Sofia Coppola’s romantic comedy drama “Lost in Translation” is a masterpiece. It’s a bona fide masterclass in cinematic subtlety, yet it still succeeds in being extremely moving, melancholy, and funny.
It’s about a fading Hollywood actor going through a midlife crisis during a visit to Tokyo, Japan, where he’s promoting a whisky brand. There, he befriends another disillusioned American, a much younger recent college graduate, who’s been in a dull marriage for two years.
“Lost in Translation” is an incredibly intimate movie with a very small core cast led by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. It was released in the United States on October 3, 2003. So what does that small cast look like now compared to when the film hit theaters? Let’s find out…
Scarlett Johansson (Charlotte)
Above is a social media post with several pictures of Scarlett Johansson in “Lost in Translation.”
Academy Award-nominated Scarlett Johansson played Charlotte in “Lost in Translation.” Charlotte is a thoughtful recent college graduate who accompanies her celebrity photographer husband to Tokyo. She feels lost, neglected, and uncertain about her life and marriage. Her connection with Bill Murray’s Bob Harris forms the central story and emotional core of the movie.
Age when “Lost in Translation” released: 18.
Selected movie credits before “Lost in Translation”: Home Alone 3 (1997), Ghost World (2001), Eight Legged Freaks (2002).
GettyAge now: 41.
Selected movie credits after “Lost in Translation”: The Avengers (2012), Under the Skin (2013), Jojo Rabbit (2019).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Bill Murray (Bob Harris)
Above is a social media post with a picture of Bill Murray in “Lost in Translation.”
Academy award-nominated actor and comedian Bill Murray played Bob Harris in “Lost in Translation.” Bob is a fading, middle-aged Hollywood actor who’s in Tokyo to shoot a whiskey commercial. Experiencing a midlife crisis and feeling disconnected from his career and wife of 25 years, he bonds with the young Charlotte.
Age when “Lost in Translation” released: 53.
Selected movie credits before “Lost in Translation”: Ghostbusters (1984), Scrooged (1988), Space Jam (1996).
GettyAge now: 75.
Selected movie credits after “Lost in Translation”: Garfield: The Movie (2004), The Monuments Men (2014), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Giovanni Ribisi (John)
Above is a social media post with a picture of Giovanni Ribisi (R) with Scarlett Johansson in “Lost in Translation.”
Actor and cinematographer Giovanni Ribisi played John in “Lost in Translation.” John is Charlotte’s husband and a busy celebrity photographer. Often distracted by work and more interested in networking than his marriage, he is the root cause of Charlotte’s sense of isolation.
Age when “Lost in Translation” released: 28.
Selected movie credits before “Lost in Translation”: Saving Private Ryan (1998), Boiler Room (2000), Gone in 60 Seconds (2000).
Above is a 2025 social media post with a recent picture of Giovanni Ribisi (L).
Age now: 51.
Selected movie credits after “Lost in Translation”: Avatar (2009), Ted (2012), Selma (2014).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Anna Faris (Kelly)
GettyActress and comedian Anna Faris played Kelly in “Lost in Translation.” Kelly is a bubbly and somewhat airheaded Hollywood actress staying at the same hotel as Bob, Charlotte, and John. Her role is largely that of comic relief.
Age when “Lost in Translation” released: 26.
Selected movie credits before “Lost in Translation”: Lovers Lane (2000), Scary Movie (2000), The Hot Chick (2002).
GettyAge now: 49.
Selected movie credits after “Lost in Translation”: Brokeback Mountain (2005), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), The Emoji Movie (2017).
Filmography info per IMDb.
It’s great to see the core cast of “Lost in Translation” all doing so well. All four of them are still thriving in their acting careers.
“Lost in Translation” was nominated for four Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director for Coppola, Best Actor for Murray, and Best Original Screenplay) and won one, for Best Original Screenplay.
Its Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% is testament to its quality as a film. It’s still undoubtedly worth watching today.
