If your kids know her at all, they probably know her as Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) or perhaps as the voice of Ash the porcupine in Sing. But in the last year, her name has moved from the entertainment pages to the tech and ethics sections of the news.

After a massive 2025 where she successfully rebooted the Jurassic franchise with Jurassic World Rebirth, she has leaned heavily into her role as an advocate for performers' rights in the age of Artificial Intelligence. For us parents, she’s become a useful household name to help explain a very complicated concept: Digital Bodily Autonomy.

You might be wondering why a Hollywood actress's beef with tech companies matters to your 10-year-old who just wants to play Roblox.

Here’s the deal: We are living in a world where "voice cloning" and "deepfakes" are no longer sci-fi. They are tools in apps your kids use every day. Scarlett Johansson famously stood up to OpenAI when they released a voice (Sky) that sounded eerily like her—after she had specifically told them no, they couldn't use her voice.

When we talk to our kids about Scarlett, we aren't just talking about movies. We’re talking about:

Check out our guide on AI safety for families

Scarlett has a massive filmography, but not all of it is "family-friendly" (looking at you, Under the Skin—keep that one for your own late-night viewing). Here is how to navigate her work with your kids in 2026.

Scarlett voices Ash, a punk-rock porcupine. These movies are high-energy, have great soundtracks, and are generally "safe" bets that won't make you want to claw your eyes out during the fifth rewatch. They also provide a great entry point to talk about "voice acting"—helping kids understand that the person behind the character is real.

She voices Kaa the python. It’s a bit spooky for very sensitive kids, but it’s a masterclass in how a voice can change the entire "vibe" of a character.

Released in late 2024 and a staple on streaming now in 2026, this animated origin story features Scarlett as Elita-1. It’s actually a surprisingly solid movie about friendship and systemic corruption (heavy for giant robots, right?). It’s a great "bridge" movie for kids moving out of "little kid" animation but not quite ready for the intensity of the MCU.

The 2025 blockbuster that put Scarlett back on top of the box office. If your kid likes dinosaurs, they’ve probably already seen this. It’s classic PG-13 action—scary in parts, but mostly just a fun ride. It’s a good opportunity to talk about how a female lead can be an action hero without it being her "whole personality."

Finally, her standalone Marvel movie. While it’s part of the larger Avengers saga, this one deals with some heavier themes: family trauma, "sisters" by choice, and taking down a system that exploits young women. It’s a great conversation starter for teens about agency and breaking free from others' expectations.

If you want to watch something "meaningful" with your teen, this is it. Scarlett plays the mother of a young boy in Nazi Germany. It’s a satire, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s brilliant. It shows her range beyond the "action star" label and is a fantastic tool for discussing history and empathy.

In 2026, "Scarlett Johansson" is basically shorthand for the "Right of Publicity."

Last year, we saw a massive uptick in kids using AI apps to swap their friends' voices into songs or memes. It seems harmless, but Scarlett’s legal stance reminds us that our digital identity is valuable.

The Screenwise No-BS Take: A lot of tech companies want us to believe that AI "content" is just a new form of magic. Scarlett Johansson is the one pulling back the curtain and saying, "No, you're using my hard work and my identity without paying or asking."

When your kid sees a "deepfake" of a celebrity on TikTok or YouTube, use Scarlett as the example. Ask them: "Do you think she gave permission for that? How would you feel if someone used an AI version of your voice to say something you didn't agree with?"

Ask our chatbot how to talk to your teen about digital consent

Safety Note: Be aware that searching for "Scarlett Johansson" online can sometimes lead to results regarding deepfake controversies that are not family-friendly. If your kid is doing a school report, it’s worth using a filtered search or a tool like Google Kids Space.

If you’re sitting down to watch Black Widow tonight, here are three questions to toss out during the credits:

Scarlett Johansson is a powerhouse who has successfully navigated the transition from child star to Marvel icon to "Tech Ethics Warrior." In 2026, her movies are great, but her real-world stance on digital rights is the real "must-see" content for intentional parents.

She teaches our kids that even in a world of "brain rot" memes and AI-generated everything, your individual voice and your "yes" or "no" still matter.