Natalie Portman Wouldn’t Prompt Children to Pursue Acting, Thanks Parents for Protecting Her

During a recent interview with Variety, Natalie Portman, the accomplished actress who has been acting since age 11, expressed she wouldn’t prompt children to pursue acting.

Based on her personal experiences and the safety net her parents provided, Portman encouraged against pushing young children to pursue acting, especially in their formative years. 

The actress candidly admitted, “I would not encourage young people to go into this. I don’t mean ever; I mean as children.” She also admitted that she was protected from possible danger during her early years in the industry by a combination of luck and her parents’ unfailing support. 

Natalie Portman. (Source: Instagram)

“I feel it was almost an accident of luck that I was not harmed, also combined with very overprotective, wonderful parents,” the Academy Award-winning actress noted.

Similarly, she reflected on the paradox of youthful discontent and adult gratitude, pointing out that what may seem restrictive to a child becomes a source of appreciation in adulthood. 

She expressed, “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 the positive strides the industry has taken in recent years to raise awareness and implement safeguards, Portman is adamant that kids shouldn’t work or shouldn’t be forced to work.

She favored a childhood characterized by education and playing above the demands and uncertainties that come with being an actor saying, “But ultimately, I don’t believe that kids should work. I think kids should play and go to school.”

Portman’s revelation about her reluctance to encourage children to pursue acting and her gratitude towards her parents for protecting her from the pitfalls of the entertainment industry has sparked a range of reactions from fans. 

Fans’ reaction to Natalie Portman’s opinion on not encouraging young people to enter the acting world. (Source: Reddit)

One fan expressed, “That screams to me of “don’t ever get into this”, because a profession where it’s an “accident of luck” that a child didn’t get harmed in some way is not a profession I would encourage anyone to ever get into unless they are stone cold inside.”

One fan pointed out that many young actors may not have willingly chosen a career in the entertainment industry, suggesting they were influenced by money-driven parents.

The comment read, “The sad thing is most child stars didn’t go into it willingly, they had greedy parents who forced them into it.”

Natalie Portman’s parents were supportive of her career choices

Portman was born on June 9, 1981, to Avner Hershlag, an Israeli-born gynecologist, and Shelley Stevens, an American-born artist, who also acts as Portman’s agent.

Born into a serious academic family, Portman found herself drawn to a different path early on. In an interview with Variety, she reflected on the dynamics within her family, emphasizing that there was no lineage of performers. 

Despite her divergence from the expected academic trajectory, her parents were remarkably supportive of her career choices. 

The actress acknowledged that her father, in particular, attempted to guide her towards a more traditional path, suggesting at the age of 25 that it might be time to consider law school or graduate studies. 

“My dad pulled me aside when I was 25 and was like, ‘I think it’s time for you to go to law school. Not that he was saying that acting was bad, but more that he was like, ‘I think you’ll be more fulfilled if you have something more — like a life of the mind,” she said.

It wasn’t a disapproval of acting per se but rather a desire for her to embrace a life of the mind. This parental advice, while well-intentioned, did not deter Portman from her passion for acting.