Scarlett Johansson bared a collection of back tattoos in a pale pink Valentino gown while attending the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Eleanor The Great on Monday night.
The 40-year-old actor and first-time director wore a backless gown with dangling off-the-shoulder sleeves, a draped bodice and a floor-sweeping hem that put several large rose designs and a small lamb tattoo on full display. Johansson styled her blond hair in a twisted updo and completed the look with smoky eye makeup, pink glossy lips, bright red nail polish and dangling diamond earrings.
Eleanor The Great, which marks Johansson's directorial debut, follows Eleanor Morgenstein, portrayed by June Squibb, a 94-year-old woman who moves from Florida to New York City after the death of her best friend. In New York, she joins a support group at the Manhattan Jewish Community Center for Holocaust survivors and falsely claims to be a survivor herself. The film is scheduled for a nationwide release on Sept. 26.
Johansson and members of the cast spoke with the Los Angeles Times about the production, with the director describing the first day on set as “challenging.” She said the cast was filming outside on Coney Island in cold conditions, and that the crew had not yet had time to bond, making the day “a little bit hectic” and “technically” difficult.
One of her co-stars, who plays Nina in the film, described the contrast between the on-set challenges and the cast's experience, saying the difficulties were not evident to performers and praising Johansson's work behind the camera. “This is what makes Scarlett a brilliant director, because I had a great time. I had no idea it was stress. I was just having fun,” the actor said.
The TIFF premiere in Toronto provided an early platform for the film ahead of its fall release, placing Johansson both in the spotlight as a red-carpet attendee and in a new professional role as director. Festival appearances often serve to introduce films to critics and industry buyers before wider distribution.
Johansson has previously been noted for her acting career and awards recognition; Eleanor The Great represents her first feature-length effort in the director's chair. The film's cast and Johansson's comments about production logistics highlight the practical challenges of location shooting and the collaborative process of mounting a debut feature.
Eleanor The Great will reach U.S. theaters on Sept. 26, following its festival screening in Toronto.