Jennifer Connelly opens up about early acting career: ‘It Wasn’t My Choice’

Hollywood actress Jennifer Connelly recently shed light on her unconventional journey into acting, revealing that her career in the movies was not something she actively pursued.

Having made her acting debut in the 1984 crime film 'Once Upon a Time in America', Connelly initially embarked on her career as a child model. However, it was her mother who ultimately steered her towards acting, as reported by 'Female First UK'.

During an appearance on 'Late Night With Seth Meyers', Connelly shared insights into her early years in the industry, stating, "I started working when I was so young - I started working when I was ten years old. And it wasn't something that I had pursued. I never even did a school play. Like, I didn't even watch movies.”

Connelly further elaborated on her journey, expressing doubts about her career path as she matured. "It was my mom's idea, and I started working. And then, at a certain point, when I got a little bit older, I was like, 'Do I really wanna do this? This isn't what I chose for my life’," she added.

Reflecting on her early experiences in the industry, Connelly highlighted the challenges of feeling like a "product" during her formative years. In a previous interview with Australia's Marie Claire magazine, she shared, "Performing from such a young age, it kind of has an impact on the way one grows up and develops. There’s a lot of personal exposure … you’re putting yourself in a film, you are the product. And if that’s something that isn’t initiated by oneself as a kid, I’m sure you can imagine it can be a little uncomfortable.”

Connelly also grappled with questions about her true motivations for pursuing acting. "There were different times, in my late teens and as a young adult, where I was like, ‘Is this really what I want to do? What is my relationship to this job?’ Because I had started so young, I felt like there was a large part of me that was doing it for someone else," she explained.

Connelly's candid reflections offer a glimpse into the complexities of navigating an acting career from a young age, highlighting the importance of self-discovery and authenticity in pursuing one's passions.