Actors are frequently acclaimed and showered with awards for the physical intensity they bring to their on-screen performances. It's not every day, though, that they're awarded with high-profile prizes when they don't even appear on screen. Scarlett Johansson, however, has earned that rare honour after being crowned best actress at the Rome Film Festival for her work on Spike Jonze's latest film Her.
In the film, Johansson - currently on Irish screens in Don Jon - provides the voice of a computer named Samantha, who ends up developing romantic 'feelings' for her owner Theodore (played by Joaquin Phoenix). Interestingly, Johansson was a last minute addition to the cast. Samantha Morton had been on set to provide and record the voice during the film's shooting process. However, during editing Jonze decided the character needed to be taken in a different direction. Director Jonze has stressed, "I love Samantha [Morton]. I've been friends with her forever and I hope we make lots of things together in the future".
Her also stars Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde and Chris Pratt. It's due to be released on the 10th of January. You can check out the trailer for the film below.
Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey, meanwhile, picked up the best actor award for his role in Dallas Buyers Club, where he plays a 1980s rodeo 'cowboy' who discovers he is HIV positive. TIR - an Italian docu-drama about a truck driver - won best film. Kiyoshi Kurosawa took home the director award for his film Seventh Code, while the emerging actor or actress award went to 'the entire cast' of Iranian film Gass (Acrid).
