Samantha Morton reflects on being replaced by Scarlett Johansson in Her: ‘It does hurt’

More than a decade after Her became one of the most acclaimed films of 2013, Samantha Morton is speaking candidly about one of the most difficult moments of her career. The British actress, who originally voiced the film’s AI character Samantha, has admitted that being replaced by Scarlett Johansson during post-production was far more painful than many people realized.

While Morton understands that directors have the final say over a film’s finished version, she said losing the role after months of work left a lasting emotional impact. Today, however, the Oscar-nominated actress is receiving renewed praise for her performance as the sorceress Circe in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey.

Morton spent months creating the original Samantha

Before Her reached theaters in 2013, Morton had already completed extensive work on the film. She performed Samantha’s dialogue live during filming opposite Joaquin Phoenix, who starred as Theodore Twombly, the lonely writer who falls in love with an advanced artificial intelligence system.

Appearing on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Morton explained that director Spike Jonze and the production team even built specialized recording booths so she could perform while scenes were being filmed.

“The time I had on set with Joaquin, working with Spike on the script and finding Samantha, and all the work that we did was really special,” Morton recalled.

The recasting came as a painful surprise

After production wrapped, Jonze ultimately decided to replace Morton’s performance with Scarlett Johansson’s voice before the film’s release.

Morton acknowledged that filmmakers have complete authority over the final cut of a movie but admitted she was deeply hurt by the decision.

“I was surprised. A little sad would be an understatement,” she said.

Although disappointed, Morton praised Johansson’s work, calling her voice “beautiful” and “incredibly evocative.” She added that she wished she had been given another opportunity to rerecord her performance using an American accent instead of being replaced entirely.

“It does hurt when you’re fired from something,” she said.

Her became an Oscar-winning success

Following the recasting, Johansson’s performance as Samantha received widespread acclaim from critics.

The film earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. It has since become one of the defining science-fiction romances of the 21st century, with both Joaquin Phoenix and Johansson praised for creating an emotionally convincing relationship despite never appearing on screen together.

Morton’s comments offer a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on how significant creative changes can occur even after an actor has completed months of work.

Christopher Nolan praises Morton’s work on The Odyssey

While reflecting on the disappointment surrounding Her, Morton is also enjoying praise for her latest role.

She portrays the Greek sorceress Circe in Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o and Charlize Theron.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Nolan described Morton as essential to the film’s success and recalled an unusual moment when crew members applauded after one of her scenes.

According to Nolan, the spontaneous reaction reminded him of the applause Heath Ledger received while filming The Dark Knight.

A career defined by resilience

Morton’s willingness to revisit the Her experience highlights the unpredictable nature of filmmaking, where completed performances can still be changed before audiences ever see the finished product.

Although she admits losing the role “hurt,” her career has continued to flourish through acclaimed performances in both film and television. With The Odyssey already generating significant anticipation, Morton appears to be entering another major chapter in a career built on memorable and emotionally rich performances.

Featured Image: instagram.com/samanthamorton, Shutterstock