Red hot talent: Johansson showing her range with this weekend’s ‘Nanny Diaries’

BARCELONA, Spain – The woman in Rat Pack-era hat and shades steps into the resort hotel elevator, sees a little Spanish boy, leans over, says “Hola” and tries to get a conversation going.

The boy goes shy and backs off. His father is mum. They ride in silence until their escape.

This is not the reaction Scarlett Johansson ordinarily gets from men – of any age, on film or in real life.

Her sensual lips, alabaster skin, diamond-blue eyes, luscious curves and a sexuality that director Woody Allen has compared with Marilyn Monroe’s usually make younger guys ardent and older men wistful.

“I’ve got what I’ve got and will use it,” Johansson says.

That, and acclaimed acting talent, have resulted in an impressive film resume for a 22-year-old, including “Lost in Translation” and “Girl With a Pearl Earring.”

Today, “The Nanny Diaries” opens nationwide with Johansson playing Annie the nanny in an adaptation of the 2002 best-selling novel.

Next year, another Johansson film arrives: “The Other Boleyn Girl,” in which she plays Mary Boleyn, who vies with sister Anne (Natalie Portman) for the affections of Henry VIII.

And she’s in Spain filming Allen’s latest, untitled film, known as his “Spanish project,” her third movie with the director.

Displaying her unflagging energy, Johansson also is involved in projects beyond films.

In a new Louis Vuitton ad campaign, she looks like a 1950s screen siren, part Grace Kelly cool and part Jane Russell sizzle.

And she has recorded an album in which she covers various Tom Waits songs, which will be released in October.

In “The Nanny Diaries,” Johansson’s Annie cares for attention-starved Grayer (Nicholas Art), whose wealthy parents, Mr. and Mrs. X (Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney), place him second to their pursuit of money and prestige.

In real life, she says, “I would love to have kids. I haven’t really figured it out yet. I can see having a kid or two. And I would like to adopt children.

“I think I’m tender with children. I got along really well with (Nicholas). It made me feel young, like you’re sort of 9 again.”

Johansson’s romantic interest in “The Nanny Diaries” is a Harvard hottie played by Chris Evans. She refuses to reveal her off-screen love.

“No,” she says, “I’m not seeing Josh Hartnett. He is dreamy, though. No, not Justin Timberlake.

“I’m a little private about that stuff. I’d love to just scream it out. But (the paparazzi and tabloids) are so intrusive. We can go down a list, and I can say, ‘No, no, no.’ But I won’t say who.”

One of her more public relationships is with Allen, with Johansson being branded as the director’s new muse.

Before the “Spanish project,” he directed her in “Match Point” and “Scoop”.

“I just adore Woody,” Johansson says. “We have a lot in common. We’re New Yorkers, Jewish. We have a very easygoing relationship.

“I’ve seen things like, “Are you his new muse?’ Yeah, I go over at 2 a.m. and make him grilled cheese sandwiches, and he writes. Ha!

“It’s just a very easy friendship. … Any girl my age has a fondness in the most innocent way for older men their fathers’ age.”

What about the comparison with Monroe?

“Maybe he’s just blinded by my shock of platinum hair, or maybe it’s my body type,” she says with a laugh. “Honestly, I’ve never really understood (the comparison). I absolutely love Marilyn Monroe, but I don’t see it.”

Johansson doesn’t deny that, like Monroe, she appeals to men. She plans to go to Iraq this year with the USO to visit U.S. servicemen.

Will she sing for them?

“Maybe,” she says. “I’ll probably just take the stage and ooze sex appeal and hang around.”

After that, Johansson may head to other parts of the world to see what the charities she contributes to are doing – maybe to Africa, she says.

When recording her album in Louisiana, for instance, she worked with USA Harvest, serving food to people in New Orleans who were uprooted by Hurricane Katrina.

Earlier this year, she went to India and Sri Lanka with the Britain-based relief and development group Oxfam International to see how the organization is delivering health care, and how it’s helping women who lost husbands in the 2004 tsunami get out of poverty.

“I was completely amazed by what they’re doing,” she says. While the poverty is extreme, she adds, “you kind of just accept it and look for a solution.”

Johansson sees involvement in charitable work, backing political candidates – she would support Al Gore if he were to run for president again – and entertaining troops as things she can give in return for the success she enjoys.

“I know how lucky I am,” she says. “I have friends. I’m doing what I want to do. I can travel.

“I also have an opportunity to make some sort of difference.”