Speaking to Michigan Avenue Magazine at a recent Awards gala in Chicago, Black Widow actress Scarlett Johansson (31) named the role her favorite out of all the many characters she's played in her 22-year (and counting) career. "It's difficultt [to choose]. I really like playing Natasha; playing the Black Widow [in The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Captain America: Civil War]. It's been an interesting journey, to take a character and grow it over these years, and peel the layers back and be able to, as you do in life, grow with this person. It's a character that's really enigmatic and has an amazing origins story, so there’s a lot for me to play off of.”
As for why fans have resonated with the character, Johansson thinks it's the way the MCU respects the source material and its comic book reading fans. “People like the puzzle pieces. It's part of the fun of the Marvel franchise. They like to see these little pieces come together, and [discover] little references that they knew from the comics and stuff, so it's fun. I like that."
Black Widow will next be seen (presumably) in the next Avengers film, formerly titled Avengers: Infinity War Part 1.
Black Widow fan art by S. Baptista.
Black Widow tribute video by Iron Girl.