Scarlett Johansson was Woody Allen's 'accidental' muse

Washington, Aug 9 : Filmmaker Woody Allen has revealed that he "accidentally" found a muse in Scarlett Johansson after casting her in the movie 'Match Point', when British actress Kate Winslet quit the film.

The revered director says that Winslet left the movie because she wanted to spend more time with her kids, forcing him to turn to Johansson.

Since then, the two of them are said to be such a match that they have gone on to make three films together, including the new movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

"I had Kate Winslet right up to the last week in pre-production. Then she said she couldn't do the picture because she had worked continually and had spent no time with her child," Contactmusic quoted Allen as saying.

"I forgave her and understood that completely but I didn't know Scarlett from a hole in the wall. I thought she was too young; she was only 19 years old at the time.

"But I was in a hole and had to get someone fairly quickly. I knew Scarlett was a great actress and a beauty but I didn't know if she was really what I had written. I hired her and became totally captivated by her," he stated.

Allen admits the 'Lost In Translation' star has become his latest muse, following in the footsteps of actresses and ex-lovers Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow.

"I would always call her, as I did with Diane and Mia for years. Mia was a wonderful actress and she never let me down. The same would be true with Scarlett," he added.

ANI