Natalie Portman Cut School To Be On The Show | Letterman

The 13-year old actress talks about his first big movie role.
(From "Late Show," air date: 11/28/94)
#natalieportman #theprofessional #letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. The language may strike you as quaint & flowery, the clothing comically lacey & ornate - but that’s how things were back in this colorful and now bygone era.

[@himonsonowal3269]

"Dont let this acting interfere with your grades" she literally took it seriously, she went to Harvard

[@honesty_-no9he]

Where she did not do anything of any substance whatsoever. She got an easy ride at Harvard.

[@IDontBuyIt50]

hey look at that, you found a classmate who came to give their testimonial.....honestly....

[@kalmia01]

​@@honesty_-no9hewere you a collegue to know that?😊 ..anyways she' s a top professional actress, went to Harvard certainly not to pursue a career in that field also, but to pursue other interests than acting, enhance her cultural baggage and grow as a human....have u achieved that already?:))

[@ErraticFaith]

Unfortunately, if you do take a class with her at any point - you'll realize she's extremely selfish and disinterested in others. Many actors are present and and act well in pre-planned scenarios. Thats par for the course and meant to uphold an image. The first time I encountered this sort of thing was with John Barrowman. Relatively nobody compared to Portman; yet at conventions and other appearances the guy was an A grade **** to people. He blanked a mother and child, the latter who wanted to just say hello being a huge Dr Who / Associated, fan. He only bothers - with those who pay. By the time I caught up with Portman I was somewhat older and more travelled. You have the intention of giving them a wide birth. Because you figure they just want to be treated as ordinary and not fussed over when they are living a normal day. It could be our lack of grovelling. It could be that she actually expected a big fuss to be made. Or maybe she was just having a bad 6 months. Either way - it remains, never meet your idols, heroes or whatever else -- with preconceived expectations. You'll be disappointed. I don't think Natalie is in any way a bad actress at times. Which itself is sometimes brought into question. But a nice person? Only when she can be bothered. And I expect like John, thats dependent on the pay check.

[@Hevva67]

@@ErraticFaith what rubbish.

[@deanronson6331]

Even at that age, Natalie was a vision of loveliness, was obviously very intelligent, and had a great personality.

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

😍❤️😍

[@davidkellymitchell4747]

It's always evident when they are young that they are special. I'm talking about those with natural talent. Not talking about a business person that goes from pauper to billionaire in one year. That's more of a case of being there with the money at the right time.

[@deanronson6331]

@@davidkellymitchell4747 Not necessarily. Some kids are late bloomers, and others fade out in their young adult years.

[@malcolmdrake6137]

I'm sure you don't bother with worrying about the age of girls...especially when they're underage.

[@deanronson6331]

@@malcolmdrake6137 I currently stand at almost 500 thumbs-up on my initial comment, and other users expressed similar opinions. That means you're the only dmbf. with a dirty mind. A wise man had your number when he said that the difference between intelligence and stupidity is that intelligence has its limits.

[@tny8657]

She is such a confident, graceful and witty talker. When I was 13, I was balancing the switch between on and off.

[@lostsoul4317]

And daydreaming 😂

[@skipwin9895]

hahahahaha

[@Whoyouwishyouwere]

I still do that

[@taccamine8312]

I was too busy stealing chocolate and could hardly utter "uh" with the braces

[@tny8657]

I can't take my eyes off her. She is so charismatic, vibrant and intelligent.

[@Shenmue06]

That's why she became a child star. Most kid's can't remember lines or be confident in front of a camera.

[@jawbrace]

She's so adorable. Who knew that many years later she would have a relationship with a dark lord of the sith.

[@philipdefibaugh5683]

Or the Mighty Thor!

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

😍❤️😍

[@redangry]

I Nees to know that history XD

[@mijaroprime9509]

@@philipdefibaugh5683 I am the mighty Thor.

[@szymac90]

What do you mean?

[@SCharlesDennicon]

Jeez, she was SO adorable. and lively. And SO charismatic already. That killer laugh. You could tell she was going places.

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

🤩❤️🤩

[@mattalbrecht7471]

Except to serve in the Israeli military like gal gadot.

[@LeventeCzelnai]

gigili

[@hankaan7542]

People born with their character already printed in their genes. This is perfect example. Confidence she has at 13 , amazing.

[@malcolmdrake6137]

Wow...it's difficult to decide who has the most pervy comment, but, don't worry, you're definitely in the running. 😂😂

[@hankaan7542]

@@malcolmdrake6137 you need to read more often. You’ve got a problem understanding the point I’m making. I felt sickened by your comment.

[@adin8002]

When Jewish genes hits.. Bornt with Jewish genes simply as won the lottery ticket becoming powerful

[@IDontBuyIt50]

@@hankaan7542 So this is someone who skims the comment section, supposedly policing for pervy comments, expresses it thru funny emoji, and isn't able to see that he himself appears to be the oddball in the room. I feel your pain ........in terms of Portman though, I remember how much I loved the film when it came out, and how this unknown girl stole the film. Which makes your original statement totally spot on, of course.

[@hankb7725]

nope not genes. its called parenting. any kid can be like this and more with proper parenting

[@mjp96]

"I won't, Dave!!" with a pointing finger. That was SO awesome!

[@Freeden]

She must have really taken Dave's advice about grades seriously, becoming a Harvard grad. I remember seeing her in Beautiful Girls, which was a few years after this and she was great in that as well. A pretty underrated little movie.

[@rbjax2001]

Loved that movie as well.

[@wekern5]

I remember saying to myself after watching BG, if this girl stays in acting she’s a cinch to win an Oscar. I loved her scenes with Timothy Hutton, which seemed so innocent at the time. Years later I read she pretty much regretted doing that role. But she really killed it.

[@mjp96]

I lived in Cambridge and saw her a few times when she went to Harvard. Seemed nice and friendly, and happy, like a college kid should be.

[@benwu7980]

Don't mean this as a dis, but she didn't need some talk show host's advice to be the woman she became.

[@williamknell864]

Great movie. Pretty intense first role for a kid. Actually, she's a great talk show guest for a kid too.

[@ShakmaGeebes]

💯 This kid vs. that character 🤯

[@stevedrake4564]

There's nobody like her. She's beautiful, personable & very intelligent!

[@MasmydaMusy]

An intelligent person doesn't wear a corona face mask.

[@ElonsDiamondMine]

What a sharp little rascal even then! The ending killed me *finger guns* I WON'T DAVE!!!

[@mjp96]

That was perfect. Even the audience was shocked, in a good way!!

[@tilitila88]

ALWAYS an adorable person. What an amazing woman!

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

😍❤️😍

[@rex-racer]

So much stuff we waste our time watching, then there are a few clips like this one. What a thoroughly enjoyable 6 minutes and eighteen seconds. Great guest mixed with a great host.

[@TheGlendrum]

"And look where you are " The best!

[@Fordham1969]

One thing that always stuck out about these early interviews with Natalie Portman when compared to some other child actor interviews such as recently posted Moon Zappa and Claire Danes, while all three share an intelligence and confidence, Portman seems happy to come across as the kid she still is here while the other two (and teenage actors in general) seem to prefer to be seen as possessing a more adult like sophistication.

[@myaccount227]

She is definitely beautiful inside as well as outside. She is also vegan for the animals.

[@Mrcandles312]

Well said

[@mikewhite4560]

Thanks for sharing

[@dimitreze]

just like Elle Fanning seems like a normal teenager but Millie Bobby Brown acts like an old lady

[@Phobero]

@@myaccount227 What a shame - I thought she was normal ☹

[@aliakbarnazari7113]

The way she talks and the way she uses humor really got me

[@gilpinsteven]

This interview=PURE GOLD

[@arkapravorajkonwar8020]

she was so energetic ! Plus the social intelligence damn.

[@TheMagicPentacle]

Her giggles are life

[@aniket19931993]

I swear..literally!

[@lornetka8973]

I cal listen to her all day. her laugh is contagious.

[@CrispyHulk1]

1994. Back when schools had chalk, dusters and blackboards. The Internet was in its infancy and 95% of the populous hadn't even heard of it. People phoned their friend's family landline and spoke with their parents first. They played outside. Pokemon season 1 wouldn't release for another 3 years. Nokia brick phones dominated the world and they weren't colour screens. The world watched movies on VHS cassettes as DVD's only started selling that year. Eminem was merely a few years from being discovered by Dre and transforming the music industry forever. The Lion King released and remained the best selling animated movie for an entire decade. The sitcom Friends released and Tamagotchis and the Backstreet Boys were around the corner. Tony Hawk dominated the skateboarding scene. Pierce Brosnan would embody 007 the following year. Social media didn't exist and celebrities were very mysterious. Things were simpler.

[@dski2e]

Just another example of an awesome human being.

[@skinnydee1886]

Natalie is such an adorable sweetheart and so innocent! She's now a woman and still has that cute winning smile and hearty laughter; I just love her!

[@altafahmed5234]

Those eye rolls and giggles 🤭 Natalie was destined for something big!!!

[@iameam]

Ridiculously charming and bright... star in the making!

[@keefriff99]

Wow, I don’t think I could have strung two coherent sentences together at that age. She was very poised and quite funny…pretty obvious she had “it” in retrospect.

[@alainvincent1309]

Her Smile Always Makes Me Smile

[@PradhumnShandilya]

She is the prettiest kid i have ever seen.

[@blake.henderson]

haha shes so extremely confident, cheeky, and carefree. what an amazing human, born in the holy land.

[@allendracabal0819]

Las Vegas?

[@cpg8000]

@@allendracabal0819no. She meant, Staten Island

[@willrothfuss8470]

Great interview by Dave. He makes it look so easy. And Natalie! Maybe the most beautiful smile in film history.

[@hobodivine5776]

Haha, what a ball of energy! That's a pretty funny, falling asleep in France during the premiere. I saw this movie 5 times already, give me something fun to do like Math!

[@svendan1606]

We loved her then and haven't stopped since!!! ❤

[@pdavidndang9780]

Wow that was so adorable - the pure and genuine laughter is so relieving.

[@yuvikarajput5969]

I just love the way she laughs, the way she talks, I just love the way she is. Witty indeed she is, I would say, but that's the best part about her. Definitely lovely she is

[@Astrophile2345]

Her emotional intelligence was on another level

[@killuazoldyck69]

who are you of earth on a daily basis

[@Astrophile2345]

​@@killuazoldyck69Just an average introvert

[@patton303]

What a cool kid. And she's still pretty cool.

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

🤩❤️🤩

[@Cinetyk]

It's so cool to find these kind of interviews DOZENS OF YEARS after you've seen the movies and realize the actors are wonderful people and probably that's a huge part in why the movies were so great to begin with. Cool stuff, thanks!

[@aanand_babu]

That confidence! That adorable laugh! She was just too cool for that age😮❤

[@michaelvaladez6570]

She's adorable at this age and very poised and mature..cute.

[@adityapatel8701]

Wonderful movie Leon. Excellent work by Natalie. 😊

[@ehaber197]

She is so adorable, and SO expressive!

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

😍❤️😍

[@rikkianju]

I am so glad i got to watch this, breath of fresh air she is.

[@Bekw148]

TBH, I'm surprised that Natalie has been holding the highest level of acting since early childhood, and she never had the star disease like many other star kids

[@babybro70]

She's so cute! I love seeing what people, celebrities & otherwise were like as kids.

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

😍😍

[@junoonesufi]

The amount of maturity,positivity and energy that Natalie had at this tender age is really astounding . She knew she is going to rule the Hollywood

[@hansiesma16]

When I watched Leon it was blatantly obvious that she would grow into a great beauty and a wonderful actress. And so she did.

[@ronch550]

Wow what a wonderful and endearing personality she's got. So bubbly, cheerful and witty.

[@DarthChef]

The interview that I really like watching is when she came on the show just after turning 18 (I think) and Dave asked if she had anything to drink for her party. Her response was perfect.

[@allendracabal0819]

Now you're gonna make us all go search for it.

[@lavarball528]

what was her response

[@themichael3105]

At 13 years of age, she's more intelligent and charismatic than most 25 year olds these days.

[@jackstone4327]

will never get tired watching her interviews lol

[@libraaa6547]

The most adorable interview I've watched

[@massapower]

That's 1 damn smart girl !😁👍🏻 And of course she was amazing in "LE PROFFESIONAL" 😎👊

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

She was amazing in Star Wars 😍

[@lmmaNobody]

Pure gold interview

[@nereammc_99]

Her sence of humor is so good

[@vic5015]

She's now 41 and has 2 kids. Damn, I feel old.

[@Tyson-zo6sm]

Same I'm 43 with 5 kids I was 14 when this interview happened

[@mitulvasa]

Her laugh is contagious... Incredible

[@lcb1250]

I was absolutely obsessed with her back then!

[@Rockingoodman]

I saw this show and one she was real star material right there. We ran as fast as we could to the theater

[@polsta4214]

The way they are both laughing 😂🥲🥰

[@vozajemo8014]

3:52 her eyebrows can literally dance... 'Skill unlocked'

[@MartiniBlankontherest]

Can you imagine being 13 and skipping school to go on late night talk shows? 😐

[@litigioussociety4249]

Yes. Most of us skipped school for a lot less.

[@MartiniBlankontherest]

@@litigioussociety4249 hahahahaha

[@FictionExecutive]

What a wonderful kid! I think she has a very bright future and I can imagine her winning an Oscar too.

[@joyfulcookiegaming]

hello shes famous now lmao

[@FictionExecutive]

@@joyfulcookiegaming you seriously didn't get the joke.

[@juraganpisang6982]

You wrong she marry with evil dark lord

[@liberty9348]

She is incredibly sharp at 13. We're close to the same age... I think it'd be really something to know her in person.

[@te4186]

Wow.... A beautiful and smart soul just radiates.... Age is just a number. Love the measured cheeky attitude ....

[@basantapant198]

I am amazed by the confidence of that 8th grader

[@Cutie_snow_tiger]

8th grade I'm already 13 and going to 7th 🤨

[@Shenmue06]

She has a high IQ and doesn't have anxiety. Basically she was born insanely lucky.

[@KungEMuller]

Wow! Natalie Portman really came a long way, and David Letterman really helped her grow as an actress.

[@morbidmanmusic]

he didn't help her as an actress.

[@KungEMuller]

@@morbidmanmusic Well, this was her big break.

[@commanderkeen3787]

He helped her grow as an actress? Huh?

[@KungEMuller]

@@commanderkeen3787 Well, he helped her get some exposure on camera, and everyone watched Dave's show back in the day before Jay dominated in the ratings.

[@KungEMuller]

@@horacesheffield7367 You're right, but Dave was the first late night guy she talked to.

[@breakingbad3513]

Natalie was soooo cute and smart ☺

[@Shenmue06]

Well that's why she was in the movie's lol. These aren't regular people.

[@sarahl9398]

I've always admired Natalie in terms of celebrity. Loved her work in Black Swan, Closer, and I say this with reservation, Leon. She is esp precocious in this interview - her charisma and sass is already prominent!!

[@kentexican5844]

'Not accustomed to seeing youngins handle their business like that. She's probably gonna be a big star some day.

[@garyjones2561]

Like she did her business when she went for the audition? 🤣

[@boomerang8909]

5:30 How quick she got Luc Besson's accent.

[@--pussypatroll--]

THIS is the result of good upbringing and solid family values. She is the product of it.

[@stevetamacc]

Probably one of Dave's best interviews!

[@averageskill]

For sure...I bet Dave watches this once in a while and says the same thing. I miss Letterman on Late Night.

[@Jane-uj3lk]

Shes a very typical only child of educated parents ...very bold and confident and comfortable being herself and grown up for her age too

[@ticherteaching7517]

cutting out to be in the show of the GOAT of late night....later graduating from Harvard. I guess Dave's advice came it on handy

[@tny8657]

She has a great aura.

[@racinette]

“at 13 i still had training wheels” “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHÆÜHŒ

[@stephenberson7236]

I cant stop watching this video. She is very charismatic, funny and has an infectious laugh. I also enjoyed the Professional. She is a perfect guest for these talk shows. Some sit there with no expression, nothing interesting to say and are DULL.

[@aliakbarnazari7113]

The best show I've ever seen. it really attracted me

[@lastangelman]

Wow! I had forgotten this totally!

[@JackSilbert]

That was delightful!

[@Julyfour.96]

This will be her all time favorite show

[@davidoverton4030]

Confident, feisty, funny, entertaining, pretty, intelligent, talented, mature, natural.

[@salkhan20]

Such an adorable ❤

[@crazycat8934]

That Letterman laugh😂

[@tmackn6592]

She's such a high quality human being! Her parents are extremely blessed to have her as their daughter, I'm sure

[@daudder]

Completely charming

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

😍❤️😍

[@KhanhTran-vs8kb]

omg,i love her so much ❤❤

[@jj-bro-]

she has every thing good = faith , good looks , good intelligence , good since of humor , cute ,talking skills next level , great wibe ,good parents what she dont have just tell me

[@jj-bro-]

me 🤣

[@telheibasoibam8651]

My favourite actress

[@mannybravo237]

She's so funny, could be an awesome co-host! And a great flick The Professional is.

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

Natalie Portman is the best actress of all time 😍😍

[@YouTubeDave-tp7ij]

She was a adorable!

[@bluebear1985]

I can't believe I've never seen this movie. It sounds like it's a pretty good one. I had actually first heard of her when "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" was first released. Looking at this clip, it seems obvious that she had a good future in the industry.

[@bluebear1985]

@horace sheffield I'm still willing to give it a try. If I don't like it, I won't watch it again.

[@natalieportmanfan1817]

😍❤️😍

[@carmenvillasenor1186]

She is so smart!! Beautiful and full of witt - LOVELY!

[@sadepennbrook]

“I won’t Dave!!” 😂

[@gezzaf6912]

Shes not intimidated at all on this show she is so confident

[@rbonlineattech]

I am in love with this girl ❤️

[@Dessme]

How lovely she is!

[@Groobbb]

His laughhh😂

[@iiz_.2]

I love her smile