During a recent interview with Variety, former child actress and current film industry superstar Natalie Portman said that her own experience as a child actress and later exposure to what goes on in the darker corners of Hollywood has led her to believe that children should not work as actors in Hollywood.
Particularly, Portman said that she doesn’t think any child should be part of the industry because they could be harmed, presumably by perverts, and that she thinks no child should work because they should be playing and going to school instead.
Portman’s comments on the matter came when Variety asked, “As a former child actress who is now a mother, would you encourage your children to get into this industry? Or do you see enough change that it feels safe for them if they choose to get into it?”
Responding, Portman first said that she has heard numerous horror stories out of the industry about child actors and that though her parents were able to ensure she wasn’t harmed, all the bad that has happened has made her think young people shouldn’t be involved.
She said, “I would not encourage young people to go into this. I don’t mean ever; I mean as children. I feel it was almost an accident of luck that I was not harmed, also combined with very overprotective, wonderful parents. You don’t like it when you’re a kid, and you’re grateful for it when you’re an adult. I’ve heard too many bad stories to think that any children should be part of it.“
Continuing, she said, “Having said that, I know all the conversations that we’ve been having these past few years. It’s made people more aware and careful. But ultimately, I don’t believe that kids should work. I think kids should play and go to school.”
Portman began her career when she was just 12-years-old, starring in the action film “Léon: The Professional.” That movie came out in 1994. Then, just a few years later in 1999, Portman became a superstar when she played Padmé Amidala in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.”
During her Variety interview, Portman also spoke about the current state of the movie industry, saying, “I have no idea and feel I’m as lost as everyone else. It seems to be changing all the time. They’re like, “Movies are dead,” but “No, movies are thriving,” and “No, streaming is just like TV.” We spent all this time changing our industry to have the same thing we had before. And meanwhile, I see my kids; they’re all just watching YouTube. [It makes you think that] maybe none of this is relevant. I want to make what I love and care about and try to keep supporting that. When you complete those things, they find their audiences and find their people, the people who are passionate about it.”
Featured image credit: By Staff Sgt. Carlos Lazo – This image was released by the United States Army with the ID 110227-A-6452C-413