LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Scarlett Johansson stars in a lead role in Wes Anderson's new film 'Asteroid City', making it her debut into the director's idiosyncratic cinematic universe. The film sports a star-studded cast, including Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Jason Schwartzman, and Tilda Swinton, to name a few.
Johansson's character, Midge Campbell, in 'Asteroid City' draws inspiration from iconic actress Bette Davis, as per reports. Midge is an actress and mother who lives in a fictional desert town and interacts with a range of quirky characters. Johansson's portrayal captures classic cinema aesthetics, showcasing polished hair, bold lips, and an unaffected demeanor. In the film, the character even references a past nude scene and has conversations about controversial roles, reflecting Midge's familiarity with celebrities. The inclusion of Bette Davis as an inspiration to Midge's character adds depth to the film and pays homage to the starlet.
Bette Davis as an inspiration to Scarlett Johansson's 'Asteroid City' character
"I got the script from Wes. It was actually during the whole kind of shutdown lockdown," Johansson said, adding, "So I was pretty thrilled to be getting anything to read at all. It felt like a hopeful something. You know, the story is very complex, and so I had a lot of questions. I'm playing an actor playing an actor, preparing a role, and who is Midge Campbell? What is her reality? What kind of movie star is she?" Johansson and Anderson eventually settled on using Bette Davis for inspiration, and Midge Campbell turned out to be one of the actress' favorite roles in her career.
'Bette Davis seems comfortable in the space she takes up'
"I liked Bette Davis for it because I thought her career was a good shape," Johansson said, revealing that Davis was the blueprint for her character. "She felt like, you know, Bette Davis feels — I don't know — when you watch her, she seems comfortable in the space she takes up. So I felt like that could be a good beginning, and also her voice, actually. She has a little bit of that Mid-Atlantic thing, and understanding where that came from and all that stuff was helpful."
During the 'Asteroid City' press junket, Anderson shared a similar perspective to Johansson, highlighting how they drew inspiration from the qualities exhibited by Bette Davis throughout her career. Anderson emphasized Davis's ability to establish her own voice and carve out a unique space in the public eye, which informed the development of Campbell's character as someone who is comfortable and unapologetically authentic with herself.
