“Well, he's the Cary Grant of our generation,” she said. “He's so charismatic, and so dapper and smart. He's wonderful.” Gyllenhaal and Portman dated briefly in 2006.

Why was Léon controversial?

Even at the time of its release, critics questioned the plot's rationale, with Roger Ebert accusing “Leon” of “exploit[ing] the youth of the girl without really dealing with it” in a 1994 review. The film's legacy has been further tarnished by sexual abuse allegations against Besson from multiple women.

How does Natalie Portman feel about Léon: The Professional?

“It's a movie that's still beloved, and people come up to me about it more than almost anything I've ever made,” Portman told The Hollywood Reporter, “and it gave me my career, but it is definitely, when you watch it now, it definitely has some cringey, to say the least, aspects to it.

Who is Natalie Portman's first husband?

The Oscar-winning actress met the French choreographer on the set of Black Swan, and has 2 children with him. After months of media speculation about Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied's marriage being in trouble, the pair have officially called it quits.

How old was Natalie Portman when she filmed Leon?

Portman says the film she made at age 13 is “complicated” for her. Natalie Portman's debut film, 1993′s 'Léon: The Professional', has had lingering impacts on her and that she still has “complicated” feelings about the film. Portman was 13 years old at the time of filming.

'The Brothers' | Unscripted | Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal

Was Léon in love with Mathilda?

Mathilda looks up to Léon and quickly develops a crush on him, often telling him she loves him but he does not reciprocate.

How old is Mathilda in Léon 1994?

Was Mathilda in Leon The Professional (movie) as young as she looked? Yes, Natalie Portman - born 1981 (playing Mathilda, 12 years old) was at the age of 12, as they shot the film. In the release year - 1994, she was already 13.

Does Natalie Portman have a PhD?

From 1999 to 2003, Portman attended Harvard University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Is Natalie Portman religious?

Is Natalie Portman religious? Yes, Natalie Portman is Jewish. She was born in Jerusalem, Israel, to Israeli parents and moved to the United States when she was a young child. Her birth name is Neta-Lee Hershlag, and she has spoken openly about her Jewish heritage and its significance in her life.

How many children does Natalie Portman have?

Natalie Portman is a mom of two. The actress shares her kids, son Aleph and daughter Amalia, with her ex-husband, Benjamin Millepied. The pair were married for 11 years before separating in July 2023 and finalizing their divorce in February 2024.

Why does Léon drink milk?

He can disappear in and out of a location to assassinate a dozen men without being seen - and then he goes home to drink some milk. It's not what one expects, and adds a layer of complexity to his persona. Metaphorically, it's a symbol of wholesomeness and his paternal concern for Mathilda.

Why is Léon so highly rated?

Leon is one of the most emotionally intense movies ever made. French director Luc Besson uses everything: actors, music, camera angles, lighting to create an unique experience - "It's not realism, it's not naturalism - it's heightened reality" as Gary Oldman very well put it.

How old was Natalie Portman in episode 1?

Portman began working on Star Wars only a few years after she started acting. Production for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace began on June 26, 1997, when Portman was just 16 years old. The movie hit theaters on May 19, 1999, when Portman was a few weeks shy of turning 18.

Was Natalie Portman sexualized in Léon: The Professional?

Portman, meanwhile, was 11 years old when she was cast in “Léon: The Professional,” which served as her own acting breakthrough. “I did a speech at a Women's March about being sexualized as a young actress, and she reached out to me after that, and we talked and it was amazing,” Portman said.

Did Mathilda sleep with Léon?

The Filmmakers Cut Several Physically Intimate Scenes

The relationship was not consummated, but Mathilda does convince Léon to sleep innocently with her in the same bed.

How old was Natalie Portman when filming The Professional?

Natalie Portman was just 11 years old when she was cast as Mathilda in Leon: The Professional and was 12 when she filmed the movie. With it being the star's first role, it makes sense she would be young and was the right age to depict the character she was playing.

Does Natalie Portman speak 6 languages?

Natalie Portman can speak an impressive six languages.

With an Israeli-American background, Portman grew up speaking Hebrew and English, then picked up the additional languages of French, Japanese, German, and Spanish, America Reads Spanish reported.

Is Natalie Portman IQ?

Natalie Portman just scrapes into the genius bracket with an IQ of 140 — proof that she's more than just a pretty face.

How intelligent is Natalie Portman?

Natalie Portman is indeed intelligent. With her IQ clocking in at 140, she certainly has a high or even a genius-level IQ. Percentage-wise, it is estimated that between 0.25 and 1.0 percent of the population fall into this elite category.

Is Natalie Portman vegan?

Vegetarian since the age of nine, Portman went vegan in 2011 after reading Eating Animals and has been a vocal vegan advocate and investor in plant-based businesses ever since.

Did Matt Damon go to Harvard?

Early life and career

Damon was raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and attended the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, where he took drama classes. At age 18 he landed a small part in Mystic Pizza (1988) and also enrolled in Harvard University as an English major.

Was Natalie Portman in Harvard with Mark Zuckerberg?

Portman attended Harvard University from 1999 to 2003 — just before fellow student Mark Zuckerberg invented Facebook. “I think I was really lucky to have been there before social media,” she says in PEOPLE's exclusive clip above.

Is Mathilda actually 18 in Léon?

Léon presents the story of Mathilda (played by a 12-year-old Portman in her debut role), who is orphaned when her family is murdered and seeks refuge with her neighbour Léon. Mathilda tells Léon that she is 18, though she is clearly prepubescent.

Who is the old lady in Léon?

Jessie Keosian: Old Lady.

How old is the little girl in Léon: The Professional?

12-year-old Mathilda is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. An unusual relationship forms as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin...