Hollywood powerhouses.

scarlett johansson young senior yearbook high school photo 2002

Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Professional Children’s School, 2002

Johansson doesn't need a designer gown and jewels to show off her beauty: Here she is senior year at Professional Children’s School in New York City.

scarlett johansson young senior yearbook photo 2002

Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Christmas Photo, Professional Children’s School, 2002

A festive Johansson gears up for the holidays in another photo from her senior year. Johansson has been quoted as saying she celebrates a little of both Christmas and Hanukkah.

scarlett johansson ghost world thora birth photo 2001

Ghost World, 2001

This dramatic comedy may very well mark Johansson’s transition into more grown-up roles. She and Thora Birch are two friends who play a mean prank on Steve Buscemi as a middle-aged geek.

scarlett johansson lost in translation movie photo 2003

Focus Features

Lost in Translation, 2003

Perhaps one of Johansson’s most astonishing performances to date is that of Charlotte, a young and lonely newlywed who strikes up a beautiful friendship with a movie star (Bill Murray) while both are in Tokyo.

scarlett johansson black dahlia movie photo 2006

Universal Pictures

The Black Dahlia, 2006

This Brian De Palma film noir follows two investigators (Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart) as they try to solve the murder of the Black Dahlia. Johansson and Hilary Swank play the women at the center of the unraveling personal lives of the detectives.

scarlett johansson naked vanity fair cover photo 2006

Vanity Fair Cover, 2006

Johansson and another sensational actress— Keira Knightley—shared the cover with Tom Ford in this provocative spread for the annual Hollywood issue. A redheaded Johansson graced the December 2011 cover of Vanity Fair as well—but that time she didn't share the spotlight.

scarlett johansson anywhere I lay my head album cover photo 2008

Anywhere I Lay My Head Album Cover, 2008

Johansson proved that she can do more than act when she released this cover album (which features two tracks with David Bowie) in 2008. Although she didn't hit the mainstream with her first effort, Johansson remains devoted, promising to write the songs for her next album herself. In 2009, she teamed up with Pete Yorn for the album Break Up.

scarlett johansson vicky cristina barcelona movie photo javier bardem 2008

Vicky Cristina Barcelona, 2008

Johansson starred alongside Academy Award winners Penelope Cruz (she won for this role) and Javier Bardem in this romance/comedy/drama written and directed by Woody Allen.

scarlett johansson ryan reynolds tony awards photo 2010

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

64th Annual Tony Awards, 2010

Johansson married fellow actor Ryan Reynolds in September 2008. The intensely private couple seemed very happy until their surprising split in December 2010—the same year she found great success onstage, winning a Tony for her role in A View from the Bridge.

Did you think ScarJo and Ryan Reynolds were an odd match? Click here to see our top picks for most unusual Hollywood couples.

scarlett johansson under the skin movie photo 2011

Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Filming Under the Skin, 2011

In Glencoe, Scotland, Johannson filmed this sci-fi thriller about aliens who come to Earth to abduct hitchhikers and bring them back to their planet, where human flesh is a delicacy. It is based on the Michel Faber novel of the same name published in 2000. It premiered at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival to critical success. It was picked up by A24 and was released in early 2014.

AT/AAD/starmaxinc.com/StarMaxWorldwide

Her Premiere, 2013

Johansson has had a busy couple years with roles in a diverse slate of films from The Avengers and Hitchcock to 2013's Don Jon and the upcoming Her. Johansson received a Gotham Award nomination for Don Jon and won Best Actress at the Rome Film Festival for Her--in which Johansson never appears, just her voice is used to play Samantha, a Siri-esque operating system.

Lucy, (2014)

Johansson had a big 2014 with Under the Skin and Lucy where she plays a bad-ass warrior woman. She'll continue kicking ass in next year's Avengers: Age of Ultron.