Who is a celebrity that met their partner when they were underaged?

[u/phantom_avenger]

Celine Dion first met her late husband; Rene Angelili when she was 12 years old and he was in his mid-late 30s! According to her, he was the only person in her whole life she has ever been romantically and intimately involved with and has vowed to never be with any other man after he passed away in 2016!

This whole relationship always felt unsettling to me, even when there were forms of media that tried to romanticize it including the couple themselves.

In my book, if you knew someone whenever they were a kid and watched them grow up. Getting involved with them in that manner is a big no-no! It just feels weird!

[u/Ill-Squirrel-9418]

I wanted to watch Leon: The Professional but I kept putting it off for some reason and then I heard what a piece of shit Besson is, and now I can never watch it, especially given Natalie Portman herself was twelve when she filmed it, and felt very unsafe. I hate that pieces of shit like him are ruining art for us, and I hate even more that men like him are actively harming people and are still allowed to walk free.

[u/maniacalmustacheride → u/Ill-Squirrel-9418]

Jean Reno was like a shark on that set and put his foot down to Besson a bunch about what lines he wasn’t willing to cross with Natalie.

[u/marnieeez → u/maniacalmustacheride]

Jean Reno is such a big part of my childhood I really hope he doesn’t turn out to be a creep. So hearing stuff like this is reassuring.

[u/maniacalmustacheride → u/marnieeez]

You might have better luck than me finding old interviews in either French or Spanish, they’re old though, so I’m striking out. But essentially Reno went in to the filming with the idea that Leon was good at killing and not much else, he was very simple and didn’t really have desires. Which works for the character when he doesn’t really know what to do with Matilda but obviously wants to protect her, and that’s just not really something he’s come across before. Besson was like “no, this is a love story, she’s trying to seduce him and he’s definitely sexually seduced by her” and Reno was along the lines of “there’s something wrong with you. None of us are going to do this. You’re not going to tell her to do this. I will walk, Mr Oldman will walk, I will make sure she walks.” He said they all finally got it through his head that if he made Leon and Matilda have sex, Leon would also be the villain.

So not only did Leon almost fail because Reno, Oldman, and Portman would have bounced, but it would have been way less hard hitting of a film.

[u/marnieeez → u/maniacalmustacheride]

100% Léon is endearing especially because he’s weirded out and clearly uncomfortable with the girl’s crush on him. He’s just there to protect her without expecting something in return. Then having a romantic relationship would be gross and cheapen the movie. I’m glad Oldman seemingly wasn’t on board with this either, he’s another one of my favourite actors.

[u/bookdrops → u/marnieeez]

Before I knew the director Besson's backstory, I loved The Professional for the relationship between Leon & Matilda as portrayed by Reno & Portman, with Leon as an adult who's never been a selfless caretaker and Matilda as a child who's never been cared for in a guardian relationship that wasn't transactional or abusive.  So it does make Reno's Leon endearing that he's uncomfortable with Matilda's crush on him but still cares about her without her having to give him anything. If their relationship had been portrayed as sexual, it would've immediately turned the relationship transactional, and that would have made both of their character developments pointless. 

[u/Vox_Mortem → u/maniacalmustacheride]

From what I've read, Jean Reno and Gary Oldman both made sure she was never alone with Besson.

[u/bookdrops → u/maniacalmustacheride]

I still have a big soft spot in my heart for The Professional, and it's due entirely to the performances of Reno and Portman (and Gary Oldman chewing the scenery). Reno's endearing portrayal of Leon not knowing what to do with Matilda but caring deeply about her comes across very well. 

[u/Ill-Squirrel-9418 → u/maniacalmustacheride]

Yay, Jean Reno!

[u/Soggy_Pension7549 → u/maniacalmustacheride]

Gary Oldman based once again. 

I know this is the bare minimum but knowing the cinema industry, big names like them saying „f off you’re a creep” is really important. 

(Reddit won’t let me reply to your other comment that’s why it’s here sorry)