AT only 24, Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson has built a career most would be jealous of.

On the one hand, she's a critically-acclaimed thespian with a string of acting nominations and awards.

On the other hand, the sexy actress is able to flaunt her curvy figure in mainstream sex bomb roles.

But Johansson is not satisfied. She can't wait to grow up and be in her 30s.

'Women in their 20s are sort of these ingenues - whimsy and transient characters. It reflects the period in life that they're at,' said the actress, in her trademark husky voice.

'I think actors in their 30s take on meatier roles. They're playing wives and mothers, and women who have been through a lot. I look forward to that time when I have enough experience to put into those roles.'

It's bad news for her army of fan boys, who have salivated over her sexy turns in movies like last year's The Spirit (she was femme fatale scientist Silken Floss), as well as sci-fi thriller The Island in 2005.

 But perhaps Johansson has just reached a stable juncture in her life, beyond a simple hair colour change from blonde to brunette.

In September last year, she tied the knot with Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, 32, whom she had been dating for over a year.

The quiet, low-key ceremony in Vancouver escaped the usual paparazzi attention that has surrounded most of Johansson's dating life.

Her well-documented string of past beaus include actors Josh Hartnett, Benicio Del Toro and Jared Leto, baseball player Derek Jeter and singer Justin Timberlake.

So how has marriage changed Johansson?

She said with a shrug: 'I've never had any preconceived notions of marriage. My parents were divorced when I was 13. I never had an idea what a marriage would be, should, or could be.

'I figured some day I'll get married but I never really thought about it, I guess.'

Johansson was speaking to reporters in Los Angeles to promote her latest movie He's Just Not That Into You, now showing in cinemas here.

Adapted from Greg Behrendt's popular self-help book of the same name, the movie traces the follies and foibles of nine Baltimore 20 and 30-somethings in their quest for love.

It stars an A-list cast that includes Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Drew Barrymore and Ben Affleck.

Johansson plays Anna, a singer-cum-yoga instructor who decides to pursue a relationship with a married man.

Not a novel role

Playing the third wheel is not new to Johansson.

In Woody Allen's 2005 thriller, Match Point, she was the struggling actress who provides the sexual temptation for Jonathan Rhys Meyers' engaged character.

And in 2006 film The Black Dahlia, she played the tragic damsel who gets embroiled in a twisted love triangle with two police officers.

In real life, Johansson once commented that monogamy is hard work and not for everybody.

Now, with a ring on her finger, she revealed she's more willing to make it work.

'When you've been in a relationship for a long time, it has its own life, it goes through cycles and it festers. Sometimes it's just nice to vent, and it's good to get advice from an outside perspective, whether it's from your sister or girlfriend.'

So now that she has found The One, has that helped her understanding of men?

Johansson said with a cheeky giggle: 'I agree people are complicated, but I don't think there's one particular aspect of men in general that I don't get... except maybe why do they have nipples?'

But she turns practical when it comes to staying in toxic relationsips.

'I always come back to this same thing - if this person is making you doubt yourself, or crazy, go get rid of him.'

• Tan Shou Chen is a freelance writer.

This article was first published in The New Paper.