Natalie Portman recalls King Charles awkwardly asking her if she was in original ‘Star Wars’
Natalie Portman was forced to keep her cool when King (then-Prince) Charles mistakenly thought she was in the original “Star Wars” films from the 1970s and ’80s.
The Oscar winner, 42, recalled meeting the royal, 75, at the 1999 London premiere of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” on a recent episode of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.”
Portman recounted the galactic incident on the Bravo chat show, saying: “I remember Prince Charles asked me — he was then Prince Charles — if I was in the originals.”
“I was like, ‘I’m 18,'” she joked. “But he was very friendly.”
The “May December” star portrayed Padmé Amidala in the space opera prequel.
She further described the “amazing” experience shooting the flick, telling Cohen, 55, “It was the first time I had shot digitally.
The Long Island native went on: “I don’t think anyone was shooting that way then. It was the first time working with a green screen. It was a whole new set of skills to pick up.”
As for if she would return as her “Star Wars” character in any future installments, she explained: “No … no one has asked me, but I’m open to it.”
Her co-star in the prequel, Hayden Christensen, came back to his part as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the Disney+ series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “Ahsoka” earlier this year.
The “Thor” star — who started her long and fruitful career in Hollywood at the young age of 12 when she starred in Luc Besson’s 1995 film “Léon: The Professional” — also recently gave a warning to children who desire to be in the movie business.
“I would not encourage young people to go into this. I don’t mean ever; I mean as children,” Portman told Variety.
However, she also doesn’t regret starting her own acting career in her pre-teen years because her parents were able to watch over her while she was on set.
“I feel it was almost an accident of luck that I was not harmed, also combined with very overprotective, wonderful parents,” the “Black Swan” actress explained.
“You don’t like it when you’re a kid, and you’re grateful for it when you’re an adult,” she added.” I’ve heard too many bad stories to think that any children should be part of it.”
“Ultimately, I don’t believe that kids should work,” Portman proclaimed. “I think kids should play and go to school.”
