For decades, achieving a work-life balance has been considered the ultimate modern goal. However, Scarlett Johansson argues that the idea of perfectly managing private and professional spheres might simply never happen.
According to People magazine, in a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Johansson claimed that the very first step to achieving peace is to accept that work-life balance is not always possible the way people want. In fact, the actress said that, most often, there is "a deficit in some area" whether at work or at home.
"I think actually admitting that there is no work-life balance is the first step to kind of getting there in a way, because it's not possible," Johansson said during the interview, as reported by Fortune and People. Furthermore, Johansson admits that she slowly began to learn how to be more forgiving of herself without trying to pursue perfection every day. "You can't do all of these things all the time," she said.
Success Changed Her Priorities
Johansson's remarks come as she simultaneously juggles several responsibilities in her life. Besides her acting career, she is caring for two children, running businesses like her skincare range, and pursuing a professional career that continues to attract attention in Hollywood.
According to Forbes' ranking of the highest-paid actors for 2025, Johansson earned around $43 million last year, making her not only the highest-paid actress but one of the top earners in Hollywood. In her thoughts about work and family, it was evident how being a mother had changed her perspective on success. Johansson said parenting often means making difficult decisions that may not always make a parent "popular," but are still necessary.
She also shared advice she once received about parenting. Johansson said someone told her that "if you're successful as a parent like 75% of the time, that's good." Her statement of being truthful resonated with many because it goes against the notion that individuals must excel in all aspects of their lives at all times. Johansson implies that one can never be balanced in all aspects.
From Food Stamps to Hollywood's Elite
Despite Johansson's enormous success, she once revealed her struggle for money when she was young. According to reports, Johansson said in the past that her family had to depend on government welfare aid and food stamps when she was growing up in Manhattan. Johansson began acting early in life and made her debut in the comedy North in 1994. She gained recognition through performances in highly praised movies like Lost in Translation and Marriage Story before becoming famous for her role as Black Widow in Marvel's mega-hits.
A recent report noted that Johansson became one of the biggest box-office names in Hollywood.
Other High Achievers Share Similar Views
Johansson is not the only high-profile figure to question the idea of perfect balance. According to reports, actor Emma Watson had admitted earlier that due to the hard work involved in acting and making films, balance was "almost impossible" to achieve when she was growing up in the limelight.
The point has been reiterated by corporate executives. Emma Grede, CEO of Good American and co-founder of Skims, told The Diary of a CEO podcast that extraordinary success calls for extraordinary efforts.
Former US President Barack Obama has also mentioned an imbalance in relation to times of sheer ambition. According to reports, Obama commented that "single-mindedness" is required at certain times in order to excel in areas like politics, business, or sports.
In an era where burnout and job-related stress continue to be part of many discussions worldwide, Johansson's statements reflect an increasing recognition that for some people, finding balance is a matter of accepting incompleteness rather than perfection. However, her words carried a comforting tone. In her opinion, it is sometimes better to consider whether something is good enough rather than striving for excellence all the time.
