Dunn realized he'd gotten a bit too worked up. Calming himself down, he asked gently, "Excuse me… are you Miss Natalie Portman?"
The girl pressed her lips together tightly, sneaking a quick glance at Dunn before focusing her attention on George Lucas.
Before coming here, her mom—also her agent—had warned her: George Lucas was the only Jewish person in the room, and if push came to shove, he'd definitely step in to help.
Sure enough, George gave her an encouraging nod.
She let out a relieved breath and looked at Dunn with a mix of curiosity and nerves. "I'm Natalie," she said. "Director Walker."
Dunn stood up, nodding. He turned to Lucas. "George, I've made up my mind. Miss Portman's playing Queen Padmé Amidala. You're not gonna say no to that, right?"
Lucas coughed. If it were up to him, he'd naturally prefer a fellow Jewish actor, but casting wasn't just his and Dunn's call. "Let's see her perform first," he said. "If she nails it, then we're golden."
Dunn flashed an encouraging smile. "Miss Portman, I know you've got this!"
An assistant handed Natalie an A4 sheet with a short script—some standout lines for Queen Padmé Amidala from the movie.
Natalie read it silently twice, then handed it back with a confident smile. "I've got it memorized, gentlemen."
Dunn couldn't help but think, *Wow, she's a smart one. Total brainiac vibes.* "Alright, let's do this," he said.
Natalie Portman wasn't an adult yet, but she'd already done a few films. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward boldly. "I am Padmé Amidala. She's my handmaiden, my decoy! I'm sorry, but to escape assassins and blockades, I had no choice. Now, I ask you to trust me. Naboo offers its loyalty in exchange for your friendship and peace…"
After delivering the lines, she dropped to her knees, her face full of "hopeful" anticipation.
But the big shots in the room? Their expressions were… complicated, to say the least.
Dunn, who'd directed two films and worked with stars like Kate Winslet and Nicole Kidman, found Natalie's performance tough to watch. It wasn't acting—it was like a high schooler reciting a textbook! Total disaster.
He coughed loudly. "Miss Portman, you can get up now."
Natalie stood, smiling. "Everyone calls me Nat, Director Walker."
"Alright, Nat," Dunn said, struggling to be harsh with that adorable face in front of him. "Your performance… it was great. Barring any surprises, Padmé Amidala's yours."
Her eyes lit up, and she practically bounced with joy. "Really, Director Walker?!"
Dunn rushed to seal the deal before the old-timers could object. "Yup, it's real. Go tell your agent to get ready to sign the contract."
Once Natalie left, Dunn braced himself for a roasting from the others. But to his shock, they actually liked her!
"She's a refined girl," one said. "Her acting's honest and solid—tons of potential."
"The script calls for Queen Padmé to be a young girl," another added. "Someone like Natalie Portman, with fame but no scandals? That's rare in Hollywood."
"I hear her mom's been her agent all along," a third chimed in. "Jewish folks can be pretty traditional, you know."
Dunn couldn't believe it. Natalie Portman had won them all over! The other girls waiting to audition didn't even get a shot.
Of course, there was still the handmaiden role—Padmé's decoy—to cast…
---
Shirley Hershlag had seen too many Hollywood teens crash and burn. Ever since Natalie's rise to fame, she'd taken on the agent role herself, determined to shield her daughter from the industry's glitz and grime. She even limited Natalie's social life to keep her grounded.
After Natalie's unforgettable "killer's little girl" role in *Leon: The Professional*, Shirley didn't want her daughter stuck as some fantasy figure. She turned down big films like *Lolita* and *Romeo + Juliet*, refusing to let Natalie stay tied to that "Lolita" image—or attract creepy "uncles."
It was strict, sure, and it curbed some of Natalie's freedom. But it also turned her into a rare Hollywood gem—a real white lotus, at least so far.
When Natalie came out beaming, Shirley asked eagerly, "How'd it go? Everything okay?"
"Better than okay—it was amazing!" Natalie grinned, shaking her head like she'd won a prize. "Director Walker said they'll sign the contract soon!"
"Sign a contract? For what?" Shirley blinked, confused.
Natalie giggled. "An acting contract, duh! I got Queen Amidala!"
"No way!" Shirley, a ten-year veteran agent, didn't buy it. It sounded like some bigwig sweet-talking her kid. Auditions had just started—how could they pick someone already? And if they did, they'd call the agent first, not the actor.
Seeing her mom's doubt, Natalie puffed up her cheeks. "Director Walker wouldn't lie!"
At seventeen, Natalie was at that age where crushes start blooming. But with her mom's tight rules, she'd never had the chance to date like other girls. And the way Dunn acted during the audition? He wasn't much different from the boys at school chasing her. Except, you know, he was a famous Hollywood director!
That thought made her heart flutter with pride. But she was clever—she kept it hidden. She was tired of her mom pulling her strings like a puppet.
Too bad she couldn't fool the woman who'd raised her for seventeen years.
Shirley's face shifted. "Director Walker? You mean Dunn Walker?"
Natalie tilted her chin up, a little annoyed. "Who else would it be?"
Noticing her daughter's vibe, Shirley grew surer. "Nat, during the audition… did Dunn Walker say anything special to you?"
"Mom!" Natalie's face turned red. She tried to play it cool, but that shy, jittery feeling? Impossible to hide.
Shirley sighed softly. If Dunn had his eye on her daughter, she didn't have much power to stop it. During filming, she couldn't exactly keep them apart, could she?
"Nat," she said earnestly, "you should focus on school. You're still young. Finish college, grow up a bit, then come to Hollywood. It's not too late."
"I know, Mom," Natalie muttered, pouting. But then she remembered Dunn at the audition—flustered, calling her "goddess" and "queen" like a goof—and burst out laughing. "He's such a dork!"
---
That evening, Shirley got the call from the crew: Natalie Portman was officially cast as Queen Padmé Amidala.
Watching her daughter curled up on the hotel sofa, giggling at the TV, Shirley's feelings were a tangled mess.
belamy20
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