Chris Evans Teased Over His "Small Size" on USO Holiday Tour

Scarlett Johansson joins Captain America in Turkey, Qatar and Afghanistan

By Zach Johnson Dec 08, 2016 3:30 PMTags
Chris Evans, Scarlett JohanssonIncirlik Air Base/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Captain America did his country proud this week.

As part of a USO Holiday Tour with his Avengers co-star Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans visited servicemen and servicewomen currently stationed in Turkey, Qatar and Afghanistan. Ray Allen, Craig Campbell, Maya DiRado, and Jim Karol were also involved in the tour.

When Evans and Johansson visited Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan Wednesday, the actors hosted a 20-minute Q&A shortly before Campbell performed his biggest hits. "This is a lot bigger than Turkey!" Evans marveled. As fans cheered, Johansson added, "You guys are rowdy!"

"My first USO tour was in 2008 and it was such an incredibly touching experience," Johansson began. "I realized that you kind of have these ideas of being home, and you think of loved ones far away, and then the reality of actually being on the ground with you guys, meeting you guys face to face, hearing your stories, getting to look you in the eye, find out where you're from, find out your name—there's this incredible sense of incredible connectivity, because I don't know you guys. You don't know me. It's a real gift to be able to come here and meet all of you and just let you guys know that we really appreciate what you do. I know a lot of you are obviously far from home, far away from your families, and we love you and we appreciate you."

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Unlike Johansson, this was Evans' first USO Tour. "It's been so fantastic to meet you and really see what you have to go through," the actor said. "I play a soldier, but I've never actually spent real time with people who are stationed far from their homes to understand the sacrifices made. So for me, not only is it fulfilling as an actor, but as a man it really is a wonderful thing."

"I have so much respect for you guys," he added. "Thank you for making us feel right at home."

Incirlik Air Base/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Not everyone was happy to see two actors from The Marvel Cinematic Universe. In fact, one young fan said he'd hoped to see another comic book character. "You said you want Batman? You do realize he's not a superhero—he has gadgets. Both of us would whoop his ass," Evans joked. "But Batman's great, too. I'm sorry. I'm not going to make a kid cry on the first question."

Later, a man asked Johansson, "Are you a natural redhead?" The crowd hooted and hollered as she replied, "I had a really naughty answer to that, but this is clearly the wrong crowd for that."

Another child asked if Evans and Johansson are friends in real life. "No, I can't stand her," Evans teased. "Scarlett is honestly one of my oldest friends. My first movie was with Scarlett in 2002, maybe. We were little kids. She's younger than me, but she has always felt like an older sister."

After Johansson pointed out their two-year age difference, Evans clarified that the actress is "someone I look up to" because of her experience in Hollywood. "It's nice in our business to have someone you can turn to, not just as a friend, but who can relate to the experience you're going through," the 35-year-old actor explained. "Outside of the film we are very good friends."

Evans had the air base in stitches when he revealed that his "favorite" movie to make was Not Another Teen Movie. "Great lowbrow audience here!" he joked. "Sometimes you gotta put a banana in your butt. It was my first movie, and I think as you grow as an actor and have a type of career, you actually start worrying a little more...The first movie, you don't know any better."

A woman also asked Johansson if she'll ever get to make a Black Widow standalone movie—something the actress has championed before. "I don't know. I just spent six months in a rubber body condom for Ghost in the Shell. I think my days for wearing something in neoprene are waning," she said. "We're shooting Avengers 3 and 4 this year, and then we'll see how it goes."

Incirlik Air Base/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Johansson's joke prompted Evans to clear the air about his current physique. "I am nowhere near my filming size. If one more soldier tells me how small I look, I'm just going to kill myself," the actor said with a laugh. "I haven't started working out; This is the walking around weight."

The actors took their final question from a kid who was seated in the front. "If you couldn't be, um, Captain America," the young boy asked, "what would you want to be: Iron Man or...what?"

"Well, not Batman!" Evans joked. "It's tough, because [Robert Downey Jr.]'s done such a great job. But as a Cap, you don't get to make the jokes. It was a lot more fun as [Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer's] Johnny Storm because I got to be funny. Cap doesn't crack the jokes, and it would be nice to be able to be funny sometimes. I would say...Iron Man."

Initially, Johansson didn't want to answer the question. "Don't look at me!" she said.

"Who would you rather be?" Evans asked.

"Who would I rather be: You or Iron Man? That is an absurd question," Johansson responded. "Wait, do I have to be a superhero? I can be anything? I would be happy with the Terminator."

An audience member suggested a character from DC Comics, but Johansson shot that idea down. "Harley Quinn? What? She's got nothing on me," she said. "I'm not just saying this, but the Widow always wins, so it's really hard for me to think of another person that I'd rather be. I guess...I don't know. I guess...maybe Iron Man—just because Downey gets so many sick days."

After the Q&A ended, Evans took to Twitter to reflect on his experiences. "This USO tour has changed me. ENDLESS thanks to all the soldiers I met in Afghanistan, Qatar and Turkey. Your sacrifice is heroism defined," he tweeted alongside a selfie he took with dozens of servicemen and servicewomen. Later, Evans tweeted, "I promise you that the pleasure was all mine. Thank you again to ALL service members! Your courage and commitment isn't taken for granted!"