Scarlett Johansson says Black Widow "grapples" with the "trauma" she has experienced in the forthcoming Marvel films.
The 29-year-old actress reprises her role as the popular Marvel character - also known as Natasha Romanoff - in the 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', which will be released in 2015, and will tell the "back story" of the highly trained spy.
Talking at the press conference for forthcoming 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier', at London's Dorchester Hotel on Thursday (20.03.14), she said: "You'll get more of Widow's back story in 'Avengers 2'. She has a rich, rich past. She definitely comes from a really dark past, she's had to de-sensitise or de-humanise in way to be able to do and see some of the things she's seen and participated in willingly. And there was probably some kind of people who have that drug description, like mercenary.
"I think she' s sort of now grappling with the fact that she maybe experiencing some trauma from that, or at least that she has feelings about things, maybe she doesn't sleep so well at night. It's hitting her now that she's been acting as a gun for hire, and in doing that she's never really made any active choices. It's like the rug has been pulled from under her feet."
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige previously confirmed he's been in talks about a film based on Johansson's Black Widow character, and the screen beauty insists she'd like to follow the "progression" of her alter-ego.
She added: "More interestingly, what would probably be to follow the progression of that story. And you know, bring her back home, and see where that leads to. Of course that's all in my imaginary next installment. None of that has been .... We've thrown the ball around a little bit but nothing is in the works for that right now."

Chris Evans went home with "bumps and bruises" after filming 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'.
The 32-year-old actor plays the titular superhero - also known as Steve Rogers - in the Marvel film and insists the injuries obtained on set have "lasting effects" as the stars age.
Talking at the film's press conference at London's Dorchester Hotel yesterday (21.03.14), Evans explained: "There are always injuries. Whether you end up in a cast or not doing stunt work, it's physical stuff. Even when you block a punch, that punch lands somewhere. So you're always going home with bumps and bruises and we are all getting older so it has lasting effects."
The hunk found scenes with Frank Grillo - who stars as military operative Brock Rumlow - particularly injurious, and reckons Anthony Mackie - who plays the Falcon - must have experienced this since they have a number of scenes together.
Asked about memorable moments regarding injuries, he replied: "Any fight with fight with Frank Grillo [Brock Rumlow]. You got to know how to pull his punches. Mac [Anthony Mackie] you must know this."
Mackie chimed: "Nah, we were hitting each other for real."
Evans added: "You hit for real. You don't block Frank Grillo's punch you're gonna get macked. He's a boxer, he doesn't know anything but 100 per cent. "
Mackie joked: "No, that's because he's a mean person."
Scarlett Johansson - who reprises her role as Black Widow who she first portrayed in 2010's 'Iron Man 2' - agrees, claiming injuries are "part of the process".
Johansson quipped: "Frank Grillo beat the s**t out of me. I'm forever wounded from these movies. I mean I had all injuries from 'Iron Man 2' days and I just keep re-injuring them ... that's part of the joy. No, it's part of the process."

Clint Eastwood's 'American Sniper' has recruited four new stars. 'Homeland' actor Navid Negahban - who starred as Abu Nazir in the popular drama - Nashville's Eric Close, Boardwalk Empire star Eric Ladin and Gang Related's Rey Gallegos have been cast...

Rita Ora was coached by Naomi Campbell at Milan Fashion Week.
The 'I Will Never Let You Down' singer ran into the iconic supermodel at the European catwalk event, and says she helped give her confidence when her insecurities and nerves were getting the better of her.
She told Paper magazine: "Yeah, me and Naomi Campbell are like best friends ... No, I'm joking. She's so cute. She was looking after me at the [Philipp Plein] show. I was really nervous because I felt fat - everyone was so skinny and tall.
"So she gave me a pep talk and walked me in. Then we ended up having drinks by the bar and she was being really cool."
As well as hanging out with Naomi, Rita says Jay Z - who signed her to his Roc Nation label - has become like a "brother" to her during the making of her second album.
She added: "When I met him I was 17, and I am 23 now, so he's watched me grow and now it's about me having my own opinion and making my own decisions, which he understands.
"It's more of a brother/sister relationship really. He really cares about me and it's nice to see a boss who also really wants you to succeed and he's really doing everything in his power to make this perfect."
Rita has also recorded four tracks with her boyfriend, superstar DJ Calvin Harris. for the album, and admits she was a little shy about working with her lover at first.
She said: "I got a little bit shy during our first musical bonding because he's seen me in everything else but he hadn't seen me in my work mode."

Zoe Kravitz was left stunned as a teenager when she unexpectedly found Ashton Kutcher making an omelette in her kitchen.
The 'Divergent' actress - daughter of rocker Lenny Kravitz - says her house was frequented by many famous guests when she was growing up, but she was completely star-struck when she found the 'Two and Half Men' actor preparing the egg dish one morning.
She explained to talk show host Jimmy Kimmel: "At one point - I think I was about 15 or something - my friend had just come in from California to visit me. She came in really early in the morning, I remember, and she walked into my room and was like, 'Zoe, Ashton Kutcher's in your kitchen.'
"[So I went downstairs,] I have, like, pimple cream on my face, I'm wearing a T-shirt ... and there he is making an omelette. There's no one else in the kitchen. I don't even know if he's breaking and entering. He's just like, 'Morning, do you want an omelette?'... And then we sat there before school and ate omelettes, not understanding why he was there."
Earlier this week, Zoe, 25, attended the premiere of 'Divergent' in Los Angeles with her mother Lisa Bonet and step-dad Jason Momoa.
While there she joked she had brought Will Smith's son, Jaden, as her "date", telling Extratv.com: "I dragged him out tonight. This is my date."

Liam Neeson confronted some hoodlums who were stoning a dog to death in New York.
The 'Non Stop' action movie star went to aid the pooch after hearing a woman cry for help as he was jogging through the city's Central Park.
A source told National Enquirer magazine: "Abruptly changing direction, Liam charged down a path and confronted three gangbanger wannabe types who were throwing rocks at a stray they'd cornered up against a trash bin. Liam yelled that they'd better stop or he'd knock the crap out of them - but the punks just swaggered up and warned him to mind his own business. In a fury, he warned them to back off fast - or else."
The confrontation was brought to a close when the cruel guys spotted a police officer walking towards them and Liam, 61, to investigate what was going on.
The source added "Turns out it was the sight of an approaching cop that had spooked the boys.
"Liam just shook his head and approached the shivering dog, stroking it while the policeman assessed its injuries. The officer thanked the star and told him, 'I'll take it from here, sir.' "
Liam has become famous for tough guy action roles in recent years after starring in the 'Taken' films, 'The A-Team', 'The Grey' and 'Batman Begins'.

Scarlett Johansson looked sultry on the red carpet in a busty red satin dress at the UK premiere of 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' in London. The actress paired the look with a sparkling diamond necklace and a stroke of red lipstick.

Eva Longoria dressed down in a blue sweater and black trousers as she prepared to leave Sydney, Australia. The former 'Desperate Housewives' star wore dark sunglasses and carried a cream quilted Chanel bag.

Samuel L. Jackson sported an interesting blue checkered blazer, a green shirt and a blue silk tie at the UK premiere of 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' in London. The actor accessorized with his signature flat cap.

Charlize Theron held her son Jackson tightly in her arms as she rushed through LAX airport in Los Angeles. The actress covered up her eyes in dark sunglasses and kept her head down as she tried to avoid the paparazzi.

January Jones embraced the spring with a nautical dress at the Annual Rebel With A Cause Gala in Hollywood. The 'Mad Men' actress brightened up the striped dress with bright red lipstick.

Miley Cyrus left little to the imagination when she sat on top of a car wearing a revealing green bodysuit as she performed to a sold out crowd in Florida as part of her current 'Bangerz' tour.