Natalie Portman: Biography

Natalie Portman is an Israeli-American actress, producer and filmmaker whose career has included major Hollywood films, independent cinema and television. She is known for performances in Black Swan, V for Vendetta, Jackie, Closer and the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Early Life

Natalie Hershlag, professionally known as Natalie Portman, was born on 9 June 1981 in Jerusalem, Israel. Her family moved to the United States when she was young, and she grew up primarily in the New York area.

Portman showed an interest in acting as a child and began working professionally at a young age.

Leon: The Professional

Portman made her feature-film debut in Léon: The Professional in 1994. Her performance as Mathilda established her as a young actress with significant potential.

Star Wars

Portman was cast as Padmé Amidala in George Lucas’s Star Wars prequel trilogy. She appeared in The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

The films made her an internationally recognised actress while she continued her education.

Education

Portman attended Harvard University and graduated in 2003 with a degree in psychology. She continued acting while studying and subsequently developed a career spanning both mainstream and independent cinema.

Black Swan

In 2010, Portman starred in Darren Aronofsky’s psychological drama Black Swan. Her performance as ballet dancer Nina Sayers earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as a Golden Globe and numerous other awards.

Other Major Films

Portman has appeared in films including V for Vendetta, Closer, The Other Boleyn Girl, Thor, Thor: The Dark World and Jackie.

Her performance as Jacqueline Kennedy in Jackie earned her another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Filmmaking

Portman has also worked as a producer and director. Her directorial debut feature, A Tale of Love and Darkness, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015.

Career

Natalie Portman has established a career across blockbuster films, independent cinema, television and filmmaking. Her work has earned major awards recognition while allowing her to move between a wide range of genres and characters.