"Where I live, nobody who's fourteen is having sex and doing major drugs. And I think if you see it in the movies, you may be influenced by it. I think it's so important to preserve your innocence"

Natalie Portman expresses concern about the disparity between the reality she observes in her own community and the portrayals of adolescent behavior often depicted in films. She points out that among the young people she knows, specifically fourteen-year-olds, engaging in sexual activities or using powerful substances is not the norm. This observation underscores how media representations can sometimes exaggerate or distort typical teenage experiences, potentially giving viewers a skewed sense of what is actually common among their peers.

Portman also raises an important point about the influence of media on young audiences. By suggesting that seeing certain behaviors in movies can lead to imitation, she is tapping into the ongoing discussion about the impact of popular culture and the media’s responsibility in shaping norms and expectations. Adolescents are at a particularly impressionable stage in life, and frequent exposure to content that glamourizes risky behaviors can make such actions seem not only commonplace but appealing.

Continuing her thought, she emphasizes the value of preserving innocence during youth. For Portman, innocence is something important that should be guarded rather than prematurely discarded. Growing up already comes with its own challenges and pressures. By accelerating exposure to adult experiences or by normalizing them through on-screen depictions, society may be inadvertently pushing young people to rush through crucial formative years before they are ready.

Ultimately, her statement is both a critique of existing media trends and a call for mindfulness regarding the messages being sent to young audiences. She invites a reconsideration of what is shown in movies intended for or accessible to teenagers, highlighting the significance of aligning representations more closely with reality. Preserving innocence, in her view, is not about sheltering youth unnecessarily, but about allowing them space and time to mature at a natural, healthy pace.