Scarlett Johansson: 'We have to keep demanding diversity in Hollywood'

Scarlett Johansson has urged film fans to keep demanding diversity on the big screen.

The Avengers star, who was recently named the highest-grossing actress of all time, picked up the Renaissance Award at the 2016 Gene Siskel Film Center Gala in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday (30Jun16), and while she was in the city she spoke to local reporters about this week’s (beg27Jun16) expansion of membership at the Motion Picture Academy.

The organization's bosses swelled their ranks with women and people of color in response to criticism levelled at them following the 2016 Oscars 'white-out'.

But Scarlett insists the battle isn't won yet and studio bosses still need to understand that casting women and minorities in leading roles will be a big hit among fans.

"It’s awesome to have a diverse group of people in an organization like that (Academy)," she told the Chicago Sun-Times. "You need to have different points of view and different perspectives.

"Of course, it’s also the studios who ultimately will make the movies, but I think when the audiences speak loudly and tell the studios what they want to watch, there’s an ear there. The audiences will drive the direction of what is greenlit and put on the fast track. I truly believe that to be true, especially now in the time of social media. The voices cannot be ignored.

"So I tell people to keep asking, and to keep asking for diversity in Hollywood."

Ironically, Scarlett was one of only two actresses in the new Box Office Mojo highest-grossing stars top 20 - and one of only eight in the top 50.