Over the years, French filmmaker Luc Besson garnered praise for his works such as the seductive thriller La Femme Nikita and his epic sci-fi saga The Fifth Element (which differs from 2017's Valerian). But to many, it’s The Professional -- also known as Léon: The Professional -- that is the director's greatest and most cherished work. In recent years though, folks have begun to reassess the film, and one of those people is non other than one of the movie’s leads: Natalie Portman. The actress opened up about her "complicated" feelings towards her breakout role in the 1994 action-thriller. Portman reflects and gets honest about the role’s impact on her career and the controversies surrounding the film’s subject matter.
In The Professional, Portman, who was 11 at the time of filming, played 12-year-old Mathilda, a girl who seeks revenge against the corrupt DEA agent who killed her family with the help of her neighbor, a hitman named Léon (played by Jean Reno). The film’s intense violence and the relationship between Mathilda and Léon have been criticized for being inappropriate and exploitative. Portman told The Hollywood Reporter that though it’s “beloved” by some, it has its share of cringe when viewed through the lens of today. She told the THR:
