shot-button
E-paper E-paper
Home > Entertainment News > Hollywood News > Article > Scarlett Johansson casts real Holocaust survivors in her directorial debut Eleanor the Great

Scarlett Johansson casts real Holocaust survivors in her directorial debut Eleanor the Great

Updated on: 10 September,2025 11:04 AM IST  |  Los Angeles
IANS |

Scarlett Johansson opens up about casting real holocaust survivors to “share their stories” in her directorial debut, Eleanor the Great. She further added that it wasn't really ever a question of whether they would cast real survivors

Scarlett Johansson casts real Holocaust survivors in her directorial debut Eleanor the Great

Scarlett Johansson. Pic/AFP

Listen to this article
Scarlett Johansson casts real Holocaust survivors in her directorial debut Eleanor the Great
x
00:00

Hollywood actor Scarlett Johansson has shared insights on her feature directorial debut, Eleanor the Great. The first-time director revealed that for the June Squibb-starrer, she cast real holocaust survivors to “share their stories”.

Johansson, 40, told an international publication, “It wasn’t really ever a question of whether we would cast real survivors. It was more of how we can identify people that would want to and could participate. So, we got really lucky”. 


She further mentioned, “Every time we would find someone who could participate, it was like, ‘Yes, we got another survivor’. I think at the time there were 2,50,000 survivors living there. Of course, every year it’s much less. So, we were able to identify [that] it’s a community”.



The actor also noted that Jessica Hecht, who stars in the film, “was really helpful in helping identify a couple of people” for the movie, along with the Shoah Foundation. She shared, “I don’t think anybody in the group had done a film like that before. They were just engaged and listening”.

The director also said that the survivors were eager to “share their stories”. Eleanor the Great celebrated its Toronto International Film Festival première on Monday, September 8. Following the world première in May at the Cannes Film Festival, Eleanor the Great is set to bow in theatres on September 26.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!

Did you find this article helpful?

Yes
No

Help us improve further by providing more detailed feedback and stand a chance to win a 3-month e-paper subscription! Click Here

Note: Winners will be selected via a lucky draw.

Help us improve further by providing more detailed feedback and stand a chance to win a 3-month e-paper subscription! Click Here

Note: Winners will be selected via a lucky draw.

scarlett johansson hollywood news Hollywood News Updates Entertainment News Entertainment News Update

Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK