In a new interview with W Magazine, Avengers: Age of Ultron star Scarlett Johansson offered some insight into her role as Black Widow and the path that lead her to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that character in particular.

"I loved Iron Man, and I met with Marvel to see what was possible," she explained, revealing, "People were surprised that I wanted to play a comic book heroine."

She said that, before her meeting with Marvel Studios, "I had done my research, and the Black Widow character resonated with me. She is dark and has faced death so many times that she has a deep perspective on the value of life."

On what drew her to the role, she spoke of her admiration of the character: "Black Widow is a superhero, but she’s also human. She’s small, but she’s strong. It’s hard not to admire her. She packs a big punch."

She also shared what she believes makes the character relatable. "We all try to fight the forces of evil. Like Black Widow, you have to keep trying. The challenge is always there."

"In the sequel, you learn more about the sadness in her past," she teased, hinting at things to come in this summer's Age of Ultron.