Home on the Hudson: Scarlett Johansson buys historic house designed by White House architect in ultra-private New York enclave

Scarlett Johansson has strengthened her property portfolio with a historical buy in the exclusive "Hollywood on the Hudson" neighbourhood. 
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Avengers star Scarlett Johansson is thought to have snapped up a palatial four-bedroom home in Palisades, New York, for £3.03 million ($4 million).

The actress, whose Avengers spin-off Black Widow is expected to hit screens in 2020, was spotted house-hunting in the Hamptons with her boyfriend Colin Jost earlier this year.

A five-bedroom oceanfront home there had just been reduced from £6.4million to £6million.

But reports say the couple have instead opted for a home in the Rockland County hamlet; one with illustrious design credentials.

Known as the Ivy House, it was designed by architect and Palisades resident Eric Gugler — who was hired by Franklin D. Roosevelt to redesign the West Wing of the White House in the 1930s.

Known as Ivy Cottage: Scarlett Johansson's rumoured new home has views of the River Hudson from every room
Andrea Swenson / Splash News / SplashNews.com

Covered in ivy, the home has wrought-iron balconies, gardens and a pool overlooking the Hudson river.

It spans a palatial 4,000sq ft, with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, and sits on a plot of just under an acre.

British-born TV and stage actress Brenda Forbes is among the home's previous owners, according to the New York Post, and Katherine Hepburn is said to have been a frequent guest.

The star-studded neighbourhood, sometimes referred to as Snedens Landing or "Hollywood on the Hudson", is a famously private one with Bill Murray, Björk and Angelina Jolie counted among current and former residents.