Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman

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Biography

Natalie Portman (born Natalie Hershlag, 9.6.1981) Natalie Portman is an Israeli - American actress, who first came into the public eye with her role as a child actress in Léon.

Childhood: Natalie Portman was born in Jerusalem. Avner Hershlag, her Israeli father, is a doctor and her American mother, Shelley Stevens, is now Natalie's agent.

When Natalie was three years old, the family moved to the United States, from Israel and her father continued his medical training there. Whilst the family resided in Washington, D.C., Natalie attended Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. However, the family relocated briefly to Connecticut and then settles in Long Island, New York when their daughter was nine.

Natalie Portman famously missed the premiere showing of Star Wars: Episode I in order to study for her exams, to graduate from Syosset High School. She later studied at Harvard College and graduated with a psychology degree.

Acting Career: Natalie Portman took up dance classes aged four years old. When she was 10, she was invited to become a child model, by an agent of Revlon. However, Natalie turned down the offer because she wanted to concentrate on dancing and acting.

At the age of 13, Natalie Portman auditioned for the role of the young girl in Léon and got the role, starring in the film alongside Jean Reno and Gary Oldman.

Amongst her smaller roles of the 1990s, Natalie Portman appeared in Everyone Says I Love You, Mars Attacks! and Heat. The producers of William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet turned her down for the role of Juliet, arguing that she was too young.

Portman starred as Anne Frank in the Broadway production of The Diary of Anne Frank in 1997. In 1999, she also appeared in Anywhere But Here. She initially turned down the offer of the role, as the script contained a sex scene for her character Ann August. However, Susan Sarandon demanded a re-write of the script. Portman was eventually nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the film.

Natalie Portman's biggest break came when she was cast as Padmé Amidala in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the first in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Following on from this, she starred in the romantic drama Where The Heart Is, before continuing her education at Harvard University. The filming of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones took place in Portman's summer holiday in 2000. The next year, she starred alongside Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Philip Seymour Hoffman in a New York City Public Theatre production of Chekhov's The Seagull.

In 2004, Natalie Portman featured in Garden State, opposite Zach Braff, who is famous for his role in the sitcom Scrubs. She also appeared in another independent film, Closer, which won her a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, as well as an Oscar nomination for the same title.

The final installment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was released in 2005. Natalie Portman attended the premieres for the film with a shaved head. She had had to shave her hair off for her role in the adaptation of Alan Moore's V for Vendetta.

In 2005, Milos Forman cast Natalie Portman in Goya's Ghosts without having seen her work, on the basis that she looked like a Goya painting. The next year, she portrayed Anne Boleyn in The Other Boleyn Girl, alongside Eric Bana and Scarlett Johansson.

In 2007, Natalie Portman could be seen in the children's movie Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, opposite Robin Williams.

Natalie Portman lent her voice to the character of Darcy, Bart Simpson's first girlfriend, in the 18th series of The Simpsons.

Portman's first nude scene came when she starred in Wes Anderson's Hotel Chevalier, alongside Jason Schwartzman.

Personal Life: Natalie Portman has been romantically linked with a number of male actors, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Gael Garcia Bernal and the musician Adam Levine. She also started dating Devendra Banhart after appearing in the video for 'Carmencita.'

Popular articles:
Natalie Portman Replaced In Thor 2 Smooch Scene By Chris Hemsworth's Wife



Biography by Contactmusic.com

Jewish Prize Ceremony Cancelled Over Natalie Portman's Refusal To Visit Israel


Natalie Portman

Israel's answer to the Nobels, the Genesis Prize Foundation has been forced to cancel their upcoming prize-giving ceremony due to the fact that winner Natalie Portman no longer wishes to attend after recent conflicts within her birth nation. It's certainly a difficult time for a lot of Israeli-born stars.

Natalie Portman at the 'Annihilation' premiereNatalie Portman at the 'Annihilation' premiere

Known by some as the 'Jewish Nobel', the Genesis Prize ceremony was due to take place in June, but the 36-year-old actress has reached out to the organisers to explain just why she will not be flying to the country for the celebrations.

Continue reading: Jewish Prize Ceremony Cancelled Over Natalie Portman's Refusal To Visit Israel

Natalie Portman Reacts To 'Whitewashing' Casting Criticisms Of New Film 'Annihilation'


Natalie Portman Jennifer Jason Leigh Alex Garland

Natalie Portman and her Annihilation co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh have both spoken out over the ‘whitewashing’ controversy that has engulfed their casting in the film, saying that they had no idea their characters were not white in the original books.

Annihilation, which is out on February 23rd in the United States, is a science fiction based around Portman’s character Lena, a biologist working in a secret natural disaster zone. It’s an adaptation of the first book of the Southern Reach trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer, published in 2014.

However, it’s not revealed until the second book of the series, ‘Authority’, that Lena is revealed to be of “Asian heritage”. Furthermore, Jennifer Jason Leigh’s character as the government psychologist Dr Ventress is described as being half-Native American and half-white.

Continue reading: Natalie Portman Reacts To 'Whitewashing' Casting Criticisms Of New Film 'Annihilation'

Natalie Portman Returns To Rap In Hilarious 'SNL' Sketch


Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman may be well known for her elegant film roles in the likes of 'Black Swan' and 'Star Wars', but she's still got an amazing sense of humour. She proved as much with a profanity-laden rap during her stint as guest host on 'Saturday Night Live'.

Natalie Portman at the LA Dance Projects Annual GalaNatalie Portman at the LA Dance Projects Annual Gala

The 36-year-old returned to 'SNL' with another hilarious rap number along the same lines of her last venture on the show in 2006. Her ultimate hip-hop music video is intertwined with her interview with Beck Bennett's character.

Continue reading: Natalie Portman Returns To Rap In Hilarious 'SNL' Sketch

Natalie Portman Describes How She Was "Sexually Terrorised" As A Child Star


Natalie Portman Eva Longoria Constance Wu

As the discussion of sexual harassment in Hollywood continues - and campaigns including #MeToo and TimesUp push forward for everyday women - more and more female actresses are joining the conversation with their stories. Now Natalie Portman has spoken up about how she was sexually terrorised as a child after the shooting of her first feature film.

Natalie PortmanNatalie Portman has been a prominent figure at Women's Marches during the past two years

The Black Swan star took to the stage at Saturday’s Women’s March (20 Jan) in Los Angeles with fellow actresses Eva Longoria and Constance Wu and spoke about her experiences growing up as a child star.

Continue reading: Natalie Portman Describes How She Was "Sexually Terrorised" As A Child Star

The Laws Of Nature Don't Apply In 'Annihilation'


When a biologist’s husband disappears his wife must undertake a dangerous mission into the unknown to save him. From the writer and director of ‘Ex-Machina’, Alex Garland, ‘Annihilation’ hits theatres in February.

After a group of soldiers enter an environmental disaster zone known as Area X only one makes it home alive. But his homecoming is shot-lived and soon it is up to his wife Lena (Natalie Portman) to save his life.

Natalie Portman in ‘Annihilation’

Continue: The Laws Of Nature Don't Apply In 'Annihilation'

'Song To Song' Returns To Austin With SXSW 2017 Premiere


South by Southwest Michael Fassbender Terrence Malick Rooney Mara Ryan Gosling Natalie Portman

The new music drama from Terrence Malick, 'Song To Song' starring Michael Fassbender, is set to premiere on the opening night of the 2017 SXSW Festival this weekend, celebrating the Austin music aesthetic that the movie is all about and setting the course for a phenomenal event.

Song to SongRooney Mara, Michael Fassbender and Ryan Gosling star in 'Song to Song'

Austin, Texas is one of the greatest cities for music in the world, playing host to two major music festivals each year; SXSW and Austin City Limits. It so happens that filmmaker Terrence Malick shot his latest movie 'Song To Song' at the latter in 2012, and they are bringing it back to Austin with a screening at the 24th edition of SXSW today (March 10th 2017).

Continue reading: 'Song To Song' Returns To Austin With SXSW 2017 Premiere

Song To Song - Featurette and Clip


Terrence Malick is set to release his latest movie 'Song to Song'; a musical drama that was partially shot at Austin City Limits musical festival back in 2012. Producers Sarah Green and Ken Kao, music supervisor Lauren Marie Mikus, Cole Alexander from Black Lips, singer-songwriter Lykke Li, and stars Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender open up about getting to work on extraordinary film at an even more extraordinary festival in a short featurette.

Continue: Song To Song - Featurette and Clip

Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman attend the 26th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards held at Cipriani Wall Street, New York, United States - Tuesday 29th November 2016

Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman
Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman seen alone and with Greta Gerwig at the AFI Fest Centerpiece Gala screening of Jackie held at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, California, United States - Tuesday 15th November 2016

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman at the 20th Annual Hollywood Film Awards - Los Angeles, California, United States - Monday 7th November 2016

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman at the 54th New York Film Festival screening of 'Jackie' held at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, United States - Friday 14th October 2016

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman

Actress Natalie Portman addressing a voter registration rally in Ardmore, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ahead of the U.S. Presidential election in November 2016. Monday 10th October 2016

Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman

‘Jane Got A Gun’: Everything You Need To Know About Natalie Portman’s New Western


Natalie Portman Joel Edgerton Ewan McGregor Lynne Ramsay Gavin O'Connor

Natalie Portman is taking on a whole new genre with her latest film, Jane Got a Gun. The trailer for the upcoming movie was released earlier this week and it bears all the hallmarks of an epic Western including gun slinging, shoot outs and a torrid but ultimately ill-fated romance.

Natalie PortmanNatalie Portman at the 68th Cannes Film Festival in May 2015.

Read More: Despite Oscar, Natalie Portman Was "Woefully Underprepared" For Black Swan.

Continue reading: ‘Jane Got A Gun’: Everything You Need To Know About Natalie Portman’s New Western

Natalie Portman To Star As Jackie Kennedy In Darren Aronofsky's First Lady Biopic 'Jackie'


Natalie Portman

Oscar-winner Natalie Portman is to play Jackie Kennedy in Darren Aronofsky's forthcoming movie about the aftermath of the JFK assassination. Aronofsky will produce 'Jackie', whoile the Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larrain will direct. 

Natalie PortmanNatalie Portman will play Jackie Kennedy in a movie produced by Darren Aronofsky

The film is being pitched to investors at the Cannes Film Festival and is unlikely to be ignored with Portman attached. Her last collaboration with Aronofsky - Black Swan - won Portman the Oscar for Best Actress.

Continue reading: Natalie Portman To Star As Jackie Kennedy In Darren Aronofsky's First Lady Biopic 'Jackie'

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Trailer


A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. A trade dispute on the planet Naboo has led to a full-scale invasion of the planet. Two members of the of the honourable Jedi Order, Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) travel to the Trade Federation flagship to  negotiate an end to the blockade. While they are there, however, they uncover a secret invasion of the entire planet which threatens to endanger millions of lives. Their quest to save the planet and keep the peace will lead them to a young boy with incredible potential. And the fate of the entire galaxy will be thrown into danger.

Continue: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Trailer

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman Quick Links

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Natalie Portman

Date of birth

9th June, 1981

Occupation

Actor

Sex

Female

Height

1.60


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Natalie Portman Movies

The Laws Of Nature Don't Apply In 'Annihilation'  Trailer

The Laws Of Nature Don't Apply In 'Annihilation' Trailer

When a biologist’s husband disappears his wife must undertake a dangerous mission into the unknown...

Song To Song Trailer

Song To Song Trailer

The music scene of Austin, Texas becomes tainted by lust and illict desires as two...

Jackie Movie Review

Jackie Movie Review

Rather than make a standard biopic about the most famous First Lady in American history,...

Jackie Trailer

Jackie Trailer

Jacqueline Bouvier was always a highly independent woman, even when she was a debutant; she...

A Tale Of Love And Darkness Trailer

A Tale Of Love And Darkness Trailer

For Natalie Portman's foray into directing, she's decided to turn Amos Oz's autobiographic book A...

Jane Got a Gun Movie Review

Jane Got a Gun Movie Review

With its grindingly low-key tension and unusual perspectives, this Western has a chance to revamp...

Knight Of Cups Trailer

Knight Of Cups Trailer

Rick is one of the hottest screenwriters in Hollywood but after the death of his...

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Jane Got A Gun Trailer

Jane Got A Gun Trailer

Jane Hammond has always been an independent woman, but living in the developing West is...

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Trailer

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Trailer

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. A trade dispute on the...

Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith Trailer

Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith Trailer

After five long years, the Clone Wars are still raging across the galaxy. Count Dooku...

Star Wars: Attack Of The Clones Trailer

Star Wars: Attack Of The Clones Trailer

Discontent is spreading across the galaxy. A separatist movement, led by the fallen Jedi Count...

Star Wars: The Digital Collection Trailer

Star Wars: The Digital Collection Trailer

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. The majestic order of honourable,...

Thor: The Dark World Movie Review

Thor: The Dark World Movie Review

Marvel can't help itself: these movies have to get bigger and crazier. And this one...

Thor: The Dark World Trailer

Thor: The Dark World Trailer

Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston talk about the upcoming 'Thor: The Dark World' in a...

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