Curiosity and Courage Shaped Her Acting Career
“I still haven’t had that moment where I feel like I’ve made it,” says Natalie Portman, in the latest episode of our How I Got Here video series. “That’s what keeps me trying new things, because it doesn’t feel like a destination, it feels like a journey.”
It’s hard to believe she feels that way, since her career has been so amazing! But Natalie reminds us that success isn’t about a finish line—it’s about always learning and growing.
“I was 10 years old when I realised I wanted to be an actor, because I loved performing, dancing and singing,” she says. “I went to dance school and, because I lived in the suburbs of New York, a lot of the other kids I knew were auditioning, doing commercials and Broadway shows. That’s how I got the idea.”
By 12, she was already in her first movie, Léon: The Professional. From there, she kept taking on challenging roles. Sometimes it was tough. “There have been many moments that have felt hard, and this was one of the worst,” she recalls about a play she did at age 19. Reading bad reviews made her lose confidence, but actor Philip Seymour Hoffman encouraged her by reminding her she was learning in front of the world, and that even mistakes are part of growth.
Even today, Natalie admits she struggles with self-doubt. “I always feel like I don’t know what I’m doing, and that I should quit before I start,” she explains. But she gives herself pep talks and accepts that rejection hurts, because being sensitive is part of being an actor.
Her solution? She faces fear head-on. “I ask myself: is it something I haven’t done before? Does it feel dangerous or scary? Usually, that’s a good sign to try it!”
Her curiosity led her to co-produce May December, a tough but important story that many people thought was too risky to fund. She’s proud that she made it happen.
Even with all her success, Natalie still dreams about new experiences. One of her wishes is to voice a character in an animated movie for her kids. As she says, “I feel like we get to play and pretend and imagine. You get to live hundreds of lives: I’ve been an astronaut and a rockstar, I’ve had so many different experiences. I never forget how lucky I am.”
Natalie’s story shows that even the most talented and famous people doubt themselves sometimes. What makes her special is that she doesn’t let fear stop her. For middle schoolers, the lesson is clear: keep trying new things, don’t be afraid of mistakes, and remember that the journey is just as important as the goal.
Source:
- https://youtu.be/GqWRg9uJeUI?si=RlvKFFpx2Hvid3UL
- https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/a46175430/natalie-portman-how-i-got-here/
- https://www.nme.com/news/film/natalie-portman-reveals-surprising-most-important-role-of-her-career-3775895
- https://app.pictory.ai/
- https://chatgpt.com/
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