Scarlett Johansson says she runs the show at home.
The Oscar-winning actress, 40, told the Los Angeles Times in an interview published Wednesday that she considers herself “the CEO of our household,” staking a clear claim to authority in her marriage to “Saturday Night Live” writer and “Weekend Update” anchor Colin Jost, 44.
Johansson and Jost tied the knot in October 2020 and share 5-year-old son Cosmo. The “Jojo Rabbit” star is also mother to daughter Rose, 12, from her previous marriage to French journalist Romain Dauriac.
“I consider myself the CEO of our household,” she said in the LA Times interview, leaving little ambiguity about who manages the domestic front.
The Tony Award winner opened up about her parenting philosophy, describing herself as deeply involved in her children’s daily lives. “I’m a hands-on parent. I love being a mom,” she told the outlet. She continued, “Kids have so much going on and their lives are important.”
Johansson and Jost navigate demanding entertainment careers while trying to maintain normalcy for their kids. The couple coordinates their packed schedules to shield their children from the disruptions that come with two famous parents.
The “Marriage Story” star has kept her family largely out of the spotlight throughout her decades-long career, which began when she was a teenager. She spoke to InStyle last year about guarding her children’s privacy fiercely.
“I am a private person in the sense that I value my close friendships,” she told the magazine, adding, “my family is very precious to [her], as is their privacy. The anonymity of my children is very precious to me.”
She extended that protective stance to the question of fame itself, telling the LA Times she wants her children to choose whether to step into the public eye rather than inheriting it by default.
“I think preserving that for as long as possible until it’s someone’s choice, that’s the choice I make as far as my kids go,” she said.
The “Her” actress has been similarly guarded about her relationship with Jost, though she has occasionally addressed his more public moments, including his purchase of the Staten Island Ferry and his “SNL” jokes at her expense.
Johansson has also shared details about the couple’s rocky start. During an appearance on “Today” last year, she recalled panicking when Jost first asked her out, a reaction rooted in her dating history.
“I was a serial monogamist, and I never got the sort of traditional like, ‘Hey, would you like to have dinner sometime?'” she shared on the NBC morning show. She admitted she actually ran out on him at the end of their first dinner date, though she eventually gave him another chance and their relationship developed from there.
Despite her Broadway success, Johansson acknowledged in the LA Times interview that returning to the stage remains difficult while raising young children. The logistical demands of theater, with its rigid schedule and eight-show weeks, clash with the flexibility she needs as a parent of two.
The “Lucy” star’s comments about household leadership come as she and Jost continue to balance high-profile careers, his on “SNL” and hers across film and business ventures including her skincare line, The Outset.
Johansson previously revealed that Jost was “completely freaking out” when testing products for her beauty brand, suggesting the comedian’s domestic role may not extend to the beauty cabinet.
The couple’s dynamic has long intrigued fans, with Jost occasionally roasting his wife on “Weekend Update” and Johansson responding with amused exasperation in interviews. Her latest remarks frame their partnership as one where she steers the ship at home while both maintain thriving professional lives.
Johansson’s “CEO” comment lands as she continues promoting her latest projects while managing family life in what appears to be a carefully orchestrated balance, one she controls from the top.