Natalie Portman Opens Up About Traumatic Experience of Sexualization as a Young Actor

Natalie Portman, the renowned Hollywood star with an impressive career that began at the tender age of 12, has mesmerized audiences with her unforgettable performances in movies like Black Swan, Annihilation, and Leon: The Professional.

As she gears up for the release of her upcoming MCU film, Thor: Love and Thunder, where she reprises her role as Jane Foster, Portman shares an important piece of advice.

In a recent interview, she sheds light on the dark side of the film industry, particularly the traumatic experiences faced by young actors.

Portman's acting journey kicked off when she was just 12 years old, making her debut in Luc Besson's critically acclaimed film, Leon: The Professional.

Working alongside actors Gary Oldman and Jean Reno, Portman delivered a remarkable performance that ultimately earned her the role after surpassing 2000 other applicants.

While the movie achieved success, Portman encountered an unpleasant surprise when she received a disturbing fan letter that depicted a rape fantasy.

This marked her introduction to the harsh reality of being sexualized in the industry.

The audience's perception of Portman was further fueled by her “Lolita” image in the film, in which she portrayed a character dressed as Marilyn Monroe and Madonna.

Unfortunately, this portrayal served as ammunition for individuals to subject her to vulgar and obscenely sexualized comments and threats.

She was pressured to either conceal her true self or face dire consequences.

In 2018, Natalie Portman took the opportunity to address the Women's March, where she bravely shared her distressing experiences as a young actor in the industry.

She revealed how the initial excitement surrounding her debut film quickly dissipated as fans began to sexualize her image, leaving her feeling unsafe and violated.

Regrettably, Natalie Portman is not alone