Natalie Portman says being sexualized as a child star forced her to become a 'good girl' as protection
Natalie Portman learned early that growing up in Hollywood meant protecting herself from the very image that made her famous.The Oscar-winning actress opened up about the lasting impact of being sexualized as a child star, revealing how she carefully crafted a "good girl" image to shield herself from unwanted attention – only to find that the persona followed her well into adulthood.Portman began her career in films featuring dark themes, such as 1994 thriller "Léon: The Professional," "Heat" and "Beautiful Girls."BELLA THORNE SAYS HOLLYWOOD TREATED HER LIKE A KID ON SCREEN AND AN ADULT OFF CAMERANatalie Portman said she adopted a "good girl" persona as a child star to protect herself from being sexualized in Hollywood.(Patrick Camboulive/Sygma)As Portman navigated the pressures of Hollywood at a young age, she and her parents made a deliberate effort to separate her on-screen persona from who she was in real life.
Rather than embrace the provocative image associated with some of her early roles, Portman maintained a more reserved public image.She chose conservative, age-appropriate clothing for red carpet appearances while remaining focused on her education and academic success."I think there was a conscious effort, because I was depicted as this sexualized Lolita, that I wanted to be like, ‘No, I’m serious, I’m a good girl, I’m a prude, I’m smart, I’m a student,’ emphasizing that as almost a safety mechanism," she told Harper's Bazaar.As her career progressed, Portman continued to gravitate toward complex, emotionally demanding roles.
She eventually earned an Oscar for her performance in "Black Swan" and another nomination for "Jackie."GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERENatalie Portman won an Oscar for her performance in "Black Swan." (James Devaney/WireImage)But as her career flourished, Portman found that the serious image she had carefully cultivated, coupled with the demanding roles she continued to play, c...