Scarlett Johansson with her baby at Miramar's Stone Street Studios in Wellington. Photo / BackGrid
Scarlett Johansson with her baby at Miramar's Stone Street Studios in Wellington. Photo / BackGrid
Scarlett Johansson has touched down in New Zealand with her baby daughter, as she begins filming her new movie.
The actress was spotted at Miramar's Stone Street Studios on Monday, where she will soon begin shooting the sci-fi epic Ghost in the Shell.
In exclusive photographs, obtained by the Herald, Johansson, 31, can be seen kissing her 16-month-old daughter Rose. She was sporting a short cut and is dressed casually in jeans, a black t-shirt and brown cardigan.
Click on the gallery below to see exclusive photos
Image 1 of 10: Actress Scarlett Johansson with baby Rose is seen in Wellington, New Zealand for filming of her role in a new film 'Ghost In The Shell' with Sam Riley. Photo / BackGrid
Johansson landed in Wellington by private jet at the weekend with her husband Romain Dauriac, plus nanny and security guards, and the family have already been spotted shopping in Oriental Bay and going to a local gym.
Johansson did a meet and greet with studio staff and other actors on the film at the studios on Monday. "She met the wardrobe, directors, various VIPS that take care of things, other actors," a source said.
Johansson turned heads going to a gym with Mr Dauriac and a security guard. "She arrived at a local south Wellington gym fairly innocuously with a group, she was wearing trainers, training gear and a hat.
"To the uninitiated no-one would have known she was a star."
When the Herald approached the gym, an employee couldn't disclose information on their clients.
However, a few locals did notice her, the source said: "Heads were turned."
Johansson worked out for around an hour, while Rose was taken care of at a local daycare centre, the source said. She was picked up after the workout.
Johansson with her journalist husband Romain Dauriac at last year's Oscars. Photo / Getty Images
Johansson stand-out Hollywood role has been Black Widow in Marvel's superhero movies. Photo / Marvel Studios
The superstars rumoured neighbours have yet to get a glimpse of her. She was rumoured to have secured a luxurious house in Wellington's eastern suburb of Seatoun for while she was filming.
The house is in a quiet area overlooking Wellington Harbour.
Neighbour Peter said he hadn't seen the star yet but hoped to."I'd like to see anyone famous."
His house, and the pad the actress was rumoured to be staying in, were owned by the same person.
Peter said the owner had mentioned the star was in town but didn't know if she was staying in the area.
Another neighbour, who didn't want to be named, said she hadn't seen Johansson, but had spotted supermodel Miranda Kerr when she was in town.
"I saw her in Strathmore Park. I respected her privacy though. I didn't want to overwhelm her."
A nearby cafe owner said he had already been asked by Johansson's lawyer to remain tight-lipped.
He said actor Orlando Bloom and his former wife, supermodel Miranda Kerr came in for dinner while the actor was staying in the area when shooting Lord of the Rings.
"They were down to earth and blended in here." He said any stars who popped into the cafe were treated as ordinary customers.
"We don't make a big deal out of it or they won't come back," he said.
It was previously reported many A-list stars had come into Seatoun clothing store Harry's Boutique. But manager Wendy Croskery said she "didn't want to make a fuss".
"We've had Miranda Kerr and Evangeline Lilly come into the store. "They were so nice. So lovely," she said.
She said she didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable."They don't want to make a big fuss."
Ms Croskery said she hoped Johansson would make an appearance at her store.She said Seatoun locals gave the stars privacy during their stay.
Johansson last visited New Zealand in 2006 to visit her then boyfriend Josh Hartnett, who was filming vampire flick 30 Days of Night. The couple were spotted in a popular Thai restaurant in Auckland, where they bought a takeaway and left a $20 tip, reported Women's Weekly.
It was reported in December that Johansson was expected to move to Wellington in 2016 to start shooting the film. The movie is being filmed at Miramar's Stone Street Studios and is based on an acclaimed Japanese manga and anime series, about a cyborg police officer attempting to bring down a villainous computer hacker, played by Johansson. Her character leads an elite task force called Section 9 for Hanka Robotics.
The Avengers star was rumoured to be looking at homes in the Seatoun area of the capital. The upmarket eastern suburb has seen stars of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit move in during filming for those movies, including Sir Ian McKellan, Orlando Bloom and Cate Blanchett.
Wellington locals said in December that Johansson, who was previsouly married to actor Ryan Reynolds, had secured a luxurious Seatoun pad to live in for the months that she's filming in New Zealand. Her husband Romain is a French journalist and they were married in 2014.
Kristen Stewart with her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders. Sanders is directing Ghost in the Shell with Johansson. Photo / Getty Images
Ghost in the Shell, which is being directed by Snow White and The Huntsman director Rupert Sanders, is scheduled for release at the end of March 2017.
Sanders is known for having an affair with his Snow White star Kirsten Stewart.
