Scarlett Johansson's humbling mission

Aug 2, 2007, 13:00 GMT

Scarlett Johansson waves to onlookers during the filming of lastest US director Woody Allen\'s movie in Barcelona, Spain, 10 July 2007. Beside Johansson the Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem take part in the lastest Woody Allen film. EPA/Julian Martin

Scarlett Johansson says her charity mission to Indian and Sri Lanka was a humbling experience.

The 22-year-old actress, who is an Oxfam ambassador, spent two weeks in the poverty-stricken countries working with the relief charity to increase awareness about global poverty and suffering.

Scarlett says the mission made her question her priorities.

Speaking about leaving her glitzy lifestyle behind, she told USA Today newspaper: "It was nice to feel part of the community. Certainly your own vanity is the last thing on your mind when you're travelling in a place like this."

The blonde star - whose next movie 'The Nanny Diaries' is released in the US this month - explained some areas were just too risky to go to.

She said: "We were not visiting the war zones of Sri Lanka because it can be so dangerous. I wanted to travel further in to see what was going on, but they told me they weren't allowing vehicles. A school bus was blown up the day that we arrived. It was pretty horrible."

Scarlet also revealed she feels privileged to be able to use her name for good causes.

She said: "It's amazing to come home when you see people living in poverty. On one hand you're thinking, my celebrity life is so surreal, but it's my work and helps me bring awareness to Oxfam."

The star says her next charity mission will take her to Africa and she hopes to visit Liberia or Ethiopia.

(C) BANG Media International