Scarlett Johansson was born on November 22, 1984, in New York City to a mixed heritage family. Her mother, Melanie Sloan, is of Jewish descent, and Johansson was raised with an awareness of her Jewish heritage alongside her Scandinavian roots from her father’s side. Growing up in a culturally rich environment, Scarlett was exposed to the arts early on. She began acting in theater and television as a child, quickly showing a natural talent for performing. Johansson’s Jewish background is part of her identity, and she has spoken about the importance of her heritage in interviews.