Natalie Portman says being sexualized as a child star forced her to become a ‘good girl’ as protection

Natalie Portman says being sexualised as a child actor led her to cultivate a “good girl” image as protection from unwanted attention. She told Harper’s Bazaar that the effort to be seen as serious, modest and academically focused became a safety mechanism, but also shaped how others viewed her as an adult.

Portman said people came to assume she was serious and a perfectionist, though she describes herself as silly and forgiving of her own mistakes. After roles including *Léon: The Professional* and *Black Swan*, she says her current creative priority is bringing audiences joy. The article also reports that she recently welcomed a child with her partner, Tanguy Destable, and has two children with former husband Benjamin Millepied.