Let’s be real for a second. If you were channel surfing in the late 2000s, you couldn't escape the phenomenon that was He's Just Not That Into You. It was the ultimate ensemble rom-com. It had everyone. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore—basically the entire A-list roster of 2009. But looking back, the performance that sticks in the craw of most viewers isn't the "will-they-won't-they" of the main couples. It’s Scarlett Johansson in He's Just Not That Into You playing Anna Marks.
She was the "yoga instructor/aspiring singer/vibe-shifter" who somehow managed to be both the most magnetic and most frustrating person on screen.
Honestly, the movie hasn't aged perfectly. Some parts are downright cringey now. But Scarlett’s role? It’s a fascinating time capsule of how Hollywood used to treat "the other woman." If you haven't seen it in a while, her character Anna is basically the catalyst for a whole lot of marital misery and some very questionable grocery store flirting.
The Yoga Instructor Everyone Loved to Hate
In the film, Anna is introduced as this free spirit. She meets Ben (played by Bradley Cooper) at a checkout line. Total "meet-cute," right? Except Ben is married to Janine (Jennifer Connelly).
What follows is a slow-motion car crash of boundaries being leaped over. Scarlett plays Anna with this airy, almost detached confidence. She’s the girl who doesn't think she’s "doing anything wrong" because she’s just "following her heart" or whatever. It’s a tough role to make likable. In fact, most critics at the time—and fans on Reddit even now—found her character pretty exhausting.
She also has this secondary plot with Conor (Kevin Connolly), a guy who is head-over-heels for her. She treats him like a human safety net. It’s that classic "I’m not that into you, but I like that you’re into me" energy. We've all been there, or known someone like that, which is why it feels so authentic even when it's annoying.
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That One Pool Scene (You Know the One)
You can't talk about Scarlett Johansson in He's Just Not That Into You without mentioning the pool scene. It’s arguably the most famous moment in the movie. Anna invites Ben over, they end up in the pool, and the tension is... thick.
It was peak "Sex Symbol Scarlett" era.
Interestingly, Scarlett has recently spoken out about this phase of her career. She’s mentioned feeling "hypersexualized" and "pigeonholed" during this time. Looking back at the film, you can see it. The camera lingers on her in a way that feels different from how it treats, say, Ginnifer Goodwin or Jennifer Aniston. She was cast as the "bombshell" disruptor.
- The Look: Very 2009. Lots of tank tops, messy-chic hair, and that "I just finished a yoga session" glow.
- The Vibe: High-intensity flirting hidden under a layer of "we're just friends."
- The Impact: She basically dismantled Bradley Cooper’s marriage with a few well-timed smiles and a skinny dip.
The Singing Career That Almost Was
Did you know she actually sang for the soundtrack? Anna is an aspiring singer in the movie, and Scarlett recorded a cover of Jeff Buckley's "Last Goodbye" for the film.
It’s actually not bad.
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Her voice is husky and deep—very different from the "pop princess" sound that was dominating the charts back then. It added a layer of depth to a character that could have been a one-dimensional villain. It reminded the audience that Anna had her own dreams, even if her methods for achieving them (and her choice in men) were a total mess.
Why We’re Still Talking About This Movie in 2026
It’s been over fifteen years since this movie hit theaters. Why does it still pop up in our feeds?
Because the "rules" of dating it tried to establish are still being debated. The whole premise—based on the book by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo—is that we should stop making excuses for people who don't prioritize us. If he doesn't call, he's not into you. If he won't commit, he's not into you.
But Scarlett’s character flips the script. She’s the exception that everyone wants to be but usually isn't. She’s the girl the guy is into, even when he shouldn't be.
What People Get Wrong About Anna
A lot of people dismiss Anna as just a "homewrecker." That's the easy take. But if you look closer, she's actually quite lonely. She’s seeking validation from a married man because she doesn't know how to handle the genuine affection of a "nice guy" like Conor.
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It’s a specific kind of self-sabotage.
She’s not a mastermind; she’s just a person who hasn't figured out what she actually wants. By the end of the movie, she’s the one who ends up alone. No Ben. No Conor. Just her and her yoga mat. It’s a surprisingly dark ending for a character who started out as the "golden girl."
Lessons from the Anna Marks Playbook
If you’re watching the film today, there are some actual takeaways you can grab—mostly about what not to do.
- The "Friendship" Fallacy: If you have to ask "is it okay that we're doing this?" it probably isn't. Anna and Ben’s "innocent" grocery store chats were never innocent.
- The Safety Net Trap: Keeping someone like Conor around just for the ego boost is a recipe for bad karma. It’s better to be alone than to lead someone on.
- Own Your Ambition: The best part of Anna was her music. When she focused on that, she was actually interesting. When she focused on Ben, she was just a cliché.
Moving Forward With Your Own Dating Life
Whether you love or hate Scarlett Johansson in He's Just Not That Into You, the movie serves as a great mirror for our own relationship habits.
If you find yourself constantly waiting for a text or wondering why someone isn't "seeing your worth," it’s time to step back. Don't try to be the "exception" like Anna. Focus on being the person who knows their own value without needing a married guy from the supermarket to confirm it.
Next time you're stuck in a "what are we?" cycle, try this: watch the movie again, but focus on the endings. The people who found happiness were the ones who were honest—first with themselves, then with others.
Your Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your "Safety Nets": If there's a "Conor" in your life you're leading on, give them the clarity they deserve.
- Re-watch with a new lens: See if you still view Anna as the villain, or if you now see her as a victim of her own lack of boundaries.
- Listen to the soundtrack: Seriously, Scarlett's "Last Goodbye" is a mood.