Scarlett Johansson and the late Robert Redford will always have a special relationship.
The two worked together in 1997, when Johansson starred in his film The Horse Whisperer when she was just 12 years old. Redford, who passed away last Tuesday at 89 years old, directed and also starred in the movie.
Johansson appeared on The Late Show with Steven Colbert on Monday night to discuss her directorial debut for her new film, Eleanor the Great. While explaining how she knew Redford, he referred to him as “Bob,” which Colbert noticed. The late-night host, who recently won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series, asked if Johansson called him that on set, to which she replied she actually had a special nickname for him.
“I actually had a nickname for him, that was ‘Booey,’ which is something that I don’t think I’ve ever told anybody, but now I’ve told everyone!” she admitted with a smile. “He was such a warm, kind, patient, generous, wonderful man, and he would take so much time with me every day….We have a special relationship in the film, the characters do, where he really actually therapizes my character, and in real life, he had that type of persona.”
The Horse Whisperer follows 13-year-old Grace MacLean (Johansson) and her horse, Pilgrim, who are severely traumatized after a horrific riding accident that kills Grace’s best friend and injures Grace’s leg. Desperate to heal both her daughter and the horse, Grace’s mother, Annie (Kristin Scott Thomas), journeys from New York to Montana to find Tom Booker (Redford), a skilled “horse whisperer” who can communicate with and heal distressed animals.
She also admitted that her idea of directing a movie first came to her while she worked alongside Redford.
“I remember seeing him on the set. He would have those intimate conversations with me, and then he would be coordinating a huge scene,” the Black Widow star recalled. “It was like, ‘That job seems pretty interesting. I’d like to do that job someday.’ And then I spent many years being like, ‘Who would ever want that job?! You’re basically just answering questions.'”
Scarlett Johansson and Robert Redford at New York Fashion Week in 2004 (Photo by Gregory Pace/FilmMagic)Gregory Pace/FilmMagic
The 40-year-old actress recently directed her first movie, Eleanor the Great, which follows Eleanor (June Squibb), who moves to New York City for a fresh start after her best friend of 70 years passes away. Making new friends at 94 years old is difficult, but she ends up befriending Nina, a 19-year-old journalism student (Erin Kellyman). The film is set to be released in theaters this Friday.
Related: Scarlett Johansson Reflects on Robert Redford’s Routine from 26 Years Ago
Related: Scarlett Johansson Reflects on Stressful Start to Directorial Debut
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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