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- Jean Reno and Natalie Portman starred in 1994's 'Léon: The Professional' together.
The crime thriller that launched Natalie Portman’s career, and put French actor Jean Reno front and center in Hollywood, Léon tells the story of a professional assassin who takes in his...
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Did Natalie Portman play Jean Reno in 'Leon'?
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Why did Jean Reno choose to play Léon?
May 15, 2023 · Natalie Portman has reflected on her debut role in Léon: The Professional, referring to the film as “cringey”. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress spoke about the 1994 Luc...
- Leon Was Inspired By La Femme Nikita. Besson got the notion to make Leon while in production on his previous film, La Femme Nikita. Besson felt the third-act character of Victor the Cleaner (also played by Jean Reno) was worthy of his own film.
- Natalie Portman Was Originally Turned Down. Leon marks the screen debut of Natalie Portman, who was 11 years old when she was cast as Mathilda. Portman beat out roughly 2,000 young girls to win the part.
- Jean Reno Portrayed Leon As A Manchild. According to Luc Besson, Leon was always intended for Jean Reno. However, Mel Gibson, Robert De Niro, and Keanu Reeves were all attached to the role at various stages of pre-production.
- Natalie Portman Had A Smoking Stipulation. For obvious reasons, Natalie Portman's parents had several concerns about the adult nature of Mathilda. As such, they signed a contract with producers to specify the exact amount and way in which Mathilda could be depicted smoking cigarettes onscreen.
Apr 1, 2024 · Luc Besson has responded to Oscar-winner Natalie Portman's criticism of his seminal crime-thriller classic Leon: The Professional. Released in 1994, the movie stars French actor Jean Reno as the titular assassin alongside a then 12-year-old Portman in her feature film debut.
- Luc Besson
- Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman
With Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello. 12-year-old Mathilda is reluctantly taken in by Léon, a professional assassin, after her family is murdered. An unusual relationship forms as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin's trade.
But when his next-door neighbors are wiped out by a loose-cannon DEA agent, he becomes the unwilling custodian of 12-year-old Mathilda. Before long, Mathilda's thoughts turn to revenge, and she ...
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"According to Jean Reno, he decided to play Léon as if he were "a little mentally slow" and emotionally repressed. He felt that this would make audiences relax and realize that he wasn't someone who would take advantage of a vulnerable young girl.
