Natalie Portman's Awkward R-Rated Movie Moment | Letterman

From straight A's to R.
(From "Late Show," air date: 2/1/96)
#natalieportman #alecbaldwin #letterman
Subscribe to Letterman: bit.ly/3GeOIAg
Follow Letterman on Social:
Facebook: / davidletterman
Instagram: / letterman
Twitter: / letterman
TikTok: / letterman
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. And for those of you who like Miscellaneous, you may very well find some Miscellaneous here.

[@ericsmith8913]

Alec's comment 'can't count to 14 million' is a reference to Letterman receiving a 3 year $14 million per year contract to move from NBC to CBS in 1993

[@joeymims5852]

LOL thank you for this post,, i was about to post a comment asking what he was taking a jab at by that comment.

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

Set up by Les Moonves. Now Dave is having fun with his Late Night peeps!

[@joejoe2658]

no, it's how many times he shot that woman.

[@johnanon6938]

@@joejoe2658 Its probably too soon to joke like that? Hey its not like he'll say something stupid like the gun fired itself and then stupid people will let the rust movie PRODUCER get away with murder! Oh wait...

[@genki831]

Interesting how millionaires rib each other about being millionaires like it's a bad thing.

[@sorrynotsorry8224]

Imagine you're a high school teacher watching Letterman and your student comes on and calls you "a weird guy". Brutal.

[@pablogrijalva1581]

Specially your famous student

[@user-wi8nc9wo3x]

I thought that too : )

[@nealorr5086]

Well, then probably don't recommend The Open Road to your most famous 14 year-old student?

[@Nzbdjcnx]

I would have laughed. I actually laughed imagining I was her teacher and that would be my reaction.

[@JimWiese-mm5tw]

Imagine being an open-minded teacher who absolutely loves the tag!

[@timmckeown1313]

Her charisma is off the charts here.

[@DaveTDavethekid]

And only 14!

[@newsduke]

She’s only 14, and she’s already more charming and funny than most adult actors. And it seems genuine, not like she’s trying to be cute like a precocious kid actor.

[@SG-mf5nd]

It seems like a practiced phase, the way she got flirtatious in interviews in her early twenties; it does seem to me like trying on a personality, a schtick. But she does it really well, natural, composed; like a good actress.

[@earlcabbel5523]

Natalie has grownup to be one of the best actress around today.

[@moneyball647]

Not like when Jayden Smith when he was young? lol.

[@newsduke]

@@moneyball647 No.

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

Alec was in his scrawny "Beetlejuice" stage.

[@silasteoteo9140]

“One of your brothers!!”🤣😂

[@GeometricMason]

She was SO pleased with herself for executing that joke! ha ha ha

[@1uplink169]

Yep, growing up and trying to fit in, but still have that youthful giddiness. That's something hopefully we can keep through life. Being able to be at least in that moment free to laugh unabashedly.

[@SuperCosty2010]

That's btw her quick wit, it takes some time to realise that Steven's brother is sitting right next to you, and more time to bring forth the famous Baldwin actor family, all while you're on air and people are looking at you. She did it instantly

[@keefriff99]

Wow, this is whole interview is priceless. All three of them are at their top of their game. It is absolutely insane how poised and funny she is at 14.

[@MrOvlov02]

know know know know know your cuts of meat

[@dennism.5145]

I find Ltterman is interrupting her quite often... Wouldn't call it the top of his game.

[@DanKaschel]

​@@dennism.5145it is, he was just never very good

[@TheDionysianFields]

Seemed like a lot of awkward moments, and none of them on Portman's part.

[@hankb7725]

people today dont have a good upbringing, thats's why they are so impressed with what should be normal.

[@lgarcia67]

She was such a kid there and yet very smart and eloquent

[@Tyan_Nahts]

Baldwin looked super young too! I didn't recognize him at first.

[@rsgabrys----]

---------------------- if we were playing password , narrator whispers.....the word is ; precocious .....thanks4sharing

[@simonsan5271]

Isn't Portman a mensa member?

[@00bikeboy]

She is just delightful. Clearly gifted.

[@firemedic10353]

Harvard Degree in Psych- She definitely isn't dumb

[@PeterBoaMan]

@@firemedic10353 It doesn't matter what your IQ is when you completely lack dignity and class.

[@shadowman5567]

She's adorable. Acting since she was a child and she still has her head on straight. A product of good parenting. 👍

[@TomwithaDream]

Almost like operating a traditional household has some significant benefits despite all the hate that sort of thing gets these days.

[@treefrog3679]

Why assume it’s parenting and deny the kudos to the child?

[@TomwithaDream]

@@treefrog3679 Fair. But unlikely I think.

[@Cyba_IT]

@@treefrog3679 "Acting since she was a child and she still has her head on straight." = Kudos to the child.

[@thegingershow9676]

How the hell can you tell that from an interview, is your life that bankrupt that you gotta decide which actors are a product of good parenting? What a weird statement.

[@EscutCavaller007]

Her comedic timing is spot on! 😀

[@Mr.Ekshin]

I bet her history teacher thought differently the next day after she called him out in front of millions of people. I wonder what her grade was in that class.

[@WW-wf8tu]

@@Mr.Ekshin Depends on who you ask. History is re-written all the time to cover up that which is unfavorable. 😉

[@Mr.Ekshin]

@@WW-wf8tu - I have no idea what you're even trying to say here... I literally said nothing about history.

[@TwoWrights]

"I can't count to 14 million." Cold blooded comeback.

[@Sr.ChilePepper]

Rarely if ever did you see Letterman at a loss for words. There was only one other time I can think of. He had some overweight baseball player (Tempted to say LaMarr Hoyt but not certain) who Dave kept poking fun of, and he came out with a sandwich and said it was the Letterman special because it had a lot tongue.

[@uwusdead]

I don’t get it

[@keefriff99]

@@uwusdead He was talking about Dave’s salary.

[@keefriff99]

Alec was so good here.

[@imtheman4805]

ChilePepper Terry Forster “Big Fat Tub of Goo” Atlanta Braves Reliever

[@Cyba_IT]

So funny when she showed her teeth like it was her grandma asking 😁

[@davidpowell3469]

Alec looked like he could see the bars of a jail if he even glanced in Natalie's direction.

[@GJBedrin]

It really looks like he doesn't want to be there.. his eyes are looking off almost the entire time and when he does chime in with a joke his smile fades almost instantly and he looks away again

[@lookingglass9175]

Alec is such a douche

[@jamesprior2496]

He gives me the 'creeps.'

[@davidpowell3469]

@@GJBedrin I think he wants to be there but he is being put in a position where he is on TV and if he makes one teeny tiny mistake he will be public enemy #1. I don't blame him in the least for being uncomfortable.

[@oziumentisis]

@@davidpowell3469 no way, you forget he cracked that joke, if it isn't me, it will be one of his brothers who gets her... that was creepy.

[@LuizBarrosPoa]

When I first watch Leon, I was sure I was witnessing the birth of a great actress! But when her interviews begin to drop, I was mesmerized by how charming and intelligent this kid was.

[@benwu7980]

The movie is a masterpiece, I still have it on vhs. It's very provocative with some of the scenes, especially the extended/ directors cut, while still staying somewhat charming. It also is ruinous for me to ever think that since then she grew up to be one of the most beautiful actresses alive, luckily she's quite talented and ever a sweetie.

[@watdahel]

I know the movie as The Professional

[@n1ch0la5x]

The full title is Léon: The Professional so you're both correct@@watdahel

[@TheRubberDuck77]

I didn't know natalie had such great comedic timing.... she should really do comedies too

[@scoutisabelle]

She's funny on her Saturday Night Live appearances.

[@MrBeetsGaming]

She did comedies...

[@adameves5970]

watch some of her movies... try the comedies if you like comedy

[@mariojuan7142]

Even back then, Natalie’s smile could put the electric company out of business.

[@johnc3403]

Why? Can you generate electricity with teeth? What a weird thing to say!

[@pinchofsalt4566]

​@@johnc3403I think he's referring to her ability to 'light up' a room.

[@Ixnatifual]

Léon: The Professional is such a great movie. I need to rewatch it.

[@mjp96]

I watched it. Boring. Any $$ or awards?

[@robandrew3701]

Leon is one of the greatest ever movies. All of the actors are brilliant; Oldman, Reno, Portman, Aiello, with a superb music score. Totally engrossing.

[@spencerwelchii573]

The way Dave and Alec bounce off each other is why I love Graham Norton and all of his guests on the couch at the same time - it just makes for a more fun chat show.

[@Rob_Kates]

James Corden did it too.

[@imtheman4805]

Wonder where he learned it?

[@UniversalExports23]

I think you meant where'd Cordon steal it? Don't worry mate, I'll say what everyone in the UK has known for years. Cheers!

[@1ouncebird]

@@UniversalExports23 There may have been others doing it before him but Johnny Carson was doing it for 30 years starting in the 1960's.

[@Dr-Stu]

Graham Norton is so forced and awful. (the setup with the guests, not Graham, he's a natural).

[@duewhit310]

"Because there ARENT enough people....." 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jamesprior2496]

Typical liberal blather!

[@duewhit310]

@@jamesprior2496 no, you putz, just a sense of humor Get some!

[@stevetamacc]

Yeah@@jamesprior2496 only liberals can be funny and have a sense of humor!

[@stevenlittlewood4324]

This would apply to all doctors …

[@duewhit310]

@@stevenlittlewood4324 dave is saying there are too many human beings on planet earth! 😁

[@brewswillas6635]

When Alec says "if one of us doesn't get you, the other one will" at (4:35) is just too hilarious. He only realizes it sounds like he's speaking about Natalie after it comes out of his mouth. Dave is more than ready to run with it, but Alec keeps talking until the moment is lost, saving his skin.

[@SenorJuan2023]

I loved her in V for Vendetta.

[@raelshark]

Her realization of who actually starred in Threesome is an all-time great interview moment.

[@tomamarque5817]

Topics are scripted though and they are actors ;-)

[@chinkasuyaro8983]

@@tomamarque5817 Scripts are scripted. Topics are discussed.

[@camipco]

On most talk shows, they have an outline of the discussion. Typically, the guests sit down with a producer and they plan together what they are going to talk about. So Natalie likely would have told that story to a producer, and Dave would be told something like "she has a funny story about watching an R rated movie" or whatever. But she wouldn't have been sitting next to Alex. So it's plausible the "one of your brothers" moment was genuine an unplanned. But it's just as likely the producer told her she was going to be going on with Alex and she said "oh, I have a story about watching a movie his brother was in" and they went from there.

[@Jim-vt5bf]

Deserved an Oscar for the professional. Watched the black Swan. Where she deserves the oscar. But her acting was even better in the professional.

[@ikemkrueger]

She was very convincing in "The Black Swan".

[@adunreathcooper]

Was it called The Professional in some countries? Because the movie is called 'Leon'. I've had it on DVD for years, and the cover says, "Leon the Professional", but the opening credits just say, "LEON". I watched it last night as well.

[@Maitatron]

It's a french film and in France the film is called "Leon" but i think that outside french-speaking countries the film was brandes as "The Professional".

[@Somnogenesis]

@@Maitatron In Britain it's known as _Leon_ too (well, to be precise, its original title was _Léon_ but we got it without the accent on the E, for some reason). I was hugely confused a few years ago when I started reading about her breakthrough film being something called _The Professional_ aged 14, when I was thinking, "Hang on, wasn't her breakthrough in _Leon_ at that same time...?!" -- I think it took me quite a while to realise it was the US title for the same movie! I believe Australia, for instance, 'doubled up' the titles - i.e. _Leon: The Professional_ 😄

[@molly_nap_queen]

When she said her history teacher was kind of a weird guy. That was adorable. 😂

[@liberty9348]

This was hilarious. All three of them landed massive jokes. I was dying.... some examples were: "One of them was your brother" by Portman, "Oh, well, that's very important now, because we don't have enough PEOPLE." by Letterman, "I can count, but not that high." by Alec. LMFAO! 10/10 show, Letterman.

[@marquislexil]

This is what happens when you interview a legit genius that also has a great sense of humor. She was always a great actress too.

[@Frankincensedjb123]

She's dead?

[@sonicdiablo8968]

@@Frankincensedjb123 ?

[@quiktaxshawn]

@@sonicdiablo8968lol they always post interviews when someone dies. running joke to assume whoever they post is now dead 💀

[@pk2712]

She is a great actor . She is very smart and funny . You must also also give credit to Dave he was maybe the best talk show host ever . He could bring out the best in people . I think none of the current talk show hosts are as good as he was .Johnny Carson was maybe on a par with Letterman .

[@frozencowboy6552]

Hahahaha you think Portman is a genius???

[@incizor1273]

Anyone else just loves Natalie Portman even more after this? She's amazing, great actress and just a wholesome cool person. 🤩

[@JackSilbert]

So incredibly charming and delightful! And as I mentioned elsewhere, her new movie May December is excellent!!

[@joeyracano1]

she has turned out to be one of the most amazing actresses ever

[@mjp96]

I love her, but name one great movie?!

[@SolasComposer]

@@mjp96 V for Vandetta, Revenge of the Sith, Thor to name a few.

[@joeyracano1]

@@mjp96 V is for Vendetta

[@dtsun]

Black Swan? Oscar?

[@iverburl]

The movie Baldwin was plugging is The Juror. The Juror = 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, earned $60 million worldwide on a $44 million budget. Beautiful Girls = 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, earned $10.6 million worldwide on a $2.7 million budget. So sorry, Alec, but I am seeing hers first.

[@SESteve]

At least he wasn't plugging The Rural Juror.

[@adrianadrian7356]

@@SESteve You mean, the Rrrrr Jrrrrr.

[@WheresWaldo05]

The juror is way better. Like way better

[@biggtastee2401]

She had, has and will continue to have the best smile in the business.

[@MichaelMurphy-kj3xf]

Great understated line from Portman: "Corrupting the youth of America!"

[@joymcguire]

Natalie is adorable!

[@lazymary2200]

I don’t like how he didn’t let her talk and always interrupted her. But she did well not letting herself be irritated.

[@cygil1]

He never did. With any guest.

[@marcleventhal7806]

He was never a good interviewer.

[@wfemp_4730]

Did you never watch Letterman? That's his style. Personally, I like it.

[@mjp96]

Conan, too - OMG. "I'm SO funny!!!!"

[@SuperCosty2010]

Yeah, I thought Alec would never shut up 🤣

[@jacobpaint]

She is so freaking adorable, so smart and genuinely funny at only 14. Like Alec said, where does she go from there? (she’s done pretty well)

[@SuperCosty2010]

From there there was Michael Mann's HEAT with both De Niro and Pacino in it, and the Star Wars prequel trilogy, which I wholeheartingly adore

[@jacobpaint]

​@@SuperCosty2010the point was never "she has nowhere to go from there". Saying "where does she go" is just pointing out that she's already so good that there isn't much room to improve... It's nice that you liked Star Wars but it was a definite step down in terms of how it utilised her talent. Not that she was wasted but it was a much more simple role that was mostly about her costumes. A step up in how many people saw it but as a serious actor that's not really the point.

[@davidellis5141]

She was really good in The Professional.

[@jamesprior2496]

She was exploited.

[@benwu7980]

@@jamesprior2496 Stop with that nonsense, she was there with full parental consent, they went through every scene and line. The madonna part, and the restaurant scene, were debated for days before being green-lit.

[@Blakestone]

@@jamesprior2496 clown

[@SuperCosty2010]

@@jamesprior2496 wtf do you mean at all 🤣

[@ricoaioa]

She was something else. And still is 🤩

[@eezyclsmooth9035]

Dave, "What Kind Of Grades Do you Get?" Natalie, "I'm a Straight A Student". Later in life. She Will Graduate from Harvard with Honors!

[@PJV1990]

Thanks captain wiki copy & paste.

[@Mr.Hyde_23]

What an honor

[@gurrrn1102]

@@PJV1990if that was on wiki it wouldn’t have that stupid capitalisation

[@kstepko]

Exactly what I was thinking! You can tell she is intelligent, even at this young age.

[@reason6835]

@@PJV1990: So what? I wasn’t going to look it up. I was glad to get that tidbit I wouldn’t have known otherwise. You need to chill, Karen.

[@just__dave]

I miss when guests used to stay and hang out like this.

[@mr.nobody9697]

She was so adorable and wholesome. Too cute.

[@JohnHF1957]

Natalie has been a bright ray of sunshine, very smart, grounded, honest and a brilliant actor right from the beginning of her career to the present time.

[@CousinMarvin]

Incredible that shes only 14 here and speaks and acts like this on tv on top of it all.

[@georgeb.wolffsohn30]

The freedom of her laughter shows how normal she was at this age.

[@takaetono6773]

Imagine... 1996 joking: "there arent enough people" 2024: "yeah well..."

[@MoietyVR]

Ya, I remember the overpopulation fears of the 90s. They never would have guessed that the first world would be headed for demographic collapse instead of overpopulation.

[@patrickbuildsit]

It was like one of those optical illusions where Portman’s chair looks twice as big as Baldwin’s.😂

[@rocketrockinit]

i love her smile

[@roberttartaglia3212]

She’s clearly gifted. I wonder who those teachers were in high school. I went to the same high school as her but years earlier

[@larryscott3982]

What a great interview. ‘And one of your brothers…’ Dang!

[@suddonlee4326]

Great interview she is wise beyond her years and very funny.

[@tonypierson9044]

What a lovely girl and so funny she’s a great actor ❤

[@joebutta105]

She was brilliant in cold mountain ❤❤❤

[@DavidTronix808]

So well spoken, naturally funny like an innocent kid and talented for her age at 14 back then. Good she refused Revlon modeling agent that spotted her in a pizza shop and used that experience to get her own acting talent agent.

[@oleboy4332]

Great example of how quick and funny letterman is.

[@danatufts9205]

"Have you guys ever worked together?" Fortunately, she hadn't. Working with Alec is rather dangerous.

[@MichaelLyon]

My favorite actress. She has always been great.

[@maccadamn]

Her aside to Letterman, 'God, corrupting the youth of America', when he mocks her for not bringing her friends, was gold.

[@joeuser2360]

I watch this "before" Natalie but my mind keeps playing the "after" Natalie from the SNL interview skit. 😆

[@DanielClarksays]

Moby sitting on the edge of his couch watching this, robotically demolishing a bag of vegan chips

[@randywatson1982]

Shes like a month older than me, and i fell in love with her when i seen her in episode 1 of star wars in theater. Seen most of her stuff. Shes a harvard graduate if nobody knew. Genius!!!!

[@dstevens518]

I audited a class at Harvard, didn't seem much different than my classes in an Ontario university. Just pricier.

[@kaspinet]

Teacher recommended On The Road. Ah, those were the days.

[@MultiSkyman1]

She is exactly the type of girl at school I would have been in love with!(Well, me and a million other boys!)

[@MyotherAccount-sk7it]

"one of your brothers" jajajajaja

[@MarcosFarionJr]

00:47 her face like 'did I say anything wrong?'

[@brianjanson3498]

Great video. Very enjoyable.

[@Alfa75V6]

her expressive look about the “tea” and homework are funny and show high iq

[@PromptStreamer]

5:15 “She’s a housewife - she doesn’t like when I call her that - she says it sounds like she’s married to a house.” That is a hilarious joke and it seems like it went straight past the audience.

[@dv9360]

She didn't say anything when Letterman said "Dr. Portman." Her name is Hershlag.

[@rufus-t415]

This is a funny interview with the young Natalie Portman. I miss the David Letterman show.

[@MiketheratguyMultimedia]

I swear, it's like Natalie Portman's intelligence was that of a grown adult that just happened to be filtered through the body of a fourteen year-old. Not only was she crazy pretty and crazy gifted, she was crazy sharp too.

[@JohnSmith-nm4zd]

Natalie Portman was amazing in Beautiful Girls

[@ohtruebro]

So much personality at 14. When I was 14 the only thing on my mind was how to make a working flamethrower

[@shakester2010]

She's amazing!

[@rickjensen2833]

Not only beautiful, but smart and wise.

[@manic4584]

Even almost 30 years ago she was a treasure.

[@mrjades4764]

lol I remember watching that movie at the same age. As well as reality bites 😂

[@arthurwatts1680]

I can think of one person on that couch who desperately wishes time machines were a thing.

[@fhornet3123]

"This isnt reality bites" lol

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

I LOVE Natalie Portman! Fourteen years old and taking on David Letterman! COOL!

[@ricksgrandauditorium8790]

Bundle of joy right there.

[@aliali-ce3yf]

now she's nearly as old as Dave was during this interview and older than Alec Baldwin was in this interview

[@arottie4097]

W0W! Just think of how many lil boys hearts she broke!! Ha! Poor fellas never stood a chance. Such a poised & intelligent young lady!

[@failureiscoolrepeatyourmistake]

same year she did LEON she also did HEAT. What a way to start a career.

[@alansilverman8500]

Timing's everything...

[@user-qf4wv2ll5x]

i want to read every solid work you ever stared in, basic work that wins oscars.

[@SuperCosty2010]

0:11 magic!

[@nigeisfree7837]

Is letterman still about loved watching him as a kid always joking and happy always makes his guests comfortable

[@timthompson8297]

She’s a doll and highly intelligent.

[@zeppelin5000]

I went to middle school with her, Southwoods Middle School in Syosset, NY. I was a grade below her. I ended up moving before going over to the high school in Syosset.

[@saketfinserv]

Amazing attitude portman ❤

[@anitamiller7960]

Little did Alec Baldwin know what was coming his way in 25 years.

[@benwu7980]

I guess it was more about what was coming the way of his cast and crew members, though I think murder is a stronger than actual charge.

[@selocan469]

Her Leon performance was stellar, she is still good but i expected more from her at that time.

[@thomascifarelli4693]

Letterman was great-so quick, so funny. The best.

[@Bones0]

It's wild how much Alec looks and acts like Ryan Gosling in this interview.

[@MrDalebramall]

Hun?

[@johannesschmitz6370]

It's wild how much Ryan Gosling looks like a younger version of Alec Baldwin here

[@volvol1]

I love Natalie Portman SOOOO much. She is both adorable and smart and admirable and amazing. This was in 1996 and I still love her today in Dec 2023 27 years later. That would make her about age 42 years old. Still just a YOUNG Beautiful accomplished woman. Wow. Wow. Wow.

[@zacherynicholascarter2]

creep

[@charlesr3351]

Dave just slays. Miss watching him.

[@sulatlalaki]

She has the perfect face, even until this day. And she truly is such a charming, delightful young lady here. Just adorable, still innocent.

[@BitcoinMotorist]

When asked what grades he got Alec should have said "A-B-C"

[@deepak-dhankhar]

OMG 😱😳28 yrs ago 🔙❤💯

[@russellward4624]

I got straight A's in smoking tea in school. Lol

[@lionelterre5996]

she was born to be that gorgeous.