Natalie Portman Reflects on Her 'Long Lolita Phase' as a Child Star
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Natalie Portman discusses her experiences as a child star, detailing how she navigated the challenges of being sexualized at a young age. She reflects on protecting herself by cultivating a serious image, while also acknowledging the differences in experiences among generations of actresses.
Key Takeaways
- Natalie Portman discusses her childhood experiences in Hollywood.
- She felt sexualized at a young age and sought protection through her image.
- Portman emphasizes the difference in public perception versus her true self.
- She shares a conversation with Jenna Ortega about shared experiences.
- Ortega highlights the evolution of the industry for young actresses.
Los Angeles, April 16 (NationPress) Hollywood actress Natalie Portman has shared insights into how she protected herself while feeling sexualized as a young star in Hollywood.
The Oscar-winning actress, now 43, made her film debut in the R-rated 1994 movie ‘Leon: The Professional’, which she began filming at the age of 12, according to ‘People’ magazine.
Portman, who has previously discussed her experiences growing up in the industry, had a conversation with Jenna Ortega for a recent issue of ‘Interview’ magazine.
She remarked, "I think there’s a public perception of me that differs from who I truly am. I’ve mentioned before how, as a child, I was heavily sexualized, which is something many young girls in the spotlight face. It frightened me. While sexuality is a significant part of childhood, I desired to keep it internal rather than have it directed at me.”
According to ‘People’, the Fountain of Youth actress, who stars alongside Ortega, 22, in the upcoming film ‘The Gallerist’, explained that her method of self-protection involved presenting herself as “very serious. I’m studious. I’m intelligent, and that’s not the type of girl you attack.”
"I thought, if I cultivate this image, I’ll be left alone,” she stated. "It shouldn’t be necessary, but it worked.”
Ortega, who also began her acting career young, expressed a sense of kinship with other former child actors, saying, "Whenever someone mentions they were a young performer, it changes how you perceive them.”
The ‘Wednesday’ star added during the Interview discussion that "there’s something both heartwarming and tragically revealing whenever I converse with actresses from earlier generations, as their experiences are so starkly different.”
She concluded, "It’s encouraging to see how much things have evolved, as I’ve been fortunate in my own upbringing within this profession.”
