“I don’t want to show kids that I’m smoking”: Even When Natalie Portman Was 11 Years Old, She Protested Against Director’s Wish in Her First Movie

In a revealing look back at the early days of her career, Natalie Portman the acclaimed actor in Hollywood stood by her principles even at the age of 11 as a newcomer in the industry. Talking about Portman’s role as a budding actor, director Luc Besson, recalled the time when Portman stood strong grounds for her principle.

Also Read: “Like a total dumpster fire”: Bruce Willis And Demi Moore Made Their Kids’ Lives Miserable by Moving on From Each Other

Natalie Portman’s Debut: A Resolute Stand for Principle

The Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman entered the entertainment industry when she was 11. Portman’s debut role was in the movie Leon: The Professional in which she played the role of a young girl who takes the guns and goes around shooting everywhere.

Natalie Portman’s parents were not from the entertainment industry and this made them worry about their daughter’s role and how it would affect her. However, after a lot of convincing, they let her play the role but was on the set all the time.

Recalling that time, the director Luc Besson said “With Natalie it was different, she was only 11 years old and Leon was her first film. And it’s about a young girl who takes guns and shoots everywhere, so her parents were very scared, they didn’t know me very well. So I think that’s why they were on my back for a few weeks”.

Also Read: James Cameron Was Scared His Career Would Be Over After ‘Titanic’, Took 1 Thing From Movie Set After Massive $2.2 Billion Success

Not only this Besson further talked about how Natalie Portman was a responsible child and refused to do smoking scenes. Talking about this Besson said that Portman refused to do smoking scenes saying that she did not want the kids to think that she smokes or in any way promote it.

“The funny thing was Natalie. Obviously, at 11 she didn’t smoke, she was against it. She was already responsible. She said: ‘I don’t want to show kids that I am smoking,’” Besson recalled as an example. “So I said: ‘OK, what about showing them that you quit?’ She said: ‘OK.’ And I said: ‘But to show that you quit, you have to show that you were smoking.’ So we made this deal where we showed her smoking at the beginning and then she quit for Leon.”

This negotiation between Besson and Portman shows her determination to stick by her values even within the demanding world of filmmaking.

Natalie Portman in May December

The acclaimed actor Natalie Portman will now be seen once again on the silver screen with her upcoming movie May December. Directed by Todd Haynes this soapy romantic drama, starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore will open the 61^st New York Flim Festival.

Also Read: “I was well known; I had the money”: Liam Neeson Couldn’t Deal With Dame Ex-Girlfriend Helen Mirren, Felt Fragile By Her Success

Following the premiere, the movie May December will be released theatrically on November 17 before making its way onto Netflix on the first of December. This new movie revolves around a scandalous age-gap relationship between Gracie and Joe.

Source: The Guardian