Natalie Portman’s Shocking Confession About Her Childhood Sexualization in ‘Leon’

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In a chat with Jenna Ortega for Interview Magazine, the actress openly discussed how her early career experiences, including the sexualization she faced, shaped her into building protective walls that others might perceive as simply being part of her personality. Contrary to the serious image she often projects, this isn’t entirely how she views herself.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I recall my cinematic introduction at just 12 years old in “Leon: The Professional.” In this gripping film, I played a complex character with an unusual bond with Jean Reno’s mature assassin. My role stirred up debate due to the “Lolita”-esque aesthetic, a look intended to depict our characters as romantically involved in an early version of the script. In a conversation with Ortega, I shared my thoughts on this experience.

I find there’s often a misunderstanding about my true self compared to how people perceive me. In the past, I’ve mentioned that as a child, I faced a lot of sexualization due to being in the public eye, which is unfortunately common for young girls in similar situations. This made me feel frightened and vulnerable. Even though sexuality is an essential part of growing up, I wanted it to be something private rather than directed at me. To shield myself, I developed an image of being very serious, studious, and smart, hoping this would keep people from targeting me. While it may seem trivial, this strategy worked in keeping me safe. However, it seems that the public perceives me as a stern, bookish person, when in reality, I’m more lighthearted and playful.

Natalie Portman Has Had an Incredible Career, with Some Dark Roles

Though she’s well-known for her appearances in blockbuster franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel, delving deeper into Natalie Portman’s acting portfolio uncovers a diverse range of complex and thought-provoking roles that have shaped her professional journey.

Natalie Portman first made an indelible and unsettling impact with her debut in the film “Leon: The Professional“, yet she solidified her talent undeniably around 20 years later when she starred as the lead in “Black Swan“, a gripping psychological drama that eventually earned her the Best Actress Oscar at the 2011 Academy Awards. More recently, Portman has revisited complex family secrets and darkness in the Todd Haynes-directed film “May December” on Netflix, which garnered widespread praise.

In the previous year, she starred in the TV miniseries titled “The Lady in the Lake“. Her character was an ambitious investigative journalist who developed an intense fixation on a missing girl, ultimately confronting a woman deeply invested in promoting Baltimore’s Black progressive movement during the 1960s era.

Upcoming projects for Portman include lending her voice to the animated remake of Roald Dahl’s “The Twits” and starring in Guy Ritchie’s “Fountain of Youth,” both slated for release this year. Her early career was marked by some undesired spotlight, but her three-decade-long stint in front of the camera has demonstrated that Luc Besson, director of “Leon: The Professional,” was indeed insightful when he selected her for her debut role, despite the controversy surrounding it now.

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2025-04-16 03:31