Scarlett Johansson hates playing “damsels in distress”.

The Hollywood beauty - who portrays Natasha Romanoff and her alter-ego, sexy Russian spy Black Widow, in new superhero movie ‘Iron Man 2′ - doesn’t enjoy playing weak female characters, preferring roles which challenge her.

She is quoted as saying: “Well obviously I don’t do the damsel in distress very well. The essence of this character is that she throws a punch like it’s going to go through you. For me that was an exciting challenge.”

Scarlett - who also starred in action movie ‘The Spirit’, which is based on a comic book series - insists she really enjoyed the physical aspects involved in her ‘Iron Man 2′ role.

She added: “I’ve never done anything like that before - especially the physical side of the stunt work. I’d never been able to challenge myself in that way so that was exciting - something new. And it used up aggression too!”

Scarlett previously admitted she loved “kicking a*s” on the set of ‘Iron Man 2′, which is based on the Marvel comics of the same name.

The 24-year-old star said: “I kick some major a*s! Whose a*s do I kick? Well, you’re just going to have to wait and see. You don’t really want to know, do you?”

‘Iron Man 2′ - which also stars Robert Downey Jr. , Gwyneth Paltrow and Mickey Rourke - is due for release in May next year.