In a candid interview with Variety, Natalie Portman, the acclaimed 42-year-old actress, shared her concerns about children working in Hollywood.

Portman, a former child star herself, advised against young people entering the entertainment industry during their formative years.

“I would not encourage young people to go into this. I don’t mean ever; I mean as children,” she said, attributing her own safe passage through the industry to a combination of luck and having “very overprotective, wonderful parents.”

Portman, who began her acting career at just 12 years old with a role in “Léon: The Professional,” emphasized the importance of a normal childhood, saying, “Ultimately, I don’t believe that kids should work. I think kids should play and go to school.”

Reflecting on her early days in Hollywood, including her role as Padmé Amidala in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” Portman recalled the downside of being thrust into the limelight at such a young age.

She described how being “sexualized” as a child actor impeded her own sexual development.

“Being sexualized as a child took away from my own sexuality because it made me afraid,” she revealed in a 2020 “Armchair Expert” podcast episode with Dax Shepard.

Portman’s experiences in the industry shaped her public persona.

She recounted how she deliberately presented herself as “super-serious and prude and conservative” as a protective measure against objectification.

This conscious effort was a response to her early exposure to the industry’s darker aspects, which often left her feeling unsafe.

The mother of two, who later clinched the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2010 for her performance in “Black Swan,” continues to reflect on her journey with a critical eye.

Her insights offer a sobering perspective on the challenges faced by child actors in Hollywood, highlighting the tension between the glamour of early fame and the potential risks to personal development and safety.

Portman’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the delicate balance of nurturing young talent while safeguarding their well-being.

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