Natalie Portman has shared a word of warning to child actors as she opened up about her experience as a child star.
The Oscar winner has claimed that having protective parents, as well as an element of “luck”, kept her out of harm’s way in Hollywood.
When asked if she would encourage young people to get into show business, she told Variety: “I would not encourage young people to go into this. I don’t mean ever; I mean as children.
“I feel 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.”
Despite acknowledging improvements in the industry, Portman, who was 11 when she filmed Léon, admitted she doesn’t believe that children should be working in film, but rather enjoying their childhoods.
Adding: “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.”
Portman’s forthright comments come after she addressed the double standards women face in everyday life during a press conference for her film, May December, at Cannes Film Festival.
As reported by People, Portman said at the time: “The whole film is so much about performance and the different roles we play in different environments, for different people, for ourselves, even.”
The Thor: Love And Thunder star added that the concept itself was, “something I’m definitely curious about and interested in.”
“The expectations are different on you all the time and it affects how you behave, whether you’re buying into it, whether you’re rejecting it or whether you’re doing something in between.
“You’re definitely defined by the social structures upon you.”
