From the film The Other Boleyn Girl, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, He’s Just Not That into You and Iron Man 2, Scarlett Johannson returns to the big screen to play the role of Kelly Foster in a 20th Century Fox project entitled We Bought a Zoo. Opening in all cinemas nationwide beginning January 18, comedy-drama film based on a memoir by Benjamin Mee was directed by Cameron Crowe. Johannson joins the ensembles of great cast including Matt Damon, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning and Collin Ford.
Johannson plays the role of Kelly Foster, the lead zookeeper of Rosemoor Animal Park. In her long-time employee at the zoo, saw it flourish and witnessed many of the employees quitting during its down fall. But things change when Benjamin Mee (Damon), a window and a father of two bought the zoo where Johannson works. With his 14-year-old son, Dylan (Ford) and 7-year-old daughter, Rosie (Fanning), they tried to make the zoo as their home and the creatures within it as family member. Together with Kelly they will bring back the life and happiness that was there in the zoo before and the love to each other as a family.
In line with the release of the film, Scarlett answers some questions about the movie and future projects that she will be doing in the future. Here are the excerpts of her interview:
Question: What type of woman is Kelly in this movie?
Scarlett Johannson: “Kelly is incredibly driven and focused. She has dedicated her entire life to her job and she actually says in the film, ‘I don’t have a life, this is my whole life. I come here from morning to night and my friends are out enjoying themselves with different guys and going to bars. I don’t do any of that stuff.’
Q: What was the appeal and challenge of this character for you?
Johannson: “What I love about Kelly is that she’s so totally matter of fact. There’s nothing about her that’s vindictive. She doesn’t really want anything from anybody except for an honest day’s work and I appreciate that sentiment. I have never had the opportunity to really play a girl who’s very pure and straightforward in her thinking.”
Q: Did you have anything in common with Kelly and what did you bring to her?
Johannson: “Well I’ve always been someone who’s been a bit of a caretaker for my family and friends. I guess for me it was about infusing the character with softness. There can be a tough edge to that type of female. Often women who are running a business are portrayed in films as tough broads and she’s not like that.”
Q: What was it like working with Matt Damon?
Johannson: “I’ve always wanted to work with Matt. He is an incredible dramatic actor; there’s something very ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ about him. He’s got a Cary Grant quality about him. He is also hysterically funny. We laughed so much on the film; we could barely get through our takes. There’s nothing about Matt that is at all movie star-esque but he really is a true movie star. He is warm and welcoming.”
Q: Were there any scary moments for you with any of the animals?
Johannson: “Well you don’t go onto a film set knowing that you’re going to place 70 snakes in a bucket thinking ‘this is a normal job’ (laughs). We all had to get in there and recapture an escaping shipment of exotic snakes: including pythons and anaconda and other non-venomous snakes. But I was fine because I had reptiles as a child. Now I do have dogs at home – a Chihuahua and a kind of Golden Retriever.
Q: What is the film really all about do you think?
Johannson: “I think the story is about challenging yourself and coming out on top through hard work and perseverance. It shows that anything is possible. I know that sounds like a bit of a trite message, but I think there is a lot of truth in it.
Q: Although there is bereavement, the film is very positive isn’t it?
Johannson: “I think this film is about human connections. We don’t just have one big adventure in life; life is an adventure in itself, with all of its grief and surprise and romance and possibility. I’ve certainly experienced loss and most people that I know have experienced some form of loss. It causes you to be introspective and to grow. You grow from loss.”
Opening in all cinemas nationwide beginning January 18, We Bought a Zoo is under 20th Century Fox and to be distributed by Warner Bros.
