Scarlett Johansson has fame and a $165m fortune, but says this is still impossible

Scarlett Johansson may have global fame, blockbuster success and an estimated fortune worth millions, but the actress says there is one thing she has learned is simply impossible to achieve.

The Black Widow star recently opened up about the pressures of balancing career, family and personal life, admitting she no longer believes true work-life balance actually exists.

“I think actually admitting that there is no work-life balance is the first step to getting there in a way because it’s just not possible,” Johansson said during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning.

The actress explained that no matter how successful someone becomes, there will almost always be compromises, whether at work or at home.

“There will always be some kind of deficit somewhere,” Johansson suggested, adding that over time she has learned to be kinder to herself rather than striving for perfection.

“You can’t do all of these things all the time,” she said. “There’s just like, ‘Is it good enough?’”

Johansson, who is raising two children while balancing marriage, acting and business ventures, said her understanding of success has shifted over the years.

The actress, who also launched her skincare brand The Outset, said parenting has especially changed how she measures achievement, even if it sometimes means not being the “most popular”.

“Somebody once told me, ‘If you’re successful as a parent like 75% of the time, that’s good,’” Johansson said.

Best known for films including Lost in Translation, Marriage Story and Marvel’s Black Widow, Johansson remains one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses, with an estimated net worth reportedly reaching $165 million.

Yet despite her success, the actress suggested fulfilment does not come from doing everything perfectly, but from accepting that balance may never look ideal.