Natalie Portman, the acclaimed actress known for her role as Padmé Amidala in the ‘Star Wars’ prequels, has opened up about her experiences with criticism early in her career. Reflecting on her time as a teenager in Hollywood, Portman revealed that she faced significant negative reviews that, rather than deterring her, ultimately motivated her to persevere in the industry.
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Portman’s journey began with her film debut in the 1994 thriller ‘The Professional,’ which was a challenging start, receiving poor reviews and struggling at the box office. Her role in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise, which began with ‘The Phantom Menace’ in 1999, met a similar fate. Despite the films achieving substantial commercial success, they were panned by critics, with many questioning the acting capabilities within the series. Portman, who was just 16 when she began filming the franchise, shared her feelings on these experiences in a recent cover story for Harper’s Bazaar.
“I had lucky early experiences of failure,” Portman reflected, acknowledging that while criticism can be difficult to handle, it shaped her resolve. “My first film, The Professional, got horrible reviews and had no box office. And then I made ‘Star Wars’. I was 16, and that got murdered,” she recounted. Despite the backlash, she took these experiences in her stride, viewing them as valuable lessons that propelled her to improve her craft.
The prequel trilogy, which centred around the tragic romance between Portman’s character and Anakin Skywalker, portrayed by Hayden Christensen, was referred to as being poorly received, notwithstanding the high calibre of its cast. It included stars such as Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, and Sir Christopher Lee, yet the critical reception remained overwhelmingly negative. Portman noted that this was a pivotal learning moment for her. “I think it was an amazing early lesson in how to read really bad things about yourself and then be able to be like, ‘I’m going to make another one. I’m going to show them,’” she explained.
Despite facing this criticism, Portman was determined to continue her career. During the production of the ‘Star Wars’ films, she also appeared in cult favourites such as ‘Garden State’ and ‘V for Vendetta,’ securing acclaim for her performances. Her resilience ultimately paid off when she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2011 for her role in ‘Black Swan’, a stark contrast to the earlier struggles she encountered.
Looking to the future, Portman is set to return to the big screen in ‘The Gallerist,’ a dark comedy scheduled for theatrical release on December 4th. In the film, she takes on the role of Polina Polanski, an art gallery owner who must resort to unconventional methods to turn an accident into a masterpiece at an art fair in Miami. This project marks her first film appearance since her role in Apple TV’s ‘Fountain of Youth’ in 2025.
In addition to ‘The Gallerist’, Portman has a busy slate, having appeared in ‘May December’, released in 2023, and a miniseries titled ‘Lady in the Lake’ in 2024. Furthermore, she lent her voice to the animated film ‘The Twits’, which is set to be released in 2025.
Portman’s career trajectory is a testament to her tenacity. She has transformed initial setbacks into motivation, proving her dedication to the craft and her ability to evolve as an actress in an ever-changing industry. With her upcoming projects, it is clear that Portman continues to thrive, ready to conquer new challenges ahead while carrying the lessons from her past experiences.