Allen warns Johansson over party lifestyle

Woody Allen has warned Scarlett Johansson not to become sidetracked by the Hollywood party scene.

The director said he believes Johansson has huge potential and should follow in the footsteps of Meryl Streep by devoting all her energy to her career.

The 71-year-old, who cast the actress in three of his recent movies, told New York Post gossip column PageSix: "She is so beautiful and so sexy and so gifted... she can do anything, but she has to make the right choices of films and she's got to not go the PageSix party route.

"I don't want to read about her in the paper with this boyfriend or that boyfriend, or in rehab or taking pills. I don't think she's always made great choices. She has to take her acting seriously... the way someone like Meryl Streep did it."

Allen recently denied reports that Johansson was his new muse.