Scarlett Johansson was bornin New York City. Her mother, Melanie Sloan, is from a Jewish family from theBronx, and her father, Karsten Johansson, is a Danish-born architect, fromCopenhagen. She has a sister, Vanessa Johansson, who is also an actress, a brother,Adrian, a twin brother, Hunter Johansson, born three minutes after her, and apaternal half-brother, Christian. Her grandfather was writer Ejner Johansson.
Johansson began actingduring childhood, after her mother started taking her to auditions. She madeher professional acting debut at the age of eight in the off-Broadwayproduction of "Sophistry" with Ethan Hawke, at New York's PlaywrightsHorizons. She would audition for commercials but took rejection so hard hermother began limiting her to film tryouts. She made her film debut at the ageof nine, as John Ritter's character's daughter in the fantasy comedy North(1994). Following minor roles in Just Cause (1995), as the daughter of SeanConnery and Kate Capshaw's character, and If Lucy Fell (1996), she played therole of Amanda in Manny & Lo (1996). Her performance in Manny & Logarnered a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female, andpositive reviews, one noting, "[the film] grows on you, largely because ofthe charm of ... Scarlett Johansson", while San Francisco Chronicle criticMick LaSalle commentated on her "peaceful aura", and wrote, "Ifshe can get through puberty with that aura undisturbed, she could become animportant actress.".