Natalie Portman's Nude Scene Surprise: "My Picture Ended Up On Porn Sites"

Natalie Portman, star of Wes Anderson's "Darjeeling Limited" prequel short "Hotel Chevalier" is interviewed in the London Observer and talked about the brouhaha over her nudity:

'The thing is - and maybe I've brought it on myself by talking about nudity so much - it's still the thing that people talk about more than the short. And that's the thing that makes me think maybe I shouldn't have done it. It's not that I regret the actual thing. But it really depresses me that what I think is a wonderful film, that I'm really happy with - and Wes put a lot of time and energy into planning shots and writing the script, it's very minimal, very exact - and then at the end literally half of any article or review about it has been about the nudity.

'I'm really not prudish about doing nudity,' she continues. 'I think it's beautiful in films, and sex is such a big part of life, and nudity is obviously our natural state. That's not my issue. My issue is that I feel it takes something away from what you're doing. And also that it can be used afterwards for different purposes. Misappropriated.'

Nudie clips that end up on YouTube?

'Yeah. My picture ended up on porn sites,' she says, face aghast. 'So that's the dilemma more than ... the artistic decision of it is a no-brainer to me. But it's not the way it used to be; it doesn't show at a film festival, you know?'

Read the whole interview

Comments

[realitytrumpsbull]

Well, that's what happens when you click 'upload', Natalie...LOLOL

[rmetz74]

Some people seem to be missing the point and jumping right to the porn comment.

Which is exactly her point.

She's saying she's disappointed that when there's nudity in a film, in a way that's part of the narrative, just as there is nudity in each of our lives, many people blow it all out of proportion and react only to the nudity, treat it like porn, and the film itself is forgotton about. What was a few frames in the context of a story, becomes a movie unto itself.

We don't do it with violence in film, or drugs, or "bad language". Just nudity. Women, mostly. This society is seriously repressed, expecially when it comes to womens' sexuality, and since it's taboo, we obsess about it.

Which is why it's in the news day after day.

She's simply saying the nudity isn't the point of the movie, and she wishes people would stop misappropriating and making such a big deal out of it.

[GrouchoMarxist]

Isn't this the third time HuffPo has run this exact same story?

[ObamaEdwards]

It's the reality of sexuality, that some smut-dogs will grab anything and even if it is already OUT THERE and unabashed, they will actually try to make it MORE illicit or dirty-seeming. That's a sign that they aren't getting any. So Ms. Portman should not worry about it. Just feel sorry for the people who can't take nudity in stride, and enjoy it, and let it go.

The "clingers" are those who never get sex unless they steal it or pay for it.

[samguy]

I saw it. What's really disturbing is how thing Portman is. Her breasts are almost non-existent. Girlfriend must have an eating disorder. Seriously unattractive.

Oh and the short, was boring as is the movie itself, which I walked out of. I've decided to boycott Wes Anderson movies from now on, as have two friends - all independent of each other. Takes a talent to make India dull on film.

[chagedorn]

WHY, oh WHY has this story been on HuffPost for what seems like a month -- I can't bring myself to go back in the archive and check. Paid promotion for the film? Enough with "Natalie Portman's Nude Scene," everyone here who needs to know about it surely knows by now.

[DRaymond]

Does she live on the same planet as the rest of us? Because certainly on Planet Earth if you appear naked in a movie you can pretty much presume that it is going to wind up on a great many web sites.

[GhostTurdOf America]

Who is she?

[Isaco525]

WHHOOOO FUUUCKKKING CAARREEESS...there's way better stuff out there to jerk off to anyway.

[booker52]

With most everyone having camera phones what did she think was going to happen???

[jojojo]

Either she's an idiot for being so naive...

or we're idiots for buying in to her hype.

I hear she covers up, nothing "shows" and so it's about like being in a swimsuit. She's playing this brilliantly, as she did in having nudity removed from the film Closer.

What a manipulative little phony!

[Observer1]

Portman has a nice pussy. I like it.
If she gave me a shot, I'd go for it so hey,
let's ahve some fun with the girl, if that's what she wants.

[Tator]

Typical Liberal female.....actions have consequences, but then Liberals are never taught that, only any consequences from stupid behavior is ALWAYS SOMEONES ELSE'S FAULT..It is the second Liberal Commandment right after ANYTHING GOES.

[amosduncan]

Nat, you wonderful ditz! There have been these sites; and magazine "celeb nude" features, and lawsuits over them, since the sixties! But, keep the "controversy" coming!

[eastcoastprogressive]

I believe she's Israeli and may not be familiar with the repressed ways of Americans. Porn is a symptom of repression, in the Mediterranean most countries see a topless woman at the beach for instance and it is totally meaningless. This is why she is surprised her mild nude scene would end up as porn when it should be considered part of the art of her film. Of course it may just be desperate publicity but it's useful to understand where she's coming from.