Janet Leigh is considered an icon by most people in the film industry, and Scarlett Johansson plays the role of Leigh in the upcoming ‘Hitchcock’.
Scarlett Johansson poses for a high fashion shoot
When speaking about transforming herself to play such an iconic role, Scarlett says in an interview with Flicks and Bits, “More than transforming into Janet Leigh, for me it was about capturing her essence. I didn’t really try to mimic her, we’re very different, but it was the process of being able to meet her through people that knew her, through her biographies, her work. It was a pleasure, she was beloved on-screen and off, she was a wonderful actress. It was nice to be able to have a character like that to invoke that every day.”
She also talks about working with Anthony Hopkins [who plays the titular Alfred Hitchcock], saying, “He has a truly remarkable presence – almost like a lion on the prowl who finds just the right moment to pounce (laughs). It’s incredible to feel that kind of energy coming at you. Hitch could not have been taken on by a lesser actor. I think Anthony has all the sweetness, the sadness and the intelligence that was required. It was all there on the page but to actually experience Anthony as Hitch was a once in a lifetime thing.”
Scarlett Johansson when she was younger
She adds that she’s been desperate to work with Hopkins for a long time now, saying, “I’ve been so desperate to work with Anthony for such a long time, I’ve been a fan of his, as everybody else has, for as long as I can remember. Just having the opportunity to be able to experience him as Anthony, this gem of a man (laughs), then to see him transform into Hitch everyday, it was witnessing something truly great. He’s not only an icon, but he’s an inspiration I think for actors. To be able to see that transformation happening was once in a lifetime.”
'Hitchcock' Trailer
