“I don’t want to be identified as being in this time and place with you. I’m doing my own thing.”

Word to the wise: Do not ask Scarlett Johansson to take a selfie during her free time.

The Avengers alum recently discussed why she has a long-standing policy of not taking photographs with fans if she’s not attending a professional event.

“It really offends a lot of people,” Johansson told InStyle in a new interview. “It doesn’t mean I’m not appreciative, of course, that people are fans, or happy to see me. But I always say to people, ‘I’m not working.’ [And that means] I don’t want to be identified as being in this time and place with you. I’m doing my own thing.”

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SNL50: THE RED CARPET -- Pictured: (l-r) Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson on Sunday, February 16, 2025
Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson at the ‘SNL50’.NBC/Noam Galai/NBC via Getty

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The actress went on to explain that she thinks it’s completely fair game for an excited fan to ask for a snapshot with her in certain scenarios, like at movie premieres or visits to the Today show. Just not when she’s, you know, trying to be a human and “go and buy my own s— at Duane Reade” like everyone else.

“I like to be in my own thoughts that have nothing to do with what other people think of me,” she continued. “I don’t like being self-conscious.”

Johansson added that her expectation of privacy extends to her daughter, whom she shares with ex Romain Dauriac, and her son, whom she shares with husband Colin Jost.

Scarlett Johansson attends the Clooney Foundation For Justice's "The Albies" on September 28, 2023 in New York City.
Cindy Ord/Getty

“The anonymity of my children is very precious to me. I was talking to my daughter the other day, because she said, ‘Oh, I would love to make videos for The Outset,’” the actress said, referring to her skin care brand. “She was like, ‘Why can’t I?’ And I said, ‘Well, other than the fact that you’re 10…’”

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The Lost in Translation star added that she then had to explain to her daughter the complicated issue of how “the idea of being recognizable and celebrated feels fun, but then you can never stuff it back in the bottle.”

“The reality of it is, there’s a massive loss to that, you know?” she said. “So 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.”