Natalie Portman has some heartfelt advice for aspiring young actors: enjoy childhood while it lasts! The Oscar-winning actress, who burst onto the Hollywood scene at just 13 in Léon: The Professional, recently opened up on the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast about her belief that children shouldn’t work in the entertainment industry.
“I would not encourage young people to go into this,” Portman shared. “I don’t mean ever; I mean as children.” For Portman, it was a mix of “an accident of luck” and her “overprotective, wonderful parents” that kept her safe in the unpredictable world of Hollywood. While she admits she didn’t always appreciate their strictness at the time, she now says, “You don’t like it when you’re a kid, and you’re grateful for it when you’re an adult.”
As a mom to two children, Aleph and Amalia, with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied, Portman is even more convinced that kids should focus on playtime and school rather than the pressures of stardom. “I’ve heard too many bad stories to think that any children should be part of it,” she explained, while also acknowledging that recent industry conversations have raised awareness about protecting young actors.
When it comes to her breakthrough role in Léon: The Professional, Portman’s feelings are undeniably mixed. “It’s a movie that’s still beloved, and people come up to me about it more than almost anything I’ve ever made,” she said. While the film kick-started her career, she admitted, “It definitely has some cringey, to say the least, aspects to it when you watch it now. So, yes, it’s complicated for me.”
Portman’s reflections are a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting young talent while cherishing the simplicity of childhood. And while she’s grateful for the career that film launched, her ultimate message is clear: kids deserve to just be kids.
