Hollywood actor Natalie Portman has confessed that she experienced ‘sexual terrorism’ during the early phase of her acting career.
On January 20th, the 2nd annual ‘Women’s March LA’ opened in the downtown area. Natalie Portman, with other fellow actors, attended the event and gave a speech.
During her speech, she opened up about her own experience of being sexualized.
“Let me tell you about my own experience. I turned 12 on the set of my first film The Professional. The character was simultaneously discovering and developing her womanhood, her voice, and her desire. At that moment in my life, I, too, was discovering my own womanhood, my own desire, and my own voice”, Portman said.
“I was so excited at 13 when the film was released … I excitedly opened my first fan mail to read a ‘rape fantasy’ that a man had written me. A countdown was started on my local radio show to my 18th birthday, euphemistically the date I would be legal to sleep with”, she explained.
After experiencing such sexual harassment, she quickly started adjusting her behavior: “I rejected any role that even had a kissing scene, and talked about that choice deliberately in interviews. I emphasized how bookish I was, how serious I was, and I cultivated an elegant way of dressing.”
Portman argued that she has built up her reputation for being “conservative and nerdy” in an attempt to feel her body was safe and her voice would be listen to.
Original article
Translated by Audrey Joung
