Natalie Portman’s extensive film career commenced in 1994 when she was just 12 years old, portraying Mathilda in Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional. From that point onward, she went on to feature in movies like Beautiful Girls and Where the Heart Is before landing the transformative role of Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

It was in 1999 that Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace introduced the 16-year-old Portman as Queen Amidala, catapulting her onto the global stage and beyond. Fans of the actress may have already come across these details, probably through their viewing of the majority of these films. However, there is a wealth of additional facets to the performer and her undertakings that delve beyond the superficial.

Natalie Portman’s Career Was Impacted Because Of Star Wars

From 1999 to 2005, Natalie Portman took on the role of Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, encompassing The Phantom Menace in 1999, Attack of the Clones in 2002, and Revenge of the Sith in 2005. Faced with the formidable challenge of living up to the legacy of some of the most beloved and critically acclaimed films in cinematic history, the prequel series failed to garner favor with critics and a significant portion of the audience. For instance, The Phantom Menace received a lukewarm Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Natalie Portman

In a conversation with Empire Magazine, Portman reminisced about her firsthand experience of the underwhelming reception that greeted the films upon their release. Portman said,
“It was hard. It was a bummer because it felt like people were so excited about new ones and then to have people feel disappointed. Also to be at an age that I didn’t really understand that’s kind of the nature of the beast. When something has that much anticipation it can almost only disappoint.”

Natalie Portman Opens Up About Being S*xualised At A Young Age

Portman has remained a prominent figure in the public’s gaze for many years, starting from her initial appearance in Léon: The Professional at the tender age of 12. During a 2020 interview with Dax Shepard on his podcast, Armchair Expert, Portman opened up about how her role in the film cast her as a “Lolita-esque character,” subjecting her to premature sexualization, as reported by People.

Natalie Portman in Black Swan

“I think [it] took away from my own sexuality because it made me afraid … Whereas at that age, you do have your own sexuality and you do have your own desire, and you do want to explore things and you do want to be open. But you don’t feel safe, necessarily, when there’s older men that are interested, and you’re like, ‘No, no, no, no.’”
The impact of this experience on Portman extended beyond her mental well-being; it also left a lasting imprint on her career trajectory. Portman disclosed to Shepard that during her teenage years, she deliberately opted for roles that steered clear of explicit content or situations that could exacerbate her objectification.