Natalie Portman Speaks Out About Being Sexualized At Age 12 After ‘The Professional’
9 years ago
Natalie Portman Speaks Out About Being Sexualized At Age 12 After 'The Professional'
At the 2018 Women's March in Los Angeles, Natalie Portman
gave a powerful speech about a dark time in her past.
The 36-year-old actress took to the stage on Saturday and
revealed how she was sexualized as a preteen after the debut of her first film,
"The Professional."
In the film, Natalie portrayed 12-year-old Mathilda, a girl
who befriends an Italian hitman with the hopes of avenging the murder of her
family.
"The character is simultaneously discovering and
developing her womanhood, her voice and her desire. At that moment in my life,
I too was discovering my own womanhood, my own desire and my own voice,"
Natalie shared.
The Oscar winner said she was "so excited" when
the film was released in 1994, but her experience quickly turned negative.
"I excitedly opened my first fan mail to read a rape
fantasy that a man had written me," Natalie recounted. "A countdown
was started on my ..