ScarJo Embarassed by Coverage of Obama E-mails; Ready to Tie the Knot?

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By Joe Pompeo

August 6, 2008 | 10:47 a.m.

Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz pose at <br> the after party for the premiere of <i>Vicky Cristina <br> Barcelona</i> in Los Angeles on Aug. 4.<br /> (Getty Images)

Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz pose at
the after party for the premiere of Vicky Cristina
Barcelona in Los Angeles on Aug. 4.

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We sometimes long for the days when Scarlett Johansson was best known as one of the angsty, combat-boot wearing teens in Ghost World, or, a few years later, as the soul-searching former philosophy major-cum-sexy cigarette smoker who flirts with Bill Murray—cue Jesus and Mary Chain song—in Lost in Translation. Her career since then has had a few unfortunate blemishes, namely her roles in the box office bombers The Black Dhalia and Woody Allen’s Scoop, and a Tom Waits cover album that was met with mixed reviews.

Then came the whole Barack Obama thing. Ms. Johansson made headlines as one of Mr. Obama’s hip and notable endorsers, gushing to the press over the casual e-mails she claimed to have exchanged with the presumptive Democratic nominee, only to get totally dissed by him for allegedly inflating their friendly Internet relationship.

Now, according to the Associated Press, ScarJo admits that she feels a little embarrassed by the whole Obama e-mail hoopla. But, it’s not her fault! Blame it on the sexist media:

"It seemed to me to be like a product of extreme sexism, and I kept thinking to myself, 'God, if this was just, like, Kal Penn or George Clooney or any of the other (Obama) surrogates or supporters ... there wouldn't be (any) question about it. Nobody would even talk about it," she told the AP during an interview in Los Angeles on Tuesday. "I was merely trying to express my delight at Obama's commitment to his campaign in every aspect and his interest and his support (in) his surrogates and his staff and his fellows, and how wonderful and refreshing that is. And it was manipulated into such an unfortunate media frenzy of kind of a nonstory."

The trials of being a celebrity Obama supporter! But Ms. Johansson now finds a new opportunity by which to redeem herself—another Woody Allen film. It’s called Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a “romantic comedy set against the bohemian backdrop of Barcelona, Spain” that “has its share of buzz over Johansson's much-hyped kiss with Penelope Cruz.” (A step up from smooching an aging Bill Murrary, depending on your tastes.)

And what of her engagement to former Alanis Morrissette flame Ryan Reynolds?

"We're just enjoying our time," she said. "We're just recently — very recently — engaged. So, you know, we're just taking it easy. And no big plan yet. But it's a good time and we're just ... enjoying our time to be young and engaged.

"I mean, I'm 23. There's no reason to rush into it. Everything feels very natural and relaxed."

Stay young, Scarlett. Stay young!