Scarlett Johansson takes walk on the mild side in elegant black dress at We Bought A Zoo premiere

By Chris Johnson

Last updated at 6:42 AM on 13th December 2011

A racy animal print number would have perhaps been an altogether too obvious choice of attire.

As such, a walk on the wild side was not on the menu for Scarlett Johansson tonight as attended the New York premiere of her movie, We Bought A Zoo, in a classic black dress.

The below-the-knee ensemble kept the 27-year-old star's legs mostly under wraps - although she did give the smallest flash of her stomach and décolletage in the sleeveless, cutaway number.

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Classic in black: Scarlett Johansson looked elegant in a below-the-knee ensemble as she attended the New York premiere of her new movie We Bought A Zoo tonight

Taking a turn: The actress looked stunning with her hair piled high in an updo, topping off her look with sky-high peep-toe heels

Scarlett looked stunning as she arrived to the Ziegfeld Theatre with her hair worn in an updo and completing her look with a pair of peep-toe heels.

Earlier in the day, the actress - who is divorced from actor Ryan Reynolds, was out in the Big Apple to promote the film.

Appearing on the Today show Johansson talked to host Matt Lauer about her difficult year.

Doubleact: She was joined by her co-star Matt Damon, who looked dapper in a grey suit and blue tie

Walk on the mild side: The 27-year-old actress resisted the obvious choice of an animal print ensemble as she took to the red carpet at the Ziegfeld Theatre

Scarlett said her divorce from Reynolds and the leaking of private nude photographs across the internet - after a hacker cracked into her cell phone - had taught her a lot.

'I've been really fortunate. I've found that I had, even in times of crisis, a lot of love around me, and people have come out of all different dark corners to support me,' she said.

'That's been a really beautiful thing. And I think I've also learned to be much more tolerant and much more patient.'

Ready for their close-ups: Johansson poses with her smiling co-star Elle Fanning

Passion for fashion: Fanning looked maturer than her 13-years as she donned beige dress complete with white patterned detailing

Busy bee: Elle was keeping herself occupied today, seen left attending a press junket for the movie, centre arriving for a taping of the Anderson Cooper show and, right, at tonight's premiere

Busy bee: Elle was keeping herself occupied today, seen left attending a press junket for the movie, centre arriving for a taping of the Anderson Cooper show and, right, at tonight's premiere

Scarlett also told Lauer that keeping busy working on films had proved to be just what she needed.

'There's a community on film sets and in this industry. It would seem kind of cut-throat, but for me, I've been in the industry for 20 years and it has that familial kind of feel,' the Lost In Translation star explained.

'When I'm working I can't focus on anything but the job at hand, and I think that's some kind of therapy.'

Princess dress: Child star Maggie Elizabeth Jones, who has a role in the film, looked cute in a pretty blue gown

Lending their support: Model Megalyn Echikunwoke, left, actress Parker Posey, centre, and Wendi Murdoch seen right

Lending their support: Actresses Maria Soccor, left, and Parker Posey, centre, and Wendi Murdoch seen right

Johansson stars in comedy-drama We Bought a Zoo alongside Matt Damon, Thomas Haden Church, Colin Ford, Desi Lydic, Patrick Fugit, and Elle Fanning.

The Cameron Crowe-directed movie is based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee, which chronicles how the author and his family spent their life savings to buy Dartmoor Zoological Park - a rundown zoo in the English countryside which homed 200 exotic animals facing extinction.

While it takes inspiration from the British story, the movie is set in Southern California.

It is set for release on December 23 in U.S. and March 16 in the UK.