Twenty years ago, the whole world was in a frenzy of excitement as it prepared for the biggest event of the decade: the return of Star Wars. However, after such a protracted wait, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and its successors failed to live up to the hype and received a mixed response. Natalie Portman, who portrayed Padmé Amidala in all three movies beginning at the age of 16, eventually became the mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, was one person at the center of the storm. Portman discussed dealing with the criticism to some of the most eagerly awaited movies of all time in a career-spanning interview with Empire.

“It was hard,” Natalie Portman admitted. “It was a bummer because it felt like people were so excited about new ones and then to have people feel disappointed. Also to be at an age that I didn’t really understand that’s kind of the nature of the beast. When something has that much anticipation it can almost only disappoint.”

Both reviewers and fans alike criticized the movie because it fell short of their expectations.

Despite the Prequel Trilogy’s many outspoken detractors, there is also a sizable number of people who grew up watching the movies and see them as their STAR WARS, which has resulted in an enduring respect of the movies.

“With the perspective of time, it’s been re-evaluated by a lot of people who actually really love them now. There’s a very avid group of people who think they’re the best ones now! I don’t have enough perspective to weigh in.”

Even while some Star Wars fans are still critical of Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, many fans may grow to love the film in the future. Although it’s too soon to know, there are eventually too many expectations to produce something that will appeal to everyone. Johnson took a gamble and is essentially detested for it, while J.J. Abrams receives criticism for taking too many precautions. The franchise is still developing, however.

Portman said in a 2018 interview that she hadn’t yet shown the movies to her kid, attributing the delay to her destiny as Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) fatal love interest.

“It’s kind of a shame. You know, when I made it, I was like, ‘This is going to be the coolest thing. One day when I have kids, I can show them.’ And boys, of course, are obsessed with it and know all about it before they’ve seen it,” Jimmy Kimmel was informed by Portman.

Portman nonetheless noted, “I realized, I die in the movies. I feel like it’s kind of a scary thing to show your kid.”

Despite the negative reviews, Natalie’s career was unaffected and she went on to feature in a number of successful movies, such as Black Swan, Thor, Jackie, and Vox Lux.

According to writer-director J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will mark the conclusion of the nine-movie Skywalker Saga. In December, Portman denied reports that Padmé will make a comeback in the film.

The Skywalker saga’s last film, The Rise of Skywalker, will be released at the end of the year. New Star Wars-themed zones are being added to Disneyland and Disney World, with the Anaheim park debuting at the end of this month. Online reservations for a four-hour visit to the new region were sold out in less than two hours. Despite the criticisms, audiences continue to fill cinemas and now theme parks as well.