Scarlett Johansson believes she only looks like a "movie star" because of well-applied make-up.

The 25-year-old actress - who is widely considered to be one of the world's most beautiful women - is adamant her appearance has nothing to do with her natural looks and believes it is down to the hard work of make-up artists and hairdressers.

"'You go through the works, and then you're like this perfectly prepared sausage... no one ever sees what goes in."

Although she is not completely comfortable with her appearance, Scarlett is excited about how well her career is going.

Since Scarlett first started working as a child actress in the 90s, the curvy beauty has found herself cast in a variety of movies, including 2003's 'Lost In Translation', 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' and her latest cinematic offering 'Iron Man 2'.

Scarlett is thrilled with the more grown-up roles she has been working on recently.

She told America's V magazine: "I'm 25, and for some time I've played these characters who are kind of figuring it out, transforming from young girls to young women. I don't feel like a girl anymore. And I feel like my life and career are on a different path than they had been.

"There's a lot of road behind me. I feel at this point I really want to do work that is challenging to me. Not to say that I don't look at my job and realise that I'm ridiculously fortunate, and purely an actor for hire. You never forget that it's all so vulnerable."