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an actress Natalie Portman opens up about being “murdered” by critics for her “Star Wars” role. The actress portrayed the young Queen of Naboo in “The Phantom Menace” in 1999. She reprized her role as Senator Padmé Amidala in “Attack of the Clones” in 2002, where she became closer to Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). She then returned as Anakin’s secret wife in “Revenge of the Sith” in 2005, where she gave birth to Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker before her death.
Natalie Portman was only sixteen when she appeared in “Star Wars”
In a Harper’s Bazaar cover story published on October 26, the actress reflected on how she struggled with a series of “failures” early in her career before winning an Oscar.
“I had a lucky early experience of failure. I know I’ve also been very lucky to have had a lot of successes that have balanced it out,” she explained. “But I mean, for example, my first film, Leon: The Professionalgot terrible reviews and no box office.”
“And then I did Star wars. I was 16, and that was murdered,” she continued. None of them can act. They’re all boiling.”
Natalie Portman didn’t show anyone that she was hurt
Even though she was involved with some leading actors in the industry, such as Ewan MacGregor, Liam Neeson, Samuel L. Jacksonand more, Portman revealed that she didn’t talk to anyone about how the stress affected her.
“I think it was an amazing lesson in how you can read really bad things about yourself and then be able to be like, ‘I’m going to do another one. I’m going to show them,'” Portman told the publication. “I don’t remember talking to anyone about it. I didn’t want to show anyone that I was hurt or anything.”
Natalie Portman didn’t win her Oscar until 2011
Even though she was in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy, she continued to take on other projects. Roles in films like “V for Vendetta” and “Garden State” received much more positive reviews from critics. In 2005, the same year that “Revenge of the Sith” hit theaters, Portman was nominated for an Oscar for her role in “Closer.” Unfortunately, she didn’t win. She finally received her first Academy Award for her role in “Black Swan” in 2010.
She has been involved in several projects, including the 2024 miniseries “Lady in the Lake,” the 2025 Apple TV movie “Fountain of Youth,” and “The Gallerist,” which hits theaters this December. In the film, she portrays an art gallery owner named Polina Polanski, who uses extreme measures to turn an accident into a work of art.
Natalie Portman welcomed her third child earlier this year
The actress shares her son Aleph, 14, and daughter Amelia, 9, with her husband, Benjamin Millepied. She welcomed her third child in Paris in August with her partner, Tanguy Destable, whom she began seeing in March 2025. Elsewhere in the interview, Portman admitted that she is “full of wonder and joy at this magical little human being.”
“It gives me a whole new focus on my big kids, too, and I remember how long they were these little new creations and how quickly they’ve grown into amazing people with their own amazing personalities and senses of humor and opinions,” Portman said of her third child.
She admits it’s ‘probably the last time’
The 45-year-old actress revealed she feels “relaxed” and “grateful” after welcoming her third child, knowing it could be her last.
“We’re grateful that when you’re young, you don’t necessarily understand,” she told the outlet. “And I am calm and know myself: who I want to spend time with, what kind of energy I want around me that makes the experience so beautiful every day. And knowing that this may be the last time, I cherish every moment.”
