Samantha Morton opens up about losing role to Scarlett Johansson

Samantha Morton recently discussed being replaced as the voice of Samantha in Spike Jonze’s “Her“. Morton performed the artificial intelligence character during principal photography and worked opposite Joaquin Phoenix while he filmed his scenes. Jonze later decided during post-production that the character and finished movie needed something different, and Scarlett Johansson rerecorded the role.

Morton revisited the experience during the August 3 episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast. She said the replacement surprised and hurt her, although she understood that final casting and editing decisions belonged to the director. Her comments provide a personal account of a confirmed post-production recasting rather than evidence of a broader, secretive Hollywood practice.

A post-production recast changed “Her”

Morton was originally cast as Samantha in “Her.” During principal photography, she delivered the character’s dialogue live while Joaquin Phoenix performed his scenes as Theodore, helping him respond naturally to the unseen artificial intelligence.

During post-production, director Spike Jonze concluded that the character and finished film needed a different interpretation. Scarlett Johansson was subsequently cast and rerecorded Samantha’s dialogue.

Jonze publicly confirmed the recasting in June 2013, before the film’s release. Morton’s voice does not appear in the completed movie, although Jonze said her work remained embedded in Phoenix’s performance.

Morton’s original version of Samantha was different

Morton said her version of Samantha was “very English” and quite different from Scarlett Johansson’s. She did not describe it as quieter or more restrained. Those characterizations are interpretations, not her own words.

The production built Morton a small padded booth where she delivered Samantha’s dialogue. She also recorded some lines from the trunk of a car. Joaquin Phoenix could hear her without seeing her, matching Theodore’s relationship with the AI.

Morton said working with Phoenix and Spike Jonze was a special creative experience. She admitted the recasting made her sad but said she valued the collaboration. Jonze also spoke respectfully about the work they created together.

Why Jonze changed the performance

Morton’s experience is a well-documented example of a major voice role being recast after filming. However, no industry data shows how common such changes are. Post-production decisions vary from project to project.

Spike Jonze said the film and Samantha’s character ultimately needed something different. He described it as a broader creative decision rather than a change in emotional tone alone. His comments focused on what best served the finished film.

Morton said the final cut is the director’s decision. She noted that actors are not always guaranteed to appear in the completed film. Contract terms and production circumstances can still vary by project.

Morton says the replacement hurt

Morton said calling herself “a little sad” would be an understatement. She also admitted she was surprised by the recasting. Her comments show the experience remained emotionally significant.

Morton said being removed from a project is painful. At the same time, she accepted Spike Jonze’s creative decision and spoke positively about working with him and Joaquin Phoenix. Her remarks reflected both disappointment and professional respect.

Morton said she wished she had been given the chance to record Samantha with an American accent. She did not claim that doing so would have changed the outcome. She also praised Scarlett Johansson’s final performance.

Fun fact: Samantha Morton received the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship in 2024 for her contribution to film and television.

The case illustrates the uncertainty of final cuts

Morton’s experience shows that a performance can change during post-production. In this case, only the voice role was rerecorded. There is no evidence showing how common similar changes are.

Spike Jonze confirmed the recasting before Her was released. He explained it as a creative decision rather than keeping it secret. No source indicates Morton was barred from discussing the change.

Morton’s 2026 interview added new details about the recording process and her emotional response. It offered the perspective of the actor who was replaced. Her story should not be treated as evidence of broader Hollywood practices.

Johansson’s performance received major recognition

Johansson’s voice performance in “Her” received substantial critical praise. She won the Best Actress award at the 2013 Rome Film Festival despite never appearing physically onscreen. However, she did not receive an Academy Award nomination for the performance.

Morton praised Johansson directly during the podcast interview. She described Johansson’s voice as beautiful and “incredibly evocative.” The article can accurately present those remarks as professional praise, but it should avoid claiming certainty about Morton’s private feelings beyond what she said publicly.

“Her” received 5 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and Jonze won Best Original Screenplay. Johansson’s performance was an important and widely praised element of the completed film, although the Academy nominations recognized the movie in other categories.

Morton’s career continued across film and television

The “Her” recasting was not an early-career setback. Morton had already worked professionally for approximately 2 decades and received 2 Academy Award nominations before the film entered production. She continued taking prominent screen roles afterward.

Morton later played London brothel owner Margaret Wells in Hulu’s “Harlots.” She subsequently starred as Catherine de’ Medici in Starz’s “The Serpent Queen,” continuing her record of leading television performances.

Morton began acting professionally in the early 1990s, and her career now spans more than 3 decades. Her experience on “Her” represents 1 episode within a substantially longer body of work.

The Odyssey marks her latest triumphant chapter

Morton currently appears as Circe in “The Odyssey“, which is now in theaters. The “Los Angeles Times” praised her performance and reported that Christopher Nolan viewed Circe as a key character. The role has brought her renewed attention.

Recent coverage has mentioned Morton as a possible awards contender. However, no Academy Award nominations have been announced. It is accurate to say the performance has received strong critical praise.

Morton’s role in “The Odyssey” is not a direct result of losing “Her“. It instead reflects her continued success after earlier career setbacks. Her career has remained active despite past disappointments.

Little-known fact: Morton starred in Carine Adler’s 1997 British drama called “Under the Skin“. It is unrelated to Jonathan Glazer’s 2013 science-fiction film of the same name starring Johansson.

TL;DR

• Samantha Morton was originally cast as the voice of Samantha in Her.
• Spike Jonze replaced her with Scarlett Johansson during post-production work.
• Morton says the experience still hurts even though she understood the decision.
• She praised Johansson’s performance while reflecting on her own version of the role.
• Morton now earns wide acclaim for her role as Circe in The Odyssey.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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