Screen tests of young Natalie Portman and an alternative ending of the film "Leon"

Did you know that the legendary Luc Besson film, which became the debut for the young actress, was much tougher and provocative in the original? And 12-year-old Natalie Portman herself was incredibly close to not passing the screen test, which, by the way, gives goosebumps.

We are discovering the secrets of the movie "Leon", and this is a great reason to review this cult movie once again.

Initially, Natalie Portman did not pass the casting for the role of Matilda in Luc Besson's film Leon. She was not taken, because the heroine was 13-14 years old according to the script, and Natalie, when she came to the audition, was not even 12 yet. As a result, the casting director said, "You're too young for this role. Come home."

Do you know how many young actresses participated in the casting? More than two thousand! But nevertheless at Natalie got a second chance.

Besson, dissatisfied with the results of the tests, decided to look at those who were rejected because of their age. Among them were Liv Tyler and Natalie Portman. Tyler did not pass the audition — at 15, she looked too old for this role. But Portman appeared in front of the director - Luc Besson this time led the samples himself.

He was amazed at how a very young actress, who had only a small theatrical experience, performed a scene where Matilda is going through the loss of her brother. Besson, impressed by the depth of the emotions played, stopped the audition and said that the actress had been found.

Here is a video clip on which a fragment of young Natalie's screen test for the film "Leon" is recorded.

However, Natalie's parents insisted on some edits in the script of the film, which was initially much tougher and contradictory. For example, it is known that a sex scene between Leon and Matilda was originally conceived.

In addition, the parents were worried about the smoking of the main character. They demanded that there be no more than five scenes in the film with Matilda smoking and that during them she did not inhale and exhale cigarette smoke.

As a result, the sex scene was abandoned altogether. The only hint of it remained in the version mounted for European rental. There's a scene where the characters are lying in the same bed and Matilda talks about sex. In the American version of the film, there is no trace of this episode, as well as any hint of sexual tension between the characters.

The first version of the script, which Besson wrote in just a month, had a completely different ending. Do you want to know how this movie should have ended in the original version? You are welcome! Sit back and read.

She walks into the hallway. At the end of it, Stansfield laughs along with his colleagues. Matilda walks until she sees a white sheet on the floor. She squats and lifts one end. Leon's blood is everywhere, but his expression is sweet and relaxed. Matilda strokes his cheek.

Someone is knocking on Stansfield's back. The group turns around and sees a little girl sitting next to a corpse. Matilda kisses Leon and stands up. Her gun remains on the floor.

She looks at Stansfield, right into his eyes, and smiles broadly. Stansfield doesn't understand what's going on. Matilda takes her hand out of her pocket and throws him something. Stansfield catches the object. It's a metal ring. Stansfield understands less and less what is happening now.

Matilda opens her cloak: inside is a bundle of a dozen grenades. One is missing a ring.

Stansfield understands everything…

A powerful, comprehensive, absolute explosion!

The shock wave knocks over everyone standing on the street. Still in slow motion, thousands of debris are falling to the ground. The rain seems even sadder than usual."

How do you like this version of the finale of the film? Share it in the comments.