In the dazzling world of Hollywood, where teen stars often sashay into sultry roles, Natalie Portman took a refreshingly different path. Despite her early breakout with the iconic Gary Oldman, Portman opted out of the glamorous, and often steamy roles that typically come with the territory. Imagine a young actress steering clear of love scenes and make-out moments in an industry where such scenes are practically a rite of passage!
Instead, Portman chose roles that highlighted her range beyond the glitz and glitter. Her decision wasn’t just about avoiding the heat—it was a strategic move to shape a career defined by substance over sizzle. Dive into Portman’s intriguing choice to keep it classy and redefine teen stardom!
Natalie Portman Reveals How Léon: The Professional Shaped Her Decision to Avoid Sexy Roles in Her Teens
Producer, multi-award-winning, and Hollywood’s darling, Natalie Portman, has revealed a sordid truth about her rise to fame. The star, who shot to fame in the iconic 1994 film Léon: The Professional has admitted that she purposely shunned sex scenes while in her teen years because of a disturbing incident.
When asked in an interview, Portman confessed that being cast in a sexualized role as a sexy young Lolita in Léon: The Professional affected her self-image very much. In order to prevent herself from being objectified further on, Portman had to begin taking on roles that were not as sexualized. She confessed (via Movie web):
When I was in my teens I was like, ‘I don’t want to have any love scenes or make-out scenes.’ I would start choosing parts that were less sexy because it made me worried about the way I was perceived and how safe I felt.
This revelation brings into the limelight the struggle that Portman went through in her early years as an actress. Her decision to avoid sexy roles was a deliberate attempt to reclaim her agency and protect herself from further exploitation.
Léon sticks to the hearts of many people, yet the actress’ statement provokes extensive discussion about youth depiction in the films, and about the possibility of such characters’ exploitation. Thus, the emergent role in society of consent and representation has to raise questions about the effect of such films on artists.
Ben Millepied and Natalie Portman Announce Divorce After 11 Years of Marriage
Ben and Natalie, Hollywood’s golden couple, decided that it was time to part ways and end their marriage. After 11 years of marriage and two lovely children, the couple has decided to divorce in France (via Independent). Speculation of turbulence in paradise began to unfold last year when there were allegations that Ben Millepied had been cheating on his wife.
The French choreographer is rumored to have betrayed Portman with a younger woman, and this created a major crack in their relationship. Despite efforts to try and salve the wound, it appears that the quarrel is irreparable. Per news reports, Portman filed for divorce earlier in the year, thus breaking what could have been a Hollywood love story.
Watch Léon: The Professional on Netflix & Apple TV.
