Finally able to make her giant screen debut in 1994 through a small role in "North", Scarlett afterwards appeared in "Just Cause" (1995) as Kate Armstrong, the daughter of Sean Connery's character Paul Armstrong. However, it was through "Manny & Lo" (1996) that they began to draw public attention due to the critics' praise they had received. This particular film even led her, for the first time, to be nominated as Best Female Lead at Independent Spirit Awards. Her acting career later received a boost when they acted as a troubled girl who had lost her legs because of a riding accident in "The Horse Whisperer" (1998). Despite the ironic condition of being given an "introducing" credit, they successfully gained immense praise and was acknowledged as a feasible teen actress of Hollywood.
After taking part alongside Thora Birch in "Ghost World" (2000), Scarlett smoothly strove to confirm her status as a gifted and serious artist by joining the casts of "An American Rhapsody" and "The Man Who Wasn't There" which both were released in 2001. Eva Gardos, the "Rhapsody" director even wholeheartedly complimented her. "When I met her, I felt there was something very solid and strong about her," he commented. "I think he's a very fascinating face and fascinating responses." By 2002, Scarlett finally was graduated from Manhattan's The Professional Kid's School, but being failed to enter New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 2003, he then decided to focus her attention on her acting career and called off her purpose to continue her study at Purchase University.
