Natalie Portman's Views on Children in Hollywood

Natalie Portman Unique Nicole/WireImage/Getty Images

Actress Natalie Portman, who began her career as a preteen, discourages young people from pursuing acting at a young age. In a recent interview with Variety, the 42-year-old stated, "I would not encourage young people to go into this, I don't mean ever; I mean as children." She emphasized the importance of luck and having overprotective parents in her own positive experience as a child actor.

Portman began her film career at the age of 12 with her debut in Léon: The Professional in 1994. She went on to appear in Heat, Everyone Says I Love You, and Mars Attacks! At just 16, she took on her breakthrough role as Padmé Amidala in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

Despite her successful transition from child stardom to an Oscar-winning career as an adult, Portman remains skeptical of child actors working in Hollywood or any other industry.

Portman, a mother since 2011, has chosen to keep her children out of the public eye. The actress, who shares a 12-year-old son named Aleph and a 6-year-old daughter named Amalia with her estranged husband Benjamin Millepied, firmly believes that children should not be working, but focusing on play and schooling instead.

In August, it was confirmed that Portman and Millepied had separated after 11 years of marriage. This news came just two months after rumors surfaced that Millepied had been involved in an affair with climate activist Camille Étienne. An insider exclusively told Us at the time that, "After news of his affair came out, they’ve been trying to work on their marriage but are currently on the outs."

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During that month, Portman was seen attending an event in Australia without her wedding ring, which happened to be on her and Millepied's 11th anniversary.