Johansson Opens Venice With Femme Fatale Turn in 'The Black Dahlia'

Scarlett Johansson returned to the Venice Film Festival in August 2006 as the opening-night attraction, starring in Brian De Palma's crime drama 'The Black Dahlia.' The actress, 22, had previously won a Best Actress prize at the same festival for 'Lost in Translation.'

Her role as Kay Lake places her in a love triangle alongside actors Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart, playing detectives in a story of corruption. A passionate scene between Johansson and Hartnett drew the most attention from critics at a post-screening press conference, though the overall critical response was subdued.

Johansson described her character as someone with a troubled history who constructs a personal mythology to cope: 'She's a survivor really,' she said. She added that she viewed the intimate scene as integral to the role rather than a distraction from her performance, noting that De Palma intended it to carry an almost cathartic intensity.

The actress previously appeared in 'Match Point' and 'Girl with a Pearl Earring,' and first drew attention as a teenager in 'The Horse Whisperer.'

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in August 2006, in its own words.