In a recent conversation on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast, actress Natalie Portman opened up about how playing sexualized characters during her teenage years impacted her own sexuality.

Starting her acting career at the age of 12, Portman touched upon her role in the 1996 film “Beautiful Girls.”

In the movie, she portrayed a 13-year-old girl who forms a connection with an older man, played by Timothy Hutton.

The 39-year-old actress recognized that she was cast as a “Lolita figure,” alluding to the 12-year-old protagonist in Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel who engages in a sexual relationship with a middle-aged man.

Portman shared with Shepard that being sexualized at a young age made her fearful, causing her to adopt a more conservative and serious demeanor as a form of protection.

She acknowledged that while teenagers do possess their own sexuality and desires, feeling unsafe due to the interest of older men made it difficult for her to explore these aspects of herself.

In order to establish a sense of security, Portman admitted to avoiding certain roles during her teenage years.

She deliberately opted for less provocative parts, as she was concerned about how she was perceived and her own safety.

Thankfully, the actress was eventually able to find a way to feel “safe,” expressing gratitude that everything worked out in the end.