Natalie Portman, the dazzling Black Swan herself, has some thoughts on child actors in Hollywood, and she’s not holding back!
At the ripe age of 13, Natalie dove headfirst into the glitzy world of showbiz, making her big-screen debut in 1994’s Léon: The Professional. Fast forward, and she’s been through the cinematic wringer with roles in Heat, Beautiful Girls, and the intergalactic madness of Mars Attacks! By the time she was 18, she was battling Sith lords in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. No big deal, right?
But now, while chatting about her latest flick, May December, Natalie spilled the beans to Variety about the wild ride that is Hollywood, especially for the pint-sized performers.
Hold on to your director’s chair, because Natalie’s got a tip for the kiddos: “I would not encourage young people to go into this. I don’t mean ever; I mean as children.” Wise words from our Oscar-winning sage.
She spilled the tea about her own journey, confessing, “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.”
But hey, she’s not living in the past; Natalie acknowledges that Hollywood has come a long way since her early days. However, she’s sticking to her guns like a true Jedi, saying, “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.”
Straight from the Black Swan’s beak – Hollywood’s a jungle, especially for the ankle-biters, and maybe they’re better off perfecting their Fortnite dance moves and acing their spelling tests. May the laughter be with you, young ones!