Scarlett versus Natalie

Scarlett Johansson

Born: Nov. 22, 1984, in New York City

Beginnings: The actress has stated that her mother is a film buff; Johansson began her training by attending and eventually graduating in 2002 from the Professional Children’s School. Her mother took her on several auditions; she made her film debut in Rob Reiner’s 1994 flop “North.”

Winner: Portman, because she was the female lead and received good notices for her scrappy performance.  (Marcus Brandt / AFP / Getty Images)

Education

Portman was a straight-A student who event-skipped the premiere of “Star Wars: Episode I” in 1999 so she could study for her high school finals. She graduated from Harvard University with a degree in psychology in 2003 — she was Alan Dershowitz’s research assistant — and did postgraduate studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 2004. Two years ago, she was a guest lecturer at a Columbia University course in terrorism and counterterrorism. She’s bilingual in Hebrew and English and has studied French, Japanese, German and Arabic.

Johansson attended high school.

Winner: A no-brainer here — Portman  (Shaun Curry / Associated Press)

Awards: Portman

Nomination highlights:

Golden Globe for supporting actress for 1999’s “Anywhere but Here”

Oscar and BAFTA nominations for supporting actress for 2004’s “Closer”

Awards:

Teen Choice Awards, Choice Movie Actress: drama-action adventure for 2002’s “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones”

Golden Globe for best supporting actress for “Closer”

National Board of Review for best acting by an ensemble for “Closer”

San Diego Film Critics Society Award for supporting actress for “Closer”

The Constellation Awards, best female performance in a 2006 science fiction film, TV movie or miniseries for “V for Vendetta”  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Awards: Johansson

Nomination highlights:

BAFTA nomination for best actress in lead role for 2003’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring”

Broadcast Film Critics Assn. Award for supporting actress for 2003’s “Lost in Translation”

Golden Globe nominations for best actress in a musical or comedy for “Lost in Translation,” best actress in a drama for “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” best actress in a drama for 2004’s “A Love Song for Bobby Long” and best actress in a supporting role for 2005’s “Match Point”

Awards:

BAFTA for best actress in a leading role for “Lost in Translation”

Boston Society of Film Critics Award for best actress in “Lost in Translation”

Hasty Pudding Theatricals, woman of the year for 2007

Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. Award, new generation award in 2004

Toronto Film Critics Assn. Award for supporting performance for 2001’s “Ghost World”

Venice Film Festival, upstream prize for “Lost in Translation”

Winner: Portman. Johansson has actually won more awards, but Portman did win the Golden Globe for best actress and has an Oscar nomination under her belt.  (Dave Hogan / Getty Images)

Causes

Portman:

A vegetarian since she was a child, Portman has been a lifelong advocate for animal rights and won’t eat animal products or wear fur, feathers or leather. “All of my shoes are from Target and Stella McCartney,” she has said. Last year, she and Jack Hanna went to Rwanda to film a documentary, “Gorillas on the Brink,” and she also found time to launch her own vegan footwear.

Johansson:

She’s a global ambassador for the aid and development confederation Oxfam and a supporter of Barack Obama. She has campaigned for the Democratic presidential hopeful and recently appeared in the music video “Yes We Can,” which was inspired by Obama’s speech after the New Hampshire primary.

Winner: A tie, but anyone who loves animals has a slight edge.  (John MacDougall / AFP / Getty Images)

Men

Portman:

She’s been linked with cuties Gael Garcia Bernal and Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine and singer-actor Lukas Haas, and reportedly has dated Nat Rothschild. She was also seen at last year’s U.S. Open with former male model Nathan Bogle.

Johansson:

She’s been linked with numerous men, including Derek Jeter, Benicio Del Toro, Jared Leto, Justin Timberlake and Josh Hartnett. She is currently dating “Definitely Maybe” star Ryan Reynolds but has denied rumors that they are engaged. She has stated that she doesn’t believe in monogamy but is not promiscuous. She even gets tested for HIV twice a year and has said “it’s part of being a decent human being.”

Winner: A tie — both have dated their share of winners and losers.  (Hermann J. Knippertz / Associated Press)

So who is the fairest of them all?

Portman

She tops Johansson in five of the categories, with Johansson winning one and the two tying in three.  (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)