Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson has denied that her diva demands cost her the role of Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber�s stage musical.
Johansson, had been Lloyd Webber�s choice for the role that is set to open in London�s West End this November.
However, earlier this week Lloyd Webber explained why communications had broken down.
He told The Times: "Her people were not `pro' the idea. It became clear that it wasn't going to work because the demands were so ridiculous,"
He said Johansson's representatives "couldn't understand why she would want to appear in the West End for $18,500 a week when she could be earning $10 million for a movie."
"It was annoying because she really wanted to do it."
However, Johansson�s publicist Marcel Parisbeau said a busy work schedule had been the reason for Johansson not accepting the role.
He said in a statement: "It is true that there were some discussions regarding Scarlett and the production of `The Sound of Music.' But Mr. Webber's statement regarding the demands is extremely exaggerated,"
"Her management team was simply asking for terms that an actress of her stature would ask for."
However, it may not be Johansson�s only chance to sing and act; she and her �Scoop� co-star Hugh Jackman are hoping to appear together in a musical soon.
Jackman, who won a Tony Award for his role in �The Boy From Oz� was stunned by Johansson�s singing skills and musical knowledge.
He recently said: "She's just very funny, very quick and she's a pure delight. I have to say she's an amazing singer. We used to sing a lot off camera.�
"She's particularly amazing for a young girl, loves the old standards - Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Hart, Ella Fitzgerald, Sinatra; that kind of era.
"She knows every lyric of every Rodgers and Hammerstein song ever written. I mean it's kind of extraordinary. So we used to do a few duets in the make-up trailer.
"We also talked about doing a movie musical together. So hopefully that'll happen one day."
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