As someone who has had the unique experience of becoming a global sensation as a child actor through the “Star Wars” franchise, I can’t help but reflect on how it shaped my perspective on life and the entertainment industry. The memories of those early years are bittersweet, with moments of excitement and accomplishment tinged with an undercurrent of unease about the morality of child labor in Hollywood.
Natalie Portman has made significant strides as an actor since starting out young, appearing in off-Broadway productions and making her screen debut at 12 in “Léon: The Professional” (1994) as a friendless orphan aided by a hitman. Her talent was recognized early on, with filmmakers like Besson ready to adapt the script for her input regarding the film’s content.
In recent years, not much has shifted when it comes to Portman’s career. She continues to shine in action hits such as “Thor: Love and Thunder,” while also collecting accolades for movies like “Jackie” and “May December.” As far back as 2010, she earned an Oscar win for her role in “Black Swan,” where she and Mila Kunis both underwent significant transformations portraying rival ballerinas. However, it was a specific franchise that propelled Portman to A-list stardom.
The franchise in question was none but “Star Wars,” where Portman assumed a pivotal position as Queen Padme Amidala. Her tenure began with “The Phantom Menace” and concluded with “Revenge of the Sith.” Over the years, her portrayal of Padme has gained immense popularity and affection. However, this wasn’t always the case for Portman during her involvement in the “Star Wars” series. The experiences she gained from being a part of “Star Wars” shaped her career significantly, bringing both advantages and challenges.
Natalie Portman skyrocketed to fame while still in high school
Natalie Portman wasn’t yet a seasoned actress when she took on the role of Padme in “Star Wars: Episode 1” at the age of 18. She impressed George Lucas with her ability to portray Padme’s grace and vulnerability, which reminded him of Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in the classic Star Wars films. Surprisingly, Portman hadn’t watched the original Star Wars movies before being cast as the future mother of Luke and Leia, even though they hold a significant place in pop culture history.
I remember being just like that high school girl, blissfully unaware of the magnitude of the films she was a part of. Her absence from the U.S. premiere to prioritize her exams is something many of us can relate to, as academic responsibilities often take precedence over other commitments during our teenage years. But what sets her apart is her unique way of connecting two significant events in her life – the U.K. film premiere and her prom night. Wearing the same dress to both events was a bold move that showcased her confidence and individuality, even amidst the chaos of adolescence. This experience reminds me of the importance of balancing priorities, staying true to oneself, and cherishing meaningful moments in life, no matter how seemingly insignificant they may seem at first glance.
The young actress openly acknowledged years afterwards how intimidating the “Star Wars” phenomenon felt to her as a teenager. She shared with CNN, “The experience is unlike any other film. It’s massive. It’s present in every corner of the world.” Soon enough, she came to understand that being part of the most eagerly-awaited “Star Wars” production would irrevocably alter her life, whether as a teen or an adult.
She balanced an acting career with Harvard
Natalie Portman, renowned teenage actress globally, didn’t let her fame hinder her desire for a typical young adult life. Following her high school graduation, coinciding with “The Phantom Menace” release, she promptly enrolled in Harvard University the very next year. In her spare summers, she carried on acting in movies like “Anywhere But Here,” and graced the Broadway stage alongside Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman in “The Seagull.”
An Ivy League education and a thriving acting career might seem like the perfect combination to some, but Portman worked diligently to defy expectations. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she shared, “I faced more challenges at Harvard because people assumed I was there only due to my fame. I felt compelled to prove myself.” Despite her burgeoning success in Hollywood, she highly prioritized her education and even stated to the media that she would rather abandon her acting career than leave college.
In the year 2002, “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones” hit the screens, marking Natalie Portman’s return as Padme. Most of the movie’s filming occurred during Portman’s summer vacation from Harvard in the year 2000. In an interview with the BBC, Portman shared her feelings, “Taking on this role is quite an undertaking… Yet it has brought an amazing experience into my life.”
Smaller films offered more variety for Portman
During her time at Harvard, Natalie Portman didn’t only work on “Star Wars.” Instead, she took on various film projects with smaller budgets. In 2004, she joined Zach Braff’s first directorial effort, “Garden State,” where she played the role of Sam, a charming and eccentric girl who significantly affects the life of a depressed man (Braff) returning home for his mother’s funeral. Excited by the prospect of exploring something distinct from her work on the complex special effects sets of “Star Wars,” Portman was eager to be part of “Garden State.”
In 2004, Portman earned her initial Oscar nomination and Golden Globe award for her role in Mike Nichols’ mature drama “Closer,” where she portrayed a stripper who developed feelings for Jude Law’s character. This part brought significant recognition for Portman and represented a major advancement in her acting career. The film was considerably more complex than the family-friendly “Star Wars” series, and Portman’s performance required her to appear nude in certain deleted scenes. However, the media portrayed “Closer” as Portman’s breakthrough role, revealing industry perceptions of the prequel films at that time. In an interview with The Guardian, Portman commented on this characterization by saying, “People label this as my introduction to adult roles – it seems amusing, like I’m some sort of porn star.”
V for Vendetta’s director met her on the Star Wars set
As a big fan of Natalie Portman’s acting abilities, I can’t help but be in awe of how she captivated filmmakers even outside her iconic roles in the “Star Wars” saga. One of her most memorable performances from the 2000s was in “V for Vendetta,” based on Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s groundbreaking comic. In this film, I was utterly engrossed as I watched Natalie bring Evey Hammond to life – a woman who became an unwitting participant in a revolution led by the enigmatic masked terrorist “V.” Against the backdrop of a dystopian British government, her character’s transformation was truly inspiring.
As a big fan of Natalie Portman, I can imagine how crucial it was for her to cross paths with James McTeigue before he became a renowned director. If it weren’t for her involvement in “Star Wars” and her encounter with him while he worked as an assistant director on “Attack of the Clones,” she might not have been given the opportunity to bring Evey, the intricate character from “V for Vendetta,” to life. McTeigue was deeply impressed by Portman’s unwavering professionalism and radiant presence during that production. Her fearlessness and intelligence resonated with him and proved to be the ideal fit for the role.
Luckily, McTeigue’s gut feeling during the filming of “Star Wars: Episode II” proved correct, as Portman went to great lengths for the part of Evey. In “V for Vendetta,” the character undergoes a harrowing scene where her head is shaved. Portman insisted on this being filmed authenticately so she could truly experience the humiliation her character endures. Her bravery didn’t stop there; she attended the premiere of “Revenge of the Sith” with her bald head still visible.
She struggled with the backlash to the prequels
The “Star Wars” prequels, when first introduced, didn’t receive the adoration they now have. The reaction to “The Phantom Menace” was especially harsh, causing significant distress for actors like Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks) and Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker). Although Natalie Portman went on to succeed in her acting career, she also acknowledged that the negative criticism took a toll on her.
Fortunately, the “Star Wars” prequels weren’t her only encounter with negative criticisms. She faced similar responses for her second Marvel Cinematic Universe film, “Thor: The Dark World.” She shared this experience with Variety, adding that she went through the same feeling with “Leon: The Professional” and “Star Wars” when they were first released – thinking it was a disaster at the time. However, twenty years later, both films have gained immense popularity.
Many fans have changed their minds and now support the “Star Wars” films led by Portman. In fact, an unexpected number of “Star Wars” enthusiasts consider the prequels to be the finest of the three trilogies. Yet, it’s important to remember that initially, it was disillusioning for her to be involved in such a highly anticipated project that ultimately failed to meet expectations. Fortunately, this experience instilled in her the importance of patience and enjoying the fruits of one’s labor in due time.
No one wanted to hire Natalie Portman after Star Wars
Despite the fact that there’s more affection for the “Star Wars” prequels these days than when they were initially released, it was challenging for Natalie Portman to build a substantial film career while simultaneously being identified as the actress from the “Star Wars” franchise that some fans prefer to forget. Her early acting roles suggested great potential for Portman, but unfortunate directorial choices and ill-timed prequels deterred many directors from casting her, leaving Portman to rely primarily on her existing professional connections.
In an interview with New York magazine, Portman shared that Mike Nichols was a valuable source of support during her career’s early challenges. She first crossed paths with him when he cast her in “The Seagull” on Broadway. This role provided Portman the chance to demonstrate her acting skills beyond the one-dimensional character she portrayed in “Star Wars.” With her performance in “The Seagull,” she managed to disprove the misconception that she was a wooden actor, despite being in the decade’s highest-grossing film. Unable to secure work with any directors at the time, Nichols wrote a letter on Portman’s behalf, endorsing her talent and urging Anthony Minghella to cast her in “Cold Mountain.”
After the release of films such as “Garden State” and “V for Vendetta,” Natalie Portman had effectively restored her reputation as a capable actor in the industry. However, despite winning an Oscar for her role in “Black Swan,” some continued to question her talent, with skeptics arguing that she hadn’t truly earned the recognition bestowed upon her.
Her SNL rap challenged the public’s assumptions about her
Natalie Portman, a budding actress in her prime, seized the limelight by gracing “Saturday Night Live” as its guest host. This opportunity came amidst promoting her film “V for Vendetta.” Surprisingly, Portman excelled in her debut hosting role, particularly when collaborating with Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer on “The Lonely Island’s” ascent to digital fame through “Natalie’s Rap.”
In their podcast on “The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast,” the threesome, including ex-head writer Seth Meyers, shared an unexpected story. They revealed that Portman, who admired hardcore artists such as Lil Kim, was keen on collaborating with them on a rap song following their achievement with “Lazy Sunday.” The comedians were taken aback, just like the viewers, as Samberg expressed his shock via YouTube, “We all burst out laughing, thinking, ‘That’s perfect! No one will ever anticipate this!'”
Portman’s breakout from being typecast as “Star Wars” character thanks to “The Digital Short” is now acknowledged as significant. For instance, Seth Meyers has praised her for surpassing expectations in a recent sketch. This achievement is even more noteworthy given that she reprised the role in “Natalie’s Rap 2.0” (released in 2018), where she passionately supports the prequels and Jar Jar Binks despite criticisms.
Thor was a different kind of blockbuster for Portman
During the 2010s, Natalie Portman’s success didn’t slow down with movies such as “The Other Boleyn Girl,” “Brothers,” and “Black Swan.” However, in 2011, she went back to the genre of sci-fi/fantasy by joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in “Thor.” A big shift from her role as a queen in the “Star Wars” series, in “Thor,” Portman portrayed astrophysicist Jane Foster. She not only saved and supported Chris Hemsworth’s exiled Asgardian character but also helped him regain his throne.
Some actors might have hesitated to take on a film like “Thor” following their experience with the “Star Wars” prequels. However, Portman was drawn to the project due to Kenneth Branagh’s role as director and the chance to portray a more down-to-earth character than Padme. The part of Jane Foster presented an intriguing opportunity for Portman to depict a non-traditional love interest in a widely viewed production. As she shared with The Los Angeles Times, “I was excited, ‘What a fantastic chance in a large movie that will be seen by many people, to have a female character as a scientist.'”
In “Thor: The Dark World” (2014) and more recently in “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022), Portman once again took on the character she previously played. During the production of the latter film, she assumed the mantle of The Mighty Thor momentarily. Preparing for this role involved a significant physical transformation for Portman, which stood in stark contrast to her earlier roles that demanded her to be slender and petite instead.
She didn’t want her kids to see the Star Wars prequels
As a big fan of Natalie Portman’s impressive resume, it’s easy to assume that with her Harvard education and thriving film career, she had no room for a personal life. But what many don’t know is that while working on “Black Swan,” she met her future husband, Benjamin Millepied. The couple welcomed two beautiful children into the world before their divorce in 2024. Although my Star Wars character never got to be a mother to Luke and Leia, I’ve learned valuable lessons from Natalie’s experience. Watching her approach her kids’ connection to the sci-fi franchise has been truly inspiring.
As a mother of two wonderful children, I have carefully chosen which movies to introduce them to, based on their age and sensitivity. While my oldest son has had the pleasure of watching the more recent “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, I’ve deliberately kept both my kids away from the prequels. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you, it’s a decision deeply rooted in my personal experiences and the impact those films have had on my life.
According to Portman’s interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (as reported by Yahoo!), when she was making the “Star Wars” prequels, she thought, “This is going to be so amazing. I’ll be able to show my kids one day.” However, she came to the realization that her character, Padme, dies in the films. Consequently, Portman plans to introduce her children to “Star Wars” once they’re old enough to grasp the concept of suspension of disbelief.
Annihilation reconnected her with the Star Wars world
Natalie Portman has recently focused on science fiction roles, but she’s also taken part in more serious projects beyond the “Star Wars” prequels. For instance, in the 2018 film “Annihilation,” Portman portrays a cellular biologist joining an all-female team of scientists to investigate a strange area caused by a meteor impact. Her husband in the movie is played by Oscar Isaac, who was then starring as Poe Dameron in the new “Star Wars” installments during production.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live, it was evident that Portman and Isaac recognized the chemistry between them on screen. Portman accepted Isaac’s invitation to visit the “Star Wars” set, describing the experience as a way of showing off to her past involvement with the franchise.
In simpler terms, Portman may not have acted in her last “Star Wars” production as she’s expressed interest in rejoining the franchise but hasn’t received any invitation yet.
Some collaborators have forgotten about her Star Wars background
It’s been long enough since Natalie Portman appeared in the “Star Wars” prequels that some of her closest colleagues, including Taika Waititi, have forgotten about her role in those films. However, Waititi has apparently forgotten as well. Despite this, he was eager to include Portman in his latest project, “Thor: Love and Thunder,” where she will play The Mighty Thor. Their conversation about her involvement in the sequel to “Thor: Ragnarok” reportedly didn’t take long before she agreed.
Waititi is not only engaged in making that film, but he has been attempting to develop a “Star Wars” project. However, it remains uncertain if this project will materialize. Regrettably, Portman seems unlikely to be part of it, despite her enthusiasm for collaborating with Waititi once more. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Waititi admitted, “I’ve been attempting to work on a ‘Star Wars’ production. Have you ever desired being in a ‘Star Wars’ film?” To which Portman replied, “I’ve already appeared in ‘Star Wars’ films.” Nevertheless, Ahmed Best, Portman’s co-star from “The Phantom Menace,” reprised his role as Jedi Kelleran Baq in “The Mandalorian,” offering a glimmer of hope that Portman may yet have a different role in the franchise.
Being a child actor informed her thoughts on kids in Hollywood
In 2023, Natalie Portman featured in “May December,” a gripping drama. Here, she portrayed an actress investigating the life of Elizabeth (Julianne Moore) and her husband Joe (Charles Melton). Their relationship started when Joe was a teenager, and Elizabeth was in her 30s. This Netflix production, based on a true-life sex scandal, sparked numerous debates in the media regarding Hollywood’s handling of children and exploitation of traumatic experiences. Given Portman’s background as a former child actor herself, these themes struck a chord with her.
As a teenage actor who gained fame in the “Star Wars” prequels, Portman harbors complex emotions regarding the ethical aspects of child labor in Hollywood. In an interview with Variety, she expressed, “I consider myself fortunate to have avoided harm, largely due to my good fortune and the careful watch of my loving parents. However, I’ve encountered far too many distressing stories to believe that any children should be involved.”
Natalie Portman is surely grateful for having navigated the challenges of childhood stardom, given the chaotic environment surrounding the “Star Wars” films. It’s a testament that an actor’s worth isn’t limited by one role, especially as they continue maturing and evolving in their career.
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2024-07-25 14:31