Natalie Portman talks about her role as Mathilda in Léon - Léon: The Professional (1994)
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Even though the conversation is a bit uncomfortable we can't deny that this was one of the best-if not the best-performance of a 12-year-old on the big screen and the fact that it was her first makes it even more impressive.I believe this role of hers it was a very important moment in her acting career.
Pretty nice, she played little girl kind of cute. After all all kids are a little weird, then we just grow older.
I don't really know what she's talking about. Mathilda sometimes seems somewhat nervous or unsure in her role, but that is in fact her role. She reacts weird and flinches because, even in the movie, she's really just a child. She likes to act tough, smart and mature, because that's what she wants to be, but of course, deep down, she's just a child that lost everything she had. She's completely lost in this world, and Leon seems to be the only person that can help her.
Therefore all 'mistakes' that you could see in her role, are just a part of what makes her acting perfect here, at least that's what I felt like. Her role feels scarily believable, even to this day. For me, this remains one of the best child performances to date.
@@mokkaherrman1104 Thank you for your comment and I do agree with you. I understand that Natalie Portman feels a little embarassed to talk about such a controversial topic and I mean the "fantasy" that some have about young girls(not to mention under age). For example,a lot of people would say that they way Mathilda dresses up is a little too provocative because she dresses up like a mature woman and Natalie maybe felt that this would cause a reaction. And of course,it did. But this specific role,gave her a lot recognition and I am talking about her acting skills. And this is the most important of all. After all,people will always make their own assumptions and they will always talk about whatever.
@@george90186 The movie definetly sexualizes Natalie to some extent, as her trying to act more mature than she is, is a core aspect of her character. She's in love with Leon, and wants him to see her on one Level in maturity. She thinks she's capable of doing what Leon does with some training, and wants to prove it to him. In her heart however, she's still vulnerable and doesn't understand what it really means to kill people.
It's hard to deny that Natalie is portrayed in a 'sexy' way somrtimes, but I'd argue it's only a part of her character, and a big part of what makes this film feel so real.
@@mokkaherrman1104 Allo me to add this,brother .Despite the fact that the script may imply as well as lead to some reasonable assumptions, I believe and correct me if I'm wrong this role paved the way for her later success because I believe that it helped unfold her talent. How brave of her,she definately pulled it off. I always hold this movie close to my heart,this platonic love was nothing but beautiful and pure,so aesthetically done,underlines the family bond.
The lighting on her was not good
The professional was such a memorable movie.. Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman were brilliant.. That movie deserves a sequel but with Natalie Portman at the helm.. All grown up and "Cleaning"..
Don't give them any more ideas for bad sequels or reboots, please! We need more original content.
@@adamedison6831Too late. It's already happening!
Is it?
I’m curious to know what she thought she did wrong in that scene as Mathilda. I’ve always thought her acting (especially at that age) was phenomenal.
I think it’s a case of “you’re your own worst critic”. Because I did high school productions and watching old videos I see all the ways I probably could’ve done better.
They should do a sequel with her being a hit woman .
Despite it coming off as incredibly cynical and money hungry by missing the point of the movie's ending, I'd guess it's a good idea for a movie.
@@hexcodeff6624 Brush back the branches and turn on the PC. It’s time to get to work.
It was called Colombiana and starred Zoe Saldana
That’s a horrible, horrible idea. It’s sooo basic and cliche and one of the reasons why films suck these days; they’re unoriginal concepts. The Professional was a brilliant film, but don’t ruin it by suggesting an idea that is so cliche
🤝
I remember Natalie mentioned in another interview working with Gary Oldman. Particularly in the bathroom scene. She said it didn't require much acting on her part because Gary literally terrified her with his performance.
Notice the dress she is wearing, it emulates the dress that Leone gave her...
Eleven from Strange Things looks like 12 years old Natalie Portman
The "let me in scene" is very likely an inspiration for the that scene where Milly is thrown into that room and cries to be let out.
can't find it online right now, I am strong on it being form s1 episode 2.
Natalie feels so embarassing same how she have talked in other video what you posted before, "I was other person and for this i don't like see the movie". She don't have watched all the movie after all this years. The way how she talk about a "fantasy" of young girls is so good haha, Mathilda is smart, cool, intelligent, but in the same time we have to agree: Mathilda dress like a mature girl with eighteen or more, and have a sensuality too when she look in the eyes and talk or in the focus on camera in your body like the "Falling in love scene" and Natalie agree this with a ironic sense of humor and suggests he have changed after the "Woman's March", and can talk about the personality of Mathilda with more freedom.
This is hard to read, Jesus Christ
@@conman1395not so complicated haha, but this is a dificult thing to say, basically the sexual content in the movie.
It's a hard topic but in reality there are 12 year old girls out there seducing middle age men. It's not common, but it does happen. That doesn't mean you have to make a movie about it though.
@@erik.... This is truth, a young girl can seduce a middle age man, and a middle age guy can seduce a girl too, and this in real world i agree with you, but because of the topic be so hard to talk, in all of the situations, a young girl seducing a man is throw away for the society, the police but this happen, really happen.
@@urb4ns4dness16 Little girls don't seduce adult men, pedophile adult men become obsessed and desire little girls, it's different...
God damn this interview makes me feel uncomfortable. Nathalie looks very unsure of herself at the end, as if she didn’t really know how to act.
I'm sure she has a hell of a lot more to say on the topic but there's an audience and who knows how uncomfortable everyone was willing to get about it.
I rented that movie from the local video rental store when Leon the professional came out. Does she fully understand how amazing she did in that part. I mean really amazing actress at a young age. Both her and co star. To this day on my top ten list of movies.
Thanks! Anyone listening to this would want to see the movie immediately!!!!!!!!!!! If Natalie was known in the industry before this movie she would have been nominated for an Academy Award and in my opinion she would have won it!
Probably the most questionable scene in the movie was exactly the one which was shown. All the dialogue was great but by shooting out the window 'randomly', although it made a point about her seriousness, well, I let it pass as I watched the movie but I wasn't a real fan of that scene.
She nailed the character, and don't see anyone that could of done as good as a job as her in that film, it was literally a masterpiece of a film, That character made who she is now, and she was so lucky she had that opportunity.
You are correct Natalie. You First and foremost are the Expert you were there,‼️👍😎
I want to ask Natalie, would you work with Jean Reno again, the professional 2 Mathilda and flash backs of Jean as The Professional.
My joke three months ago about remake with Boutella turned out to be true.😂 They released it, calling "The Killer's Game", which was written as the book in 1997. Of course, "without the influence" of "Leon", released in 1994.😂 The trash came out - a wrestler is a wrestler. Apart from sweet fawn Sofia there is nothing in this new "masterpiece". And this movie, apparently, is for those who considered the "love line" in "Leon" to be unsaid... Only the rescued girl is 5-10 years older than Matilda. And even marries the "adopted" killer-"dad" in the end.🤮🤮🤮
Let Natalie Portman get the role as Mathilda was the best choice Luc Besson ever made
@SavvySavant: I've always wanted a sequel too with Natalie as the New Professional all grown up, kicking booty and cleaning up the bad guys. For those who don't agree, don't watch it. It's not meant for you.
Love me some NP, but I will say the first thing that tells me she grew up in an "out of touch" environment is when she mentions that so many kids around her at that age had agents and were working in commercials or having small acting gigs...... That's not normal, it just isn't. If you find yourself in that situation, you're INCREDIBLY privileged.
Come to think of it, i feel like seeing Matilda all grown up and "cleaning" would go against the spirit of the movie... With the sacrifice of Leon, it'd be a shame to see her waste her chance at a new life by going back to the world of violence she went out off
She's one of the best actress in the history of cinema , she is so modest about her self , she was wonderful in Jackie and she had a amazing acting at black swan , she was very brilliant at closer , she has a very strong record and She should be proud of herself
U were brilliant Natalie so was Jean brilliant movie LOVED IT .
I was literally at her age when I saw the movie for the first time and I have seen it a couple times more afterwards, falling literally in love with the script, performance, direction, music... A stunning work of art with magnificent artists.
I'm glad to hear she wasn't preyed on, but something isn't wired properly if you don't think there are a ton of pedophilic undertones from start to finish in this movie.
There's huge difference between "pedophilic undertones" of a movie compared with a movie that is telling a story, trying to make the viewer understand why Mathilda felt the way she did for Leon.
Mathilda's whole family, especially her 4 year old brother, was mercilessly gunned down by ruthless DEA Agents.
Not only that, but the poor girl came from an extremely abusive household.
Mix all that together with her almost seeing the same fate as that of her 4 year old brother, and you have one messed up little girl.
Now, here comes a strong and caring hitman who saves her from deaths grip.
It's no wonder she has such strong, but confused, feelings for Leon.
It's also worth noting that at no point in the movie did Leon ever feel those same romantic feelings for Mathilda as Mathilda did for Leon.
In order to understand the film, you have to view it in an artistic lens.
Only then can you truly and fully appreciate such work of art.
Just my interpretation, of course.
@@shaunrocks12 Ummm, first of all, why does the story Need to reach a point where Mathilda feels so strong sexually.. Sings seductively as Marilyn Monroe and makes Leon squirm in his chair. Sings fucking Like A VIRGIN when she clearly is and it insinuates that Leon will take her virginity.. has multiple moments where she expresses sexual desire (which a KID her age should not be feeling, much less know about) and second, Leon DID respond the same when he knew he was probably not going to live at the end. His entire monologue when he's trying to get her on the elevator and says "I do want to get that house with you, that bed with you.. you're the only one for me, ect ect" that is a paraphrase, but it's damn close and I know for a fact he says he will get the bed for he and her. Together. To sleep in.
Call it "artistic liberty" all you want, it's just an excuse to push the line on shit like this. I've been an artist my entire life and have been a full time freelance commission artist for the last 7 years. Never has it once crossed my mind to draw/paint anything "edgy" that borders on the line with pedophilia, or even sparks that conversation. Where your argument collapses is, it's not just me who noticed!! Lmao, it's the Majority my guy. Which tells me that movie is probably in your top 10 and "Stranger Danger" may have or may be shouted your way at some point in the future lol.. I say that half heartedly and half concerned because the extent of what you typed Really went to bat for a movie that is fucked up on so many levels.
well considering besson is a pedo himself, and the relationship between leon and mathilda was originally based on his relationship with a 15-year-old when he was in his 30s, the undertones are impossible to ignore. however, jean reno said he played leon the way that he did so that nobody would think he had any intention of taking advantage of mathilda. and luckily the furthest it went was mathilda having a crush on leon, to which he clearly did not reciprocate lol. overall, it is a well made film and the performances are amazing, which is why i appreciate it. if a romantic relationship would've been pushed between leon and mathilda, i would think differently though.
@@miamarie3825 Your response isn't entirely accurate. Two points in particular stood out in the movie as 100% inappropriate. When she sings "Happy Birthday" as Marilyn Monroe and also Like a Virgin (I mean come the fuck on), and the end of the movie when he makes all the promises to her to "Love her the way she wants, sleep in the same bed" and everything else before he goes on his final rampage. I do agree that there were far more opportunities for the director to make it low level child porn but he didn't. Still, looking back in 2024 at 38 it just doesn't sit right, even if it didn't hit this way when I first saw it in my teens.
@@nikolatesla6992 i agree that those scenes were appropriate, and besson sexualized natalie which was wrong and led to some dark moments for her following the movie's release. but at the time it didn't seem like leon reciprocated anything that mathilda was doing. he shouldn't have said all of that to her, but i feel like he was just trying to give her hope and only saying it so that she wouldn't worry. not the right choice of words, like i said, but i don't think there was meaning behind them. i know in the director's cut there's a scene where she asks him for a kiss and he's appalled that she asked and refuses too. it's been a few years since i've watched, so i might be remembering wrong and maybe it's time for a rewatch, but that's just how i interpreted it.
When is the part 2 of LEON?!
I LOVE that movie 😊 please kindly make part 2?
Léon is dead !
Greatest child performance of all time
She wants to reprise her role...
My take considering where we are in 2023
Yes, Matilda: The Professional, but the plot she's the avenging angle for the "Me Too" movement now, "Cleaning" any pr3dators that won't face their victims and continue to do harm.
Luc Besson reprises his role as director. Then, for a Deadpool forth wall plot twist, Natalie Portman turns to face Luc on set saying, "This is for Matilda and the rest" and "cleans" him like Leon cleaned Stansfield. In the ensuing commotion, the cinematographer takes off with the only film copy, later to be leaked to news media world wide.
Natalie tells her story and with the support of Anne Parillaud, Maiwenn Le Besco, Milla Jovovich and Virginie Silla does 6 months in a minimum security prison. There she writes her tell all book about being the poster child for pr3dators for the last 30 years.
Just saw "Leon The Profesional" compared to just "The Profesional" and man there are additional scenes that does take the film even more intense and interesting heights but you have Natalie Portmans character is like a young feral lone wolf and Jean Reno as adult wolf is teaching her how to hunt. In a very raw approach to her acting is what the film seemed to portray in my opinion.
"The pain of my existence". From "Beautiful Girls". Portman as "Marty". A good "chick flic".
As many times as I have watched this movie over the years, particularly the international version because of the additional 24 minutes that adds more context to the script, "Mathilda" is who and how she is because of many reasons, not in any particular order:
She is 11 years old and smokes cigarettes
She is hanging out in the hallway of the building because of the level of dysfunction in the house
Her older sister is concerned about her own body (workout video) while Mathilda wants to watch cartoons
Her father is physically abusive even with spending money to send her to a private school
Her mother is a 304
She seems to be the mother/father of her little brother
She tells the headmastress of the school that Mathilda is dead (she hates her life)
With all that dysfunction her one ray of light is her next door neighbor who bothers nobody but is a hitman; she's alone even with her family and he's alone with no family - proof that red flags attract red flags
She finds out her family is slaughtered while running an errand for her neighbor and not only does she have to hide it internally, she becomes the person she wasn't supposed to be: a hitman with no conscious because she wants no personal attachments to anyone. I don't think it was the intent of her character to attempt to sexualize herself, she went in defense mode and did what many women young and old will do, use their body in any way to live another day. Leon, even with his seemingly child-like mind, saw that right away because at first she tried to manipulate him (like women do), and she knew it wouldn't work even though she began to see him as protector and provider. It almost becomes Bonny and Clyde as she's willing to do what he says because she realizes he loves her because he has no one else to love. She's young and made mistakes but he didn't hold it against her, he said if you want to live this life, this is how you do it. Mathilda was willing to lay her life on the line for him and when he realized that, all he wanted to do was protect her. She was the human form of his plant that he took care of. She represented life that he wanted and realized that if she lives, he lives too.
Now that's my observation from watching this movie a gazillion times, but let me watch it again a few more times and I'll see more and have more to say on top of what I just said.
Natalie was an old soul to play this role the way she did and I believe that's why she is the actress she is; we've all seen her grow and mature. She's familiar to us like family.
She needs to continue the movie for closure of the professional.
This guy made it cringier than it should’ve been
Yes true
Jak na tak młodą dziewczynę była to jej genialna rola zobaczyłem ją w v jak vendetta i się w niej po prostu zakochalem😊❤❤
Natalie Portman I hope see this massage I have a great idea to make part 2 of Leon the professional iam a fan the movie professional it's a hit a perfect one it will be great if yall can make part 2 please I beg you its a amazing movie can ya bring Jean reno back part 2 please please
Relax
She won't read it. She don't even watch movies with her.
Some movies shine brighter without a sequel, and I think The Professional is one of those movies.
Oftentimes, the sequels don't hold up nearly as well as the first movie.
Also, I'm afraid that whoever directs the movie nowadays, they might completely tarnish it and ruin the first movie along with it.
I view this sort of as one of the most magnificent, beautiful, yet highly fragile ice sculptures.
Let's just let this stand as one of the best films ever made.
And viewing it through the lens of Mathilda losing Leon at the end of the film, sometimes we also must say goodbye.
Had a feeling she'd be slightly embarrassed watching her performance lol From her perspective it's like looking at yourself in a school play. But there is really nothing wrong with her performance and I wouldn't want her to change a thing. Far as I'm concerned she should have at least been nominated for her role as Matilda. I think she got nothing! I've seen young actress' get Oscar nominations for much lesser stuff than this sort of character Natalie played.
In the OG story
Leon obviously was a grown man who wasv
Austictic
Lucky for many invested parties, in Leon / The Professional they only flirted with the fantasy/trope. What else is good entertainment but part smut? Shakespearean drama was no different in its obscenity of misshapen ideas, played elegantly across a room. The spoonful of lewdness helps the artistry maintain, and all profit (hopefully). Portman's the best, and Leon is top ten film of all time, IMHO. Only Stansfield shined as bright (and Aiello), though Reno was great as always.
Her grandmother her granddaughter Angela's stepsister Elizabeth
Hello My Dear Favorite Hollywood Oscars the Actress Natalie Portman That Excellent Always Love You I a m JapaneseGuy Mamoru Watanabe
Luc Besson should direct another one : Mathilda The Professional.
Seeing her reaction to it frankly gives me the feeling that she doesn’t like the movie at all. And finds it cringe or whatever it may be.
When, on my end I absolutely loved it and think incredibly highly of it.
Also, I’m aware of the effect that releasing this film had on Natalie and of the fact that she very much shielded herself entirely after this film to try and avoid appearing sexy in any way shape or form.
Which is very unfair to her and I hate that she had to deal with all that, especially at such a young age…
But… In Leon so appears she genuine, and passionate and bold. She definitely gives off totally opposite vibes in this interview. She changed immensely after the film and I’m not sure that it was all for the better 🤷🏻♂️
The film is disgusting and screams pedophilia 🤦🏾♀️
she changed as a 40 year old from a 12 year old? dude, obviously. why would she act like her 12 year old self lol? youre dumb
th-cam.com/users/shortsNEh19yCoRQE?feature=share
Apparently she wants to do another movie.
@E Blackadder true, especially work from when they were 11.
Bro you said bro you speak loads of bs
Need to bring it back showing her older now make it happen.
i don't like this intreviewer
I wish Luke Besson would make a sequel called "Mathilda", a mum becoming a hitwoman to avenge her murdered child by the cartel.
But let's be honest, Natalie Portman seems having ditched the movie Léon. When she speaks about it, she's not enthusiastic.
If you watch her 1994 interviews, she was a brilliant and funny teenager. Now that she was grown up, her interviews are boring.
It's called Leon.
isn't that the dress that leon bought to her
400👍
Young Natalie looked nice
she was fucking 12 and sexualized beyond any borders. She was a child. And all you're gonna say is this ?
what u mean by that
@@francisdrmm looked more cute than how she looks now
@@StoriesOfSunnah this is the same thing for all women in the world, they look nicest between the age of 15-30 then sadly they get older but this the way biology works
@@BeatsbyCesco that's why some women overdo it with all the botox and plastic surgery
11 years old Nathalie > 40 years old Nathalie.
U nasty bro
You’re weird
🤨📸
Explain
@@ariel.l.borrero She is boring now.
Natalie Portman is still one of the cutest and hottest actresses in Hollywood!!
*still* the hottest? or just "still the cutest" ... and "the hottest"?
Interesting, that script is complexed. Good work, the one you do. Guess if you start with an intelligent kid, you can only get good work. Wish this clip had been longer, still; pretty neat. Thanks.