About:
Natalie Portman: A Brief Overview
Natalie Portman , born June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem, is an Israeli-born American actress celebrated for her versatile film career. She has garnered numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.
Early Career:
Portman began her acting career at age twelve with a leading role in Léon: The Professional (1994). While in high school, she made her Broadway debut in The Diary of a Young Girl (1998) and gained widespread recognition as Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999).
Education and Continued Success:
Portman attended Harvard University from 1999 to 2003, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Despite reducing her acting roles during this time, she continued to work on the Star Wars prequels and appeared in The Seagull (2001) at The Public Theater.
Acclaimed Roles:
In 2004, Portman received an Academy Award nomination and won a Golden Globe for her role in Closer. She further solidified her career with notable roles in V for Vendetta (2005), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), and Black Swan (2010), the latter earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Recent Work:
Portman portrayed Jacqueline Kennedy in Jackie (2016), earning her third Academy Award nomination. She also starred as Jane Foster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in Thor (2011), Thor: The Dark World (2013), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).
Production and Directing:
In 2021, Portman co-founded the production company MountainA and produced and starred in May December (2023). Her directorial works include the short film Eve (2008) and the feature A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015).
Personal Life:
Portman is a dual citizen of Israel and the United States, an advocate for animal rights and environmental causes, and was married to Benjamin Millepied from 2012 to 2024, with whom she has two children.
Early Life and Background
Natalie Hershlag was born to Jewish parents in Jerusalem, with family roots in Poland, Russia, Austria, and Romania. The family moved to the United States in 1988, living in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and Long Island. Portman attended Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School and Solomon Schechter Day School, and she studied ballet and modern dance.
Spotted by a Revlon agent at age ten, Portman chose to pursue acting over modeling. She secured her first role in Léon: The Professional (1994), adopting her grandmother’s maiden name, Portman, as her stage name.
Career Highlights
1994–1998: Early Roles
Portman debuted in Léon: The Professional (1994) as Mathilda. She played roles in Heat (1995), Beautiful Girls (1996), and had minor roles in Everyone Says I Love You and Mars Attacks! (1996). She starred in Broadway’s The Diary of Anne Frank from 1997 to 1998.
1999–2006: Transition to Adult Roles
Portman gained international fame with Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). She balanced her education at Harvard and acting, appearing in Anywhere but Here (1999) and Where the Heart Is (2000). In 2004, she starred in Garden State and Closer, winning a Golden Globe for the latter. She continued with Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) and V for Vendetta (2005).
Personal and Professional Development
Portman’s career is marked by a blend of blockbuster and independent films, directorial ventures, and advocacy. She remains a prominent figure in Hollywood, known for her commitment to her craft and social causes.