Léon: The Professional (French: Léon; original US title: The Professional) is a 1994 English-language French thriller film written and directed by Luc Besson. The film stars Jean Reno as the titular mob hitman; Gary Oldman as corrupt and mentally unhinged DEA agent Norman Stansfield; a young Natalie Portman, in her feature film debut, as Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl who is reluctantly taken in by the hitman after her family is murdered; and Danny Aiello as Tony, the mobster who gives the hitman his assignments. The hitman and Mathilda form an unusual relationship, as she becomes his protégée and learns the hitman's trade.