Scarlett Johansson has revealed that, before big screen stardom beckoned, her family had to rely on government help to put meals on their table.

The Hollywood star, who now earns millions of dollars for her movie roles, spoke about her family’s past in a statement.

Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson (Ian West/PA Wire)

“My family grew up relying on public assistance to help provide meals for our family,” Page Six quoted the actress as saying.

“Child hunger in America is a real and often overlooked problem, but one that together, we can fix.”

Scarlett made the statement after appearing in a video for the charity Feeding America, which is campaigning to get Americans to help those suffering with hunger.

“The are 16 million children struggling with hunger in America,” she said.

“That’s one in five daughters, sons, neighbours and classmates who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, yet billions of pounds of good food go to waste every year. It’s time we do something about it.

“Feeding America is a nationwide network of food banks that helps provide meals to millions of kids in families in need.”

“Together we can solve hunger. Together we’re feeding America,” she added.

Meanwhile, Scarlett’s fellow Avengers star Jeremy Renner is also campaigning for the charity.

“As an American, it’s hard to hear that we have a serious hunger issue in our country,” he said.

“And as a parent it’s even harder to hear one in five of our kids struggles with hunger, especially when billions of pounds of good food are wasted every year.”