Natalie Portman (Hebrew: נטלי פורטמן; born Natalie Hershlag June 9, 1981) is an Israeli-American actress. Portman began her career in the early 1990s, turning down the opportunity to become a child model in favor of acting. Her first role came in the 1994 independent film Léon. She became well known when she was cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.[1] Portman, who stated that she would "...rather be smart than be a movie star,"[2] completed a bachelor's degree in psychology at Harvard College while she was working on the Star Wars films.In 2001, Portman opened in New York City's Public Theater production of Chekhov's The Seagull, alongside Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.[1] In 2005, Portman received a Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actress in the drama Closer. In May 2008, she served as the youngest member of the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival jury.[3]
The 65th Venice International Film Festival organizers have announced that the fest's shorts competition will kick off September 1, 2008, with Portman's directorial debut, Eve.
Portman was born Natalie Hershlag (Hebrew: נטלי הרשלג) in Jerusalem, Israel.[5][6] Her father, Avner Hershlag, is an Israeli doctor specializing in fertility and reproduction (reproductive endocrinology).[7][8] Her mother, Shelley Stevens, is an American homemaker who now works as her agent.[7] Portman's maternal ancestors were Jews from Austria and Russia and her paternal ancestors were Jews who immigrated to Israel from Poland and Romania. Her paternal grandfather's parents died in Auschwitz and her Romanian-born great-grandmother was a spy for the British during World War II.[9]
Portman's parents met at a Jewish student center at Ohio State University where her mother was selling tickets. Her father returned to Israel, but the two corresponded and were married when her mother visited Israel a few years later. In 1984, when Portman was three years old, the family moved from Israel to the United States, where her father pursued his medical training. The family first lived in Washington, D.C., where she attended Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, but relocated to Connecticut in 1988, and then settled permanently in Long Island, New York, in 1990.[1] Portman has said that although she "really love[s] the States... my heart's in Jerusalem. That's where I feel at home."[9] She is an only child and very close to her parents,[1] who are often seen with her at her film premieres.
Portman's parents met at a Jewish student center at Ohio State University where her mother was selling tickets. Her father returned to Israel, but the two corresponded and were married when her mother visited Israel a few years later. In 1984, when Portman was three years old, the family moved from Israel to the United States, where her father pursued his medical training. The family first lived in Washington, D.C., where she attended Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, but relocated to Connecticut in 1988, and then settled permanently in Long Island, New York, in 1990.[1] Portman has said that although she "really love[s] the States... my heart's in Jerusalem. That's where I feel at home."[9] She is an only child and very close to her parents,[1] who are often seen with her at her film premieres.
Although she says her family was not religious,[10] Portman attended a Jewish elementary school, the Solomon Schechter Day School of Glen Cove, New York. She graduated from a public high school, Syosset High School.[1] Portman skipped the premiere of Star Wars: Episode I so she could study for her high school final exams.[11]
In June 2003, Portman graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor's degree in psychology. While attending Harvard, she was a resident of the Lowell House[12] and wrote a response letter to the Harvard Crimson that was considered very well-written, in response to an anti-Israeli essay.[13]
Portman pursued graduate studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the spring of 2004.[10] At Harvard, Portman was Alan Dershowitz's research assistant (he thanks her in The Case for Israel). She was also a research assistant in a psychology lab, and in March 2006, appeared as a guest lecturer at a Columbia University course in terrorism and counterterrorism, where she spoke about her film V for Vendetta.[14]
In addition to being bilingual in Hebrew[15] and English, Portman has studied[16] French,[17] Japanese,[17] German[18] and Arabic.[19]
As a student, Portman co-authored two research papers that were published in professional scientific journals. Her 1998 high school paper on the "Enzymatic Production of Hydrogen" was entered in the Intel Science Talent Search.[20] In 2002, she contributed to a study on memory called "Frontal Lobe Activation During Object Permanence" during her psychology studies at Harvard.[21] Due to her scientific publications, Portman is among a very small number of professional actors with a defined Erdős–Bacon number.
In June 2003, Portman graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor's degree in psychology. While attending Harvard, she was a resident of the Lowell House[12] and wrote a response letter to the Harvard Crimson that was considered very well-written, in response to an anti-Israeli essay.[13]
Portman pursued graduate studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the spring of 2004.[10] At Harvard, Portman was Alan Dershowitz's research assistant (he thanks her in The Case for Israel). She was also a research assistant in a psychology lab, and in March 2006, appeared as a guest lecturer at a Columbia University course in terrorism and counterterrorism, where she spoke about her film V for Vendetta.[14]
In addition to being bilingual in Hebrew[15] and English, Portman has studied[16] French,[17] Japanese,[17] German[18] and Arabic.[19]
As a student, Portman co-authored two research papers that were published in professional scientific journals. Her 1998 high school paper on the "Enzymatic Production of Hydrogen" was entered in the Intel Science Talent Search.[20] In 2002, she contributed to a study on memory called "Frontal Lobe Activation During Object Permanence" during her psychology studies at Harvard.[21] Due to her scientific publications, Portman is among a very small number of professional actors with a defined Erdős–Bacon number.
Portman has been a vegetarian since childhood[28] and is an advocate for animal rights. She does not eat animal products or wear fur, feathers or leather. "All of my shoes are from Target and Stella McCartney", she says.[29] It has been reported that she will appear alongside actress Elissa Sursara in a PETA PSA to support the groups anti-fur campaign at some point throughout 2009.[30] In 2007, Natalie Portman traveled to Rwanda with Jack Hanna, to film a documentary titled Gorillas on the Brink. Later at a naming ceremony, Portman named a baby gorilla Gukina, which means 'to play'.[31] In 2007, she launched her own brand of vegan footwear.[32] Portman has been an advocate of environmental causes since childhood, when she joined an environmental song and dance troupe known as World Patrol Kids.[33]
Portman has been involved with the 2004 presidential campaign of Democratic candidate John Kerry and with antipoverty activities. In 2004 and 2005 she traveled to Uganda, Guatemala, and Ecuador as the Ambassador of Hope for FINCA International, an organization that promotes micro-lending to help finance women-owned businesses in poor countries.[34] In an interview conducted backstage at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia and appearing on the PBS program Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria she discussed microfinance.[35] Host Fareed Zakaria said that he was "generally wary of celebrities with fashionable causes", but included the segment with Portman because "she really knew her stuff".[36] In the "Voices" segment of the April 29, 2007, episode of the ABC Sunday Morning Program This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Portman discussed her work with FINCA and how it can benefit women and their children in third world countries.[37] In the Fall of 2007, Portman visited several university campuses, including Harvard, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Princeton, New York University, and Columbia, to inspire students with the power of microfinance and to encourage them to join the Village Banking Campaign to help families and communities lift themselves out of poverty.[38]
On the concept of the afterlife, she comments "I don't believe in that. I believe this is it, and I believe it's the best way to live."[9] She has said that she feels more Jewish in the Holy Land and that she would like to raise her children in the Jewish religion: "A priority for me is definitely that I'd like to raise my kids Jewish, but the ultimate thing is to have someone who is a good person and who is a partner... I get much more Jewish in Israel".[39] During the 2008 Democratic primaries, Portman supported Senator Hillary Clinton for President, but said that she "likes Obama as well".[40] She later campaigned for Obama during the general election.[41]
Portman has had romantic links with actors including Gael Garcia Bernal and Jake Gyllenhaal.[42] In the May 2002 issue of Vogue, Portman called actor/musician Lukas Haas and musician Moby her close friends.[43] She was linked to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, but he claims they are friends.[44] She reportedly dated Nat Rothschild, of the famous multi-billionaire banking family.[45] After starring in the video for his song "Carmencita", she began dating Venezuelan folk singer Devendra Banhart.
Portman has been involved with the 2004 presidential campaign of Democratic candidate John Kerry and with antipoverty activities. In 2004 and 2005 she traveled to Uganda, Guatemala, and Ecuador as the Ambassador of Hope for FINCA International, an organization that promotes micro-lending to help finance women-owned businesses in poor countries.[34] In an interview conducted backstage at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia and appearing on the PBS program Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria she discussed microfinance.[35] Host Fareed Zakaria said that he was "generally wary of celebrities with fashionable causes", but included the segment with Portman because "she really knew her stuff".[36] In the "Voices" segment of the April 29, 2007, episode of the ABC Sunday Morning Program This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Portman discussed her work with FINCA and how it can benefit women and their children in third world countries.[37] In the Fall of 2007, Portman visited several university campuses, including Harvard, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Princeton, New York University, and Columbia, to inspire students with the power of microfinance and to encourage them to join the Village Banking Campaign to help families and communities lift themselves out of poverty.[38]
On the concept of the afterlife, she comments "I don't believe in that. I believe this is it, and I believe it's the best way to live."[9] She has said that she feels more Jewish in the Holy Land and that she would like to raise her children in the Jewish religion: "A priority for me is definitely that I'd like to raise my kids Jewish, but the ultimate thing is to have someone who is a good person and who is a partner... I get much more Jewish in Israel".[39] During the 2008 Democratic primaries, Portman supported Senator Hillary Clinton for President, but said that she "likes Obama as well".[40] She later campaigned for Obama during the general election.[41]
Portman has had romantic links with actors including Gael Garcia Bernal and Jake Gyllenhaal.[42] In the May 2002 issue of Vogue, Portman called actor/musician Lukas Haas and musician Moby her close friends.[43] She was linked to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, but he claims they are friends.[44] She reportedly dated Nat Rothschild, of the famous multi-billionaire banking family.[45] After starring in the video for his song "Carmencita", she began dating Venezuelan folk singer Devendra Banhart.
Portman started dancing lessons at the age of four[1] and she performed in local troupes. At the age of ten, a Revlon agent asked her to become a child model,[47][1] but she turned down the offer, to focus on acting. In a magazine interview, Portman said that she was "...different from the other kids. I was more ambitious, I knew what I liked and what I wanted, and I worked very hard. I was a very serious kid."[48] Portman spent her school holidays attending theater camps. When she was ten, she auditioned for Ruthless!, a play about a girl who is prepared to commit murder to get the lead in a school play, and she was chosen as the understudy for Laura Bell Bundy.[10] In 1994, she auditioned for the role of a child who befriends a middle-aged hitman in Luc Besson's film Léon (aka The Professional). Soon after getting the part, she took her grandmother's maiden name "Portman" as her stage name, in the interest of privacy;[1] in the Director's Cut of the film on DVD she is credited as Natalie Hershlag. Léon opened on November 18, 1994, and marked her feature film debut at age 13. That same year she appeared in the short film Developing, which aired on television.During the mid-1990s, Portman had roles in the films Heat, Everyone Says I Love You, and Mars Attacks!, as well as a major role in Beautiful Girls.[1] She was also the first choice to play Juliet in William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, but producers felt her age wasn't suitable enough.[47] In 1997, Portman played the role of Anne Frank in a Broadway adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank. She initially turned down the lead role in the film Anywhere But Here, after learning it would involve a sex scene, but director Wayne Wang and actress Susan Sarandon demanded a rewrite of the script; Portman was shown a new draft, and she joined the project.[1] The film opened in late 1999, and she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ann August.[49] Critic Mary Elizabeth Williams of Salon called Portman "astonishing", and noted that "[u]nlike any number of actresses her age, she's neither too maudlin nor too plucky."[50] In the late 1990s, Portman was cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. The first part, Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, opened in early 1999, and the popularity of the film made Portman well known to audiences.[1] She then signed on to play the lead role of a persevering teenaged mother in Where the Heart Is.
After filming Where the Heart Is, Portman moved into the dorms of Harvard University to pursue her bachelor's degree in psychology.[1] She said in a 1999 interview that, with the exception of the Star Wars prequels, she would not act for the next four years in order to concentrate on studying.[51] During the summer break, from June to September 2000, Portman filmed Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones in Sydney, including additional production in London. In July 2001, Portman opened in New York City's Public Theater production of Chekhov's The Seagull, directed by Mike Nichols, playing the role of Nina alongside Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.[1] The play opened at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.[52] That same year, she was one of many celebrities who made cameo appearances in the comedy Zoolander. In 2002, the film opened around the world. Portman was cast in a small role in the film Cold Mountain alongside Jude Law and Nicole Kidman.[1]
In 2004, Portman appeared in the independent movies Garden State and Closer.[1] Garden State was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival, and won Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards. Her performance as Alice in Closer saw Portman win a Supporting Actress Golden Globe as well as a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.[53][54]
2005 saw the worldwide release of the final Star Wars prequel, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith on May 19. The film was the highest grossing film of the year, and was voted Favorite Motion Picture at the People's Choice Awards. Shortly before the film's opening, Portman shaved her head for her role in the film adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel V for Vendetta, released in March 2006. Her shaved head was first seen publicly at the Revenge of the Sith premieres. "Making a dramatic change that isn't reversible is always a worthy experience", she said of the drastically different hairstyle, "and that sort of gave me the courage to do it."[55] She kept her hair short for most of 2005, had a fauxhawk, and briefly sported a full mohawk in late August, saying that it was "kind of wonderful to throw vanity away for a bit".[56] Also in 2005, Portman filmed Free Zone and director Milos Forman's Goya's Ghosts. Forman had not seen any of her work, but thought she looked like a Goya painting so he requested a meeting.
In 2004, Portman appeared in the independent movies Garden State and Closer.[1] Garden State was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival, and won Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards. Her performance as Alice in Closer saw Portman win a Supporting Actress Golden Globe as well as a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.[53][54]
2005 saw the worldwide release of the final Star Wars prequel, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith on May 19. The film was the highest grossing film of the year, and was voted Favorite Motion Picture at the People's Choice Awards. Shortly before the film's opening, Portman shaved her head for her role in the film adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel V for Vendetta, released in March 2006. Her shaved head was first seen publicly at the Revenge of the Sith premieres. "Making a dramatic change that isn't reversible is always a worthy experience", she said of the drastically different hairstyle, "and that sort of gave me the courage to do it."[55] She kept her hair short for most of 2005, had a fauxhawk, and briefly sported a full mohawk in late August, saying that it was "kind of wonderful to throw vanity away for a bit".[56] Also in 2005, Portman filmed Free Zone and director Milos Forman's Goya's Ghosts. Forman had not seen any of her work, but thought she looked like a Goya painting so he requested a meeting.
Portman appeared on Saturday Night Live on March 4, 2006,[58] hosting the show with musical guest Fall Out Boy and special guest star Dennis Haysbert. In a SNL Digital Short,[59] she portrays herself as an angry gangsta rapper (with Andy Samberg as her Flava Flav-esque partner in Viking garb) during a faux-interview with Chris Parnell, saying she cheated at Harvard University while high on pot and cocaine.[60] In another sketch, she portrays a student named Rebecca Hershlag (her actual surname) attending a Bar Mitzvah, and in an installment of the recurring sketch The Needlers (also known as Sally and Dan, The Couple That Should Be Divorced), plays a fertility specialist (her father's profession).
V for Vendetta opened in early 2006. Portman portrayed Evey Hammond, a young woman who is saved from the secret police by the main character, V. Portman worked with a voice coach for the role, learning to speak with an English accent, and had her head shaved.[61] Maxim magazine named Portman #33 on its annual Hot 100 list, citing her V for Vendetta hairstyle as a huge accomplishment proving "you don't need hair to be hot."[62]
Portman has commented on V for Vendetta's political relevance, and mentioned that her character, who joins an underground anti-government group, is "often bad and does things that you don't like" and that "Being from Israel was a reason I wanted to do this because terrorism and violence are such a daily part of my conversations since I was little." She said the film "doesn't make clear good or bad statements. It respects the audience enough to take away their own opinion".[63] Both Goya's Ghosts and Free Zone received limited releases in 2006. Portman starred in the children's film Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, which began filming in April 2006 and was released in November 2007; she has said that she was "excited to do a kids' movie."[61] In late 2006, Portman filmed The Other Boleyn Girl, a historical drama in which she plays Anne Boleyn; Eric Bana and Scarlett Johansson co-starred in the film. She was also named one of the hottest women of film and TV by Blender Magazine.[64]
In 2006, she filmed Wong Kar-wai's road movie My Blueberry Nights. She won acclaim for her role as gambler Leslie, because "[f]or once she's not playing a waif or a child princess but a mature, full-bodied woman,...but she's not coasting on her looks;...She uses her appeal to simultaneously flirt with and taunt the gambler across the table".[65] Portman had a small role in the 18th season of The Simpsons as the voice of Bart Simpson's first girlfriend, Darcy.[66] She also appears in Paul McCartney's music video "Dance Tonight" from his 2007 album Memory Almost Full, directed by Michel Gondry.[67] Portman co-starred in the Wes Anderson short film Hotel Chevalier, opposite Jason Schwartzman, in which she performed her first nude scene.[68] She is scheduled to star opposite Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal in the drama film Brothers, a remake of the 2004 Danish film of the same name.[69] In May 2008 Portman served as the youngest member of the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival jury.
Natalie Portman (született Natalie Herschlag, 1981. június 9.) Golden Globe-díjas egyesült államokbeli filmszínésznő. Magánélete védelmében nem a születéskori nevét, hanem nagyanyja leánykori vezetéknevét használja. Gyermekszínészként kezdte karrierjét a 90-es években, az ezt megelőző években pedig táncolt és modelkedett. Első szerepét a Léon, a profi c. filmben kapta, melyben Jean Reno partnere volt, de az igazi ismertséget az új Csillagok háborúja-trilógia hozta meg számára, melyben Padmé Amidala szerepét alakította. Portman többször is hangoztatta, hogy "...szívesebben vagyok okos, mint híres", ezért a a Csillagok háborúja filmek forgatásával egyidőben a Harvard pszichológia szakán tanult, majd 2003-ban főiskolai végzettséget szerzett. [1]
2001-ben a Csehov A sirály c. darabjában szerepelt, többek között Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, és Philip Seymour Hoffman oldalán. 2005-ben a Közelebb c. filmben nyújtott alakításáért Golden Globe-díjat kapott. 2008-ban A másik Boleyn lány c. alkotásban, Boleyn Anna szerepében láthatják a nézők.
V for Vendetta opened in early 2006. Portman portrayed Evey Hammond, a young woman who is saved from the secret police by the main character, V. Portman worked with a voice coach for the role, learning to speak with an English accent, and had her head shaved.[61] Maxim magazine named Portman #33 on its annual Hot 100 list, citing her V for Vendetta hairstyle as a huge accomplishment proving "you don't need hair to be hot."[62]
Portman has commented on V for Vendetta's political relevance, and mentioned that her character, who joins an underground anti-government group, is "often bad and does things that you don't like" and that "Being from Israel was a reason I wanted to do this because terrorism and violence are such a daily part of my conversations since I was little." She said the film "doesn't make clear good or bad statements. It respects the audience enough to take away their own opinion".[63] Both Goya's Ghosts and Free Zone received limited releases in 2006. Portman starred in the children's film Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, which began filming in April 2006 and was released in November 2007; she has said that she was "excited to do a kids' movie."[61] In late 2006, Portman filmed The Other Boleyn Girl, a historical drama in which she plays Anne Boleyn; Eric Bana and Scarlett Johansson co-starred in the film. She was also named one of the hottest women of film and TV by Blender Magazine.[64]
In 2006, she filmed Wong Kar-wai's road movie My Blueberry Nights. She won acclaim for her role as gambler Leslie, because "[f]or once she's not playing a waif or a child princess but a mature, full-bodied woman,...but she's not coasting on her looks;...She uses her appeal to simultaneously flirt with and taunt the gambler across the table".[65] Portman had a small role in the 18th season of The Simpsons as the voice of Bart Simpson's first girlfriend, Darcy.[66] She also appears in Paul McCartney's music video "Dance Tonight" from his 2007 album Memory Almost Full, directed by Michel Gondry.[67] Portman co-starred in the Wes Anderson short film Hotel Chevalier, opposite Jason Schwartzman, in which she performed her first nude scene.[68] She is scheduled to star opposite Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal in the drama film Brothers, a remake of the 2004 Danish film of the same name.[69] In May 2008 Portman served as the youngest member of the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival jury.
Natalie Portman (született Natalie Herschlag, 1981. június 9.) Golden Globe-díjas egyesült államokbeli filmszínésznő. Magánélete védelmében nem a születéskori nevét, hanem nagyanyja leánykori vezetéknevét használja. Gyermekszínészként kezdte karrierjét a 90-es években, az ezt megelőző években pedig táncolt és modelkedett. Első szerepét a Léon, a profi c. filmben kapta, melyben Jean Reno partnere volt, de az igazi ismertséget az új Csillagok háborúja-trilógia hozta meg számára, melyben Padmé Amidala szerepét alakította. Portman többször is hangoztatta, hogy "...szívesebben vagyok okos, mint híres", ezért a a Csillagok háborúja filmek forgatásával egyidőben a Harvard pszichológia szakán tanult, majd 2003-ban főiskolai végzettséget szerzett. [1]2001-ben a Csehov A sirály c. darabjában szerepelt, többek között Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, és Philip Seymour Hoffman oldalán. 2005-ben a Közelebb c. filmben nyújtott alakításáért Golden Globe-díjat kapott. 2008-ban A másik Boleyn lány c. alkotásban, Boleyn Anna szerepében láthatják a nézők.
1981-ben született Natalie Hershlag néven, az izraeli Jeruzsálemben egy orvos–művész házaspár egyetlen gyermekeként. Édesapja Avner Hershlag termékenységkutató, édesanyja Shelley Stevens. Portman anyai rokonai osztrák és orosz zsidók voltak, apai rokonai Lengyelországban, illetve Romániában éltek, később pedig Izraelbe emigráltak. Apai nagyapjának szülei Auschwitzban haltak meg, romániai születésű dédanyja pedig a britek kémje volt a második világháborúban.[2]
Családja nem sokkal születése után az Egyesült Államokban, többszöri költözködés után New Yorkban telepedett le. Állítása szerint, habár igazán szereti az Egyesült Államokat, mégis Jeruzsálemben érzi igazán otthon magát. Mivel egyedüli gyermek, különösen szoros viszony fűzi őt szüleihez, akik minden premierjén részt vesznek.
Családja nem sokkal születése után az Egyesült Államokban, többszöri költözködés után New Yorkban telepedett le. Állítása szerint, habár igazán szereti az Egyesült Államokat, mégis Jeruzsálemben érzi igazán otthon magát. Mivel egyedüli gyermek, különösen szoros viszony fűzi őt szüleihez, akik minden premierjén részt vesznek.
Portman nagyon jó tanuló volt az iskolában; végig színjelesre teljesített. "A tudományok, az irodalom vagy a nyelvek számomra sokkal izgalmasabbak, és sosem érdekelt, hogy az egyetem választása esetleg kerékbe töri a karriert. Inkább leszek okos, mint filmsztár!" [3], mondta egyszer egy interjúban. Habár elmondása szerint szülei nem voltak vallásosak, mégis egy New York-i zsidó általános iskolába járt. Középiskolai tanulmányait a Syosset Középiskolában végezte. Portman nem tudott elmenni a Csillagok háborúja I: Baljós árnyak bemutatójára, mivel középiskolai záróvizsgáira készült. [4] Középiskola után beiratkozott a Harvardra, ahol pszichológiát tanult, de hallgatott emellett történelmet, filozófiát és teológiát is. 2003 júniusában diplomázott. A Harvardon a Lowell-ház tagja volt [5], és egyik alkalommal egy cikket írt a Harvard Crimsonba (iskolaújság), egy antiizraeli írásra reagálva. [6] Portman az egyik harvardi professzor asszisztense volt, 2006 márciusában pedig vendégelőadó volt a Columbia Egyetemen, ahol a terrorizmusról tartott előadást, a V mint vérbosszú c. filmje kapcsán. Angol nyelven és héberül [7] folyékonyan beszél, franciául,[8] japánul és németül bizonyos fokig.[9] Nemrég arabul kezdett tanulni.
Portman 8 éves kora óta vegetáriánus és az állatok jogainak szószólója. Nem eszik állati eredetű ételt, és nem visel sem szőrmét, sem tollat, sem bőrt. 2007-ben Natalie piacra dobta saját tervezésű cipőit, amelyeket alternatív természetes anyagokból készítenek. A bevételt teljes egészében jótékony célra fordítja, mellyel többek között az állatvédőknek próbál segíteni. Szintén 2007-ben egy hegyi gorillákért folytatott kampány keretében Portman Ruandába utazott, hogy dokumentumfilmet forgasson egy stábbal a gorillákról. A természetfilmet az Animal Planet nevű csatorna sugározta. A munka során Portmannek alkalma nyílt arra, hogy az egyik példányt saját maga nevezze el. Portman a Gukina nevet adta az egyik kisgorillának, mely magyarul azt jelenti: játszani.
Portman nagyon sok felé adakozik, de nem a hagyományos értelemben. "Azt az elvet vallom, hogy ne enni adj annak, aki éhes, hanem tanítsd meg halászni." Portman a FINCA - Foundation for International Community Assistance-ot támogatja adományaival. A szervezet egészen új, speciális módon támogatja a szegényeket: kezdőtőkét biztosít számukra, hogy utána saját kisvállalkozásuk segítségével, a maguk erejéből állhassanak talpra. 2007-ben Portman ellátogatott olyan egyetemekre, mint például a Harvard Egyetem, a UCLA, a UC Berkeley, a Standford, Princeton, New York Egyetem és a Columbia Egyetem. Beszédében arra bíztatta a fiatalokat, hogy csatlakozzanak a Village Banking Campaign-hoz, és adományaikkal támogassák a rászoruló családokat és közösségeket.
Portman nagyon sok felé adakozik, de nem a hagyományos értelemben. "Azt az elvet vallom, hogy ne enni adj annak, aki éhes, hanem tanítsd meg halászni." Portman a FINCA - Foundation for International Community Assistance-ot támogatja adományaival. A szervezet egészen új, speciális módon támogatja a szegényeket: kezdőtőkét biztosít számukra, hogy utána saját kisvállalkozásuk segítségével, a maguk erejéből állhassanak talpra. 2007-ben Portman ellátogatott olyan egyetemekre, mint például a Harvard Egyetem, a UCLA, a UC Berkeley, a Standford, Princeton, New York Egyetem és a Columbia Egyetem. Beszédében arra bíztatta a fiatalokat, hogy csatlakozzanak a Village Banking Campaign-hoz, és adományaikkal támogassák a rászoruló családokat és közösségeket.
Portman 4 éves korában kezdett el táncolni. 10 éves volt, amikor egy ügynök felfigyelt rá, és modellmunkákat ajánlott neki. Később azonban rádöbbent, hogy a színészet sokkal inkább érdekli, mint a modellkedés. Egy interjú során, Portman azt nyilatkozta: "...különböztem a többi gyerektől. Sokkal ambíciózusabb voltam és tudtam, hogy mit akarok elérni, épp ezért nagyon keményen dolgoztam. Nagyon komoly gyermek voltam." [10] Portman az iskolai szünidők alatt színházi táborokban vett részt, és olyan darabokban játszott, mint például a Kabaré vagy a Szentivánéji álom. 1994-ben Jean Reno oldalán megkapta Mathilda szerepét a Léon, a profi című filmben. A nagyközönség ekkor figyelt fel rá, és a kritikusok is elismerően nyilatkozott a tehetségéről. Portman ekkor vette fel nagyanyja leánykori nevét, és a továbbiakban ezen a néven szerepelt a filmekben. Minderre azért volt szükség, mert meg akarta óvni a saját és családja életét a sajtó kíváncsiskodásától.
A 90-es évek közepétől kezdve Natalie előtt nyitva állt a nagyvilág; olyan filmekben szerepelt, mint például a Szemtől szemben, a Gyönyörű lányok, a Varázsige: I Love You és a Támad a Mars!. Emellett ő volt az első, akit felkértek a William Shakespeare Rómeó és Júlia c. drámájából készült film, a Rómeó+Júlia főszerepére, de ezt elutasította, mert a szerelmi jelenetek, valamint a közte és Leonardo DiCaprio közti korkülönbség elrettentette. Ezek után a Lolita szerepét nem vállalta el, a Jégvihart túl komornak találta. 1997-ben Portman az Anne Frank naplójából készült Broadway-adaptációban alakította a címszereplőt. A Mindenütt jó c. film főszerepét is le akarta mondani, mert nem volt hajlandó meztelenül a kamerák elé állni, de miután átírták a forgatókönyvet, mégis leforgatta a filmet. Az ebben a filmben nyújtott alakításáért Golden Globe-díjra is jelölték. [11] A 90-es évek vége felé George Lucas Luke Skywalker és Leia hercegnő édesanyjának szerepét kínálta fel a számára az eredeti Star Wars-trilógia cselekményét megelőző részekben. Portmant ez az alakítása tette igazán ismertté. Az új trilógia első részét 1999–ben mutatták be. Ezek után nem sokkal egy leányanya szerepét alakította az Ahol a szív lakik c. filmben.
Az Ahol a szív lakik c. film után, Portman beiratkozott a Harvard Egyetemre, pszichológia szakra. Egy 1999-es interjújában megjegyezte, hogy a Star Wars filmeket leszámítva nem szeretne semmilyen filmben szerepelni, mert az elkövetkező években a tanulásra szeretne koncentrálni. [12] 2000 júniusától szeptemberig a Csillagok háborúja II: A klónok támadása c. epizódot kezdte el forgatni. 2001 júliusában Csehov A sirály c. darabjában alakította Gina szerepét, és olyan színészekkel játszott együtt, mint Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline és Philip Seymour Hoffman. Ugyanebben az évben Zoolander – A trendkívüli c. filmben tűnt fel cameo szerepben, sok más hírességgel együtt. 2002–ben Portman egy kis szerepet kapott a Hideghegy c. filmben Jude Law és Nicole Kidman oldalán.
2004–ben olyan filmekben tűnt fel, mint a Garden State vagy a Közelebb. Az utóbbi filmben nyújtott alakításáért Portman Golden Globe-díjat kapott. Ugyanezért a szerepért Oscarra is felterjesztették legjobb női mellékszereplő kategóriában, de a díjat abban az évben Cate Blanchett vihette el. [13][14]
2005–ben a Csillagok háborúja III: A Sithek bosszúja c. filmben utoljára öltöttae magára Padmé Amidala szerepét. Nem sokkal a bemutató (május 19.) előtt leborotváltatta a haját a V mint vérbosszú című film főszerepének kedvéért. Ebben Hugo Weaving oldalán egy fiatal lányt játszott, aki egy alternatív jövőben, véletlenül keveredik bele a fenyegető brit diktatúra ellen szőtt konspirációba. 2005-ben Portman a Free Zone, illetve a Goya kísértetei c. filmekben tűnt fel. Ez utóbbit 2006-ban mutatták be.
2004–ben olyan filmekben tűnt fel, mint a Garden State vagy a Közelebb. Az utóbbi filmben nyújtott alakításáért Portman Golden Globe-díjat kapott. Ugyanezért a szerepért Oscarra is felterjesztették legjobb női mellékszereplő kategóriában, de a díjat abban az évben Cate Blanchett vihette el. [13][14]
2005–ben a Csillagok háborúja III: A Sithek bosszúja c. filmben utoljára öltöttae magára Padmé Amidala szerepét. Nem sokkal a bemutató (május 19.) előtt leborotváltatta a haját a V mint vérbosszú című film főszerepének kedvéért. Ebben Hugo Weaving oldalán egy fiatal lányt játszott, aki egy alternatív jövőben, véletlenül keveredik bele a fenyegető brit diktatúra ellen szőtt konspirációba. 2005-ben Portman a Free Zone, illetve a Goya kísértetei c. filmekben tűnt fel. Ez utóbbit 2006-ban mutatták be.
2006–ban Portman részt vett a Berlini Nemzetközi Filmfesztiválon a V mint vérbosszú c. film kapcsán. Ebben a filmben Evey Hammondot alakította, akit a titokzatos V megment a diktatúrát kiszolgáló rendőrségtől. A szerep kedvéért Portmannak el kellett sajátítania a brit akcentust (a történet Angliában játszódik), és le kellett borotváltatnia a haját. 2006 áprilisában a Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium c. gyerekeknek szóló filmet kezdte el forgatni. Elmondása szerint, rendkívül izgalmas feladat volt számára, hogy gyerekekkel dolgozhatott együtt. 2006 végén elkezdődtek a A másik Boleyn lány c. film forgatási munkálatai, melyben Portman Boleyn Anna szerepét kapta meg, noha először Mary szerepét kínálták fel neki. A Marie Claire Magazinnak úgy nyilatkozott: "Anna sokkal jobban izgatott, mint a kiszámítható, egyenes Mary. Nagyobb kihívásnak éreztem ezt az elvetemült, bonyolult, romlott embert eljátszani, mert én nem ilyen vagyok."
Szintén 2006-ban, Portman Wong Kar-wai My Blueberry Nights - A távolság íze c. filmjében szerepelt. Ebben egy bájos szélhámost, Leslie karakterét alakította. Emellett egy kisebb szerepet kapott a Simpson család 18. évadjában, melyben Bart Simpson barátnőjének, Darcynak kölcsönözte a hangját. [15] 2007-ben Wes Anderson rövidfilmjében, a Hotel Chevalierben tűnt fel, melyben először vállalt el egy meztelen jelenetet. 2008-ban Portman lett a 61. Cannes-i Filmfesztivál legfiatalabb zsűritagja.
Szintén 2006-ban, Portman Wong Kar-wai My Blueberry Nights - A távolság íze c. filmjében szerepelt. Ebben egy bájos szélhámost, Leslie karakterét alakította. Emellett egy kisebb szerepet kapott a Simpson család 18. évadjában, melyben Bart Simpson barátnőjének, Darcynak kölcsönözte a hangját. [15] 2007-ben Wes Anderson rövidfilmjében, a Hotel Chevalierben tűnt fel, melyben először vállalt el egy meztelen jelenetet. 2008-ban Portman lett a 61. Cannes-i Filmfesztivál legfiatalabb zsűritagja.
The Beatles' hectic schedule of touring, television, and film work between 1963-65 kept Epstein very busy. The Beatles' last live concert was at 
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