Scarlett Johansson broke down during PBS’ Finding Your Roots, learning about her family’s devastating history.

One thing is for sure, Scarlett Johansson is a fighter. She held her own during the divorce settlement with Ryan Reynolds, and refused to back down after she wore a dress that almost ruined her reputation in Hollywood.

That fighter mentality certainly stems from her family history. In the following, we’re going to take a closer look at the troubling family history Scarlett’s family went through.

She broke down on the PBS series, Finding Your Roots, hearing about all the family members that had passed away during the Holocaust. We’ll take a closer look at the interview, and what the fans had to say about it all.

Scarlett Johansson Cried When She Found Out About The Tragic Fate Of Her Family During The Holocaust

Scarlett Johansson appeared on the PBS series, Finding Your Roots. During the reveal, Johansson finds out some of the shocking details related to her family history, which includes the tragic fate of family members who passed away during the Holocaust.

Johansson gets especially emotional hearing about the family members that died during the Warsaw Ghetto, especially those of a younger age.

She said, “Wow, that’s sad. And I promised myself I wouldn’t cry. But it’s hard not to.”

Johansson’s grandfather left Poland for the US and worked at a grocery store in New York. Most of his family, including his brother, passed away in the ghetto and weren’t able to flee.

“It’s crazy to imagine that Saul would be on the other side selling bananas on Ludlow Street. And how different it would be being in America at that time. The fate of one brother versus the other.”

Despite how difficult it was to hear those stories, Johansson was grateful for the experience. “It makes me feel more deeply connected to that side of myself, that side of my family. I didn’t expect that,” she says.

Fans reacted positively to the interview and had praise for both Johansson and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the host of Finding Your Roots.

Fans Praised Both Scarlett Johansson And Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. For The Interview

Millions of fans tuned into the interview between Scarlett Johansson and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. As expected, the interview took an emotional twist as Scarlett finds out the troubling details of her family members. Fans had lots of praise for the way Johansson reacted. They also value Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ work.

via Instar

One fan wrote, “I am so appreciative of the work Dr. Gates does. How he displays such a respectful and understanding demeanor while his clients go through the sad process of taking it all in speaks to his humanity and dignity. I will always hold him in high esteem!”

Another fan noted that Johansson tries to show this part of her history through her work. “Scarlett really tries her hardest to show this part of history to the audience through the many different projects she does.”

“I am sure Scarlett’s ancestors are proud of what she has achieved..and it all started with the brave move to the US,” another fan pointed out.

A memorable moment between the two, and without a doubt, Johansson walked away from the experience with plenty of gratitude.

Scarlett Johansson Credits Her Mom For Showing Her Diverse Films From A Young Age

Scarlett Johansson made quite the reveal, stating that her mom showed her age-inappropriate films at the age of 7. However, on the flip side, it also got Johansson to diversify her interest in films.

She recalls, “When I was as young as three, my mom started showing me a catalogue of every movie she loved as a child. And she showed me all the Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, Rosalind Russell films, Judy Garland movies, and she would swoon every time Montgomery Clift was on screen – ‘Isn’t he so gorgeous?”

“She showed my siblings and I many age-inappropriate films like Silence of the Lambs when I was seven. I still remember seeing Schindler’s List in the theater when I was nine, I was literally haunted by the little girl in the red coat.”

Johansson didn’t question her mom’s parenting approach, and it was a big influence on her future career.

“If anyone ever questioned my mom’s parenting approach, she’d say that all her children were very mature,” Johansson said. “My passion for performance came from watching all those movies over and over and over.”

Johansson’s mom and her entire family are without a doubt proud of her accomplishments.