Natalie Portman Says Being Sexualized as a Child Actor Was a ‘Long Lolita Phase’ She Tried to Avoid: ‘I Felt Very Scared by It’

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As a seasoned movie critic, I’ve often pondered upon my own journey in the film industry that mirrors, to some extent, Natalie Portman’s experiences. During her chat with Jenna Ortega for Interview magazine, she candidly shared how her career as a child actor was marred by an extended ‘Lolita phase’. This term, you see, reflects the inappropriate sexualization she encountered at a tender age, even as young as 12 when she starred in “Leon: The Professional”. It’s heart-wrenching to consider how the industry exploited her innocence, something Portman has been vocal about, advocating for child stars in Hollywood.

In an interview with Ortega for their upcoming film ‘The Gallerist’, Portman mentioned that the public’s perception of her is often misaligned with her true self. She has touched upon this topic previously – discussing how, as a young actress, she was overly sexualized. This made her feel uneasy because, while exploring one’s sexuality is natural for children, she preferred it to be an internal journey rather than something projected onto her.

Portman explained that throughout her acting career, she’s often been stereotyped into roles that the industry typically assigns to women, commenting: “At every stage of my career, there was a different one I had to steer clear of. Initially, I found myself in the ‘Lolita’ typecast for quite some time. Then followed nearly a decade of being known as the woman who helps the male character work through his emotional issues.

Last year, Portman shared on the “Smartless” podcast that from a young age, she developed a strong facade on movie sets to shield herself from potential exploitation by industry predators due to their unwanted sexualization.

She shared that maintaining a serious demeanor somehow shielded me, as if it served as an unspoken warning, ‘Be careful with her.’ It wasn’t about anyone deserving harm or inviting it. Instead, it seemed to be my subconscious method of protecting myself.

Portman explained that her mother was always by her side and kept others at bay when she was working as a child actor. Later, when she went to college, her father said something like, “That’s adorable, but it’s time to grow up. Let’s find a new opportunity – a proper job.” She pursued psychology at Harvard University, but acting remained a significant part of her life.

Upcoming for Portman is a leading part, teaming with John Krasinski, in Guy Ritchie’s Apple TV+ adventure film “Fountain of Youth.” The streaming will be available on May 23rd.

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2025-04-17 01:16