Samantha Morton on being replaced by Johansson in Her “It does hurt”

The world of cinema often deals in spectacular transformations, but sometimes those changes involve a very personal sense of loss. For Samantha Morton, a celebrated voice in film, one of these shifts involved her role in Spike Jonze’s Her, where the character was ultimately voiced by Scarlett Johansson in post-production.

While the final result was undeniably polished, Morton reflected on the unique creative journey she undertook. She recounted working closely with director Spike Jonze and co-star Joaquin Phoenix to develop Samantha, an experience that was deeply personal and memorable. During filming, the process involved unique constraints, including being confined to a padded phone booth to avoid seeing her co-star, adding another layer of intimacy and pressure to the creative endeavor.

“We did work together, opposite each other, and that was… I loved it, but I was sad,” Morton shared. She admitted that while the collaboration itself was special—developing the character with Jonze and Phoenix was truly wonderful—the eventual replacement brought a tinge of melancholy.

Morton acknowledged the bittersweet nature of industry shifts. She noted that while artistic direction is always the director’s prerogative, securing a role isn’t always guaranteed. “For any job, you’re never guaranteed to be in it in the end because… unless you are the lead in the movie and you’re pivotal, you never really know,” she remarked.

Despite the professional adjustment, the contrast between the two performances highlighted a notable difference in vocal approach. Morton emphasized that her interpretation of Samantha was distinctly different from Johansson’s. “I have to say, I think my version of Samantha was very… she’s English,” she said. She praised Johansson’s voice as beautiful and incredibly evocative.

Morton expressed a wish for a different opportunity during the production, hoping for another chance to explore an American accent. However, she ultimately celebrated the artistry on display. Beyond her work in Her, Morton continues to command attention in other projects, notably her acclaimed role as Circe in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

By Ava Taylor