Natalie Portman has recalled the harsh criticism she faced as a teenager after starring in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, saying the negative reaction to the film taught her an early lesson about handling failure. The Oscar-winning actress was 16 when she starred in the 1999 science fiction film, playing Padmé Amidala, the young Queen of Naboo. Although the film achieved major box office success, it faced criticism from reviewers and audiences, with some directing their complaints at the performances of its cast.
Portman reflected on her early experiences with films that received negative reviews and explained how the reaction to Star Wars influenced her approach to her career.
'I had lucky early experiences of failure. I know I've been also very lucky to have a lot of successes that have balanced it out,' she said. Recalling the response to The Phantom Menace, Portman added: 'I was 16, and that got murdered. It was a huge success financially, but all of it was 'They ruined the franchise. None of them can act. They all suck.'
Natalie Portman on 'Star Wars' Backlash
Portman said the experience helped her learn how to deal with negative reviews without allowing them to stop her from pursuing further acting opportunities. 'I think it was an amazing early lesson in how to read really bad things about yourself and then be able to be like, 'I'm going to make another one. I'm going to show them,' she said.
The actress also recalled keeping her feelings to herself during that period, explaining that she did not want others to see how much the criticism had affected her. 'I don't remember talking to anyone about it. I didn't want to show anyone that I was hurt or anything,' she added.
'The Professional' Also Received Negative Reviews
Portman also discussed the reception of Léon: The Professional, released in 1994, in which she made her feature film debut at the age of 12. The film received mixed reviews upon release and earned modest box office returns in the United States.
Portman later appeared in films including Garden State and Closer, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the latter in 2005. In 2011, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Black Swan.
The 'Star Wars' Prequel Trilogy Faced Mixed Reviews
Portman starred as Padmé Amidala in all three films in George Lucas' Star Wars prequel trilogy: The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005).
The films followed Anakin Skywalker, played by Hayden Christensen, and his transformation into Darth Vader. Other cast members included Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Samuel L. Jackson, Sir Christopher Lee and Ian McDiarmid.
Despite their commercial success, the prequel trilogy received mixed reviews upon release. In a 2019 interview with Empire, Portman discussed the criticism surrounding the films and noted that audiences had reassessed them over time.
Natalie Portman Continues To Take on New Film Roles
Portman has continued to work across independent films, major studio productions and television projects since her time in the Star Wars franchise. Her film credits include V for Vendetta, Thor, Jackie and May December. Her performance in Black Swan remains a major milestone in her career, earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2011.
The actress is also set to appear in The Gallerist, an upcoming dark comedy directed by Cathy Yan. The film features Portman as an art dealer and is scheduled for a cinema release on 4 December 2026.
