The Professional

Natalie must have been excited to land her first starring role as Mathilda in The Professional, since she was only 12 years old at the time of filming. However, her Lolita-like role alongside 46-year-old Jean Reno caused debate and uproar leaving her family to ponder whether Hollywood was a good fit for their daughter. Unfortunately, the controversy over-shadowed the brilliance of her performance.

The Professional (aka Leon) received critical acclaim and developed a cult following. The film was shot mainly in France, and on location in New York City. Director Luc Besson also directed La Femme Nikita – which has a very similar style to The Professional.

The story goes like this: Léon (Jean Reno) is a reclusive hitman (or "cleaner" as he would rather be known) living in New York City. He meets Mathilda on the eve of her dysfunctional family's murder. With her family gone, the precocious 12-year-old convinces Leon to take care of her and train her as a hitman so that she can avenge her baby brother's death, and in return offers to clean his apartment and teach him to read.

Mathilda moves in with Léon and their relationship evolves into something deeper – and what follows is some of the most intense and controversial movie scenes on mainstream circuit. At first, the chemistry is more that of a father-daughter kinship, but Mathilda's affection for Leon becomes misguided as she begins to develop feelings for him and attempts to seduce him.

In one scene Mathilda is seen lying on a bed rubbing her bare stomach as she declares her love for Leon, who is seated in a nearby chair. In another, the two play charades and Mathilda, dressed like Marilyn Monroe, seductively sings "Happy Birthday Mr President" as a clearly uncomfortable Léon looks on. She refers to him as her "lover" in another scene. But the scene that caused the most upheaval, which was subsequently removed from the American version, is where Mathilda gets Leon to spend the night in his bed (he usually sleeps in his chair) and she gets into bed with him. The following morning she is seen getting out of bed wearing only her underwear.

It's largely argued that Leon has a fatherly affection towards Mathilda, as her advances were never reciprocated. But some critics have suggested that Leon is conflicted by his love for the girl. This, allegedly, is what leads him to laying down his life to protect her. Whichever view you hold on the subject, The Professional is a scintillating multi-dimensional movie packed with action, drama and of course, romance (of the most forbidden kind) and is one of the best hitman movies ever made.

While actresses like Angelina Jolie have built careers on playing darker, controversial characters, Natalie shied away from these roles, only returning to a darker character again years later in 2004 with Closer. And while there are many bad girls vying for the top spot in Hollywood, Natalie has set the bar pretty high.

- Ashlin Simpson

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