Scarlett Johansson Reflects On Robert Redford Inspiring Her On ‘The Horse Whisperer’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Just days before Robert Redford’s death at age 89, Scarlett Johansson recalled working with the legendary actor and director in 1998’s “The Horse Whisperer” – one of her earliest film roles. When speaking with Access Hollywood about her own upcoming directorial debut, “Eleanor the Great,” Scarlett credited Robert for inspiring her to direct when she was just 12 years old. “Watching Bob Redford command a scene, he was blocking a complicated scene inside a riding ring, and then on the flip side he was coming and having very intimate conversations with the actors,” she said, adding, “There was always time to let the performances … allow for a period of discovery for the actors, to find the performances.” Following his passing, Scarlett also issued a statement thanking Robert for his belief in her, and for his grace and guidance. Leonardo DiCaprio is among Scarlett’s fellow A-listers paying tribute to the icon, sharing at the London premiere of his new film “One Battle After Another” how Robert’s environmental activism made him a hero beyond his work on screen.