Scarlett Johansson lands first major TV role

Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson will play the lead role in an upcoming TV show based on Edith Wharton’s novel The Custom of the Country, marking the Hollywood star’s first major small-screen role. 

The Lucy actress will also executive produce the eight-part project for Sony Pictures TV.

 

Wharton’s 1913 novel tells the story of Undine Spragg (Johansson), an unscrupulous, magnetically beautiful Midwestern girl who attempts to climb New York’s social ladder with mixed results.

According to Deadline, Christopher Hampton (Atonement, A Dangerous Method) will write the screenplay, based on an original feature script adaptation he wrote almost two decades ago.

Hampton previously adapted Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Age of Innocence.

Johansson welcomed her first child, daughter Rose, with fiancé Romain Dauriac last month.

Scarlett Johansson Age, Height, Net Worth, Husband, Kids & Biography

 

PHOTO: Actress Scarlett Johansson attends "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" premiere at Taikoo Li Sanlitun on March 24, 2014 in Beijing.

Actress Scarlett Johansson attends “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” premiere at Taikoo Li Sanlitun on March 24, 2014 in Beijing.
ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

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But the actress, 30, does have a plan of action on how to stay in shape, especially after welcoming a baby girl Rose with husband Romain Dauriac earlier this year.

“I make sure I hit the gym a lot before the holidays,” the “Avengers” star told People magazine. “Then I don’t feel guilty about overindulging!”

Johansson also dished about her family’s holiday traditions and what makes the time so special.

“The smell of rice pud­ding always reminds me of the holidays. My father makes a traditional Danish pudding with a cherry sauce that is totally decadent and delicious,” she said. “And, my family cooks a Christmas pudding every year that is like a tapioca sort of a pudding with a cherry sauce, warm fruit sauce. It cooks like for the entire day before and the entire house smells like vanilla, because the recipe calls for fresh vanilla.”

Finally, she reveled her favorite movie to watch during the break.

“My favorite holiday movie is ‘Home Alone 2,’ believe it or not!” she added.