Words by Natalie Portman has spent more than three decades on screen, beginning as a child in a French thriller and growing into one of the most respected actresses of her generation. Along the way she earned a Harvard degree, won an Academy Award and moved into directing and producing.
Early life
Natalie Hershlag was born on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem. Her family moved to the United States when she was young, living in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut before settling on Long Island, New York. She adopted her grandmother’s maiden name, Portman, as her stage name.
She studied dance as a child and was spotted by a modeling agent at age 10, but chose acting instead.
Léon
Portman’s film debut came at 12 in Luc Besson’s “Léon: The Professional” (1994), as Mathilda, a girl who befriends a hitman played by Jean Reno. Her poised, unsettling performance drew immediate attention. She followed with roles in Michael Mann’s “Heat” (1995), “Beautiful Girls” (1996) and Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks!” (1996), and starred on Broadway in “The Diary of Anne Frank” in 1997.
Star Wars and Harvard
Portman played Padmé Amidala in George Lucas’s “Star Wars” prequels, “The Phantom Menace” (1999), “Attack of the Clones” (2002) and “Revenge of the Sith” (2005), introducing her to a worldwide audience.
During that period she attended Harvard University, graduating in 2003 with a degree in psychology. She has said she would rather be smart than a movie star, and she co-authored research papers as an undergraduate.
Closer and V for Vendetta
Her performance as a mysterious young woman in Mike Nichols’s “Closer” (2004) earned a Golden Globe and her first Oscar nomination. She shaved her head for “V for Vendetta” (2005) and starred in Wes Anderson’s short “Hotel Chevalier” and “The Darjeeling Limited” (2007).
Black Swan
Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” (2010) brought her greatest acclaim. Portman played Nina Sayers, a ballerina whose pursuit of perfection in “Swan Lake” leads her into psychological collapse. She trained intensively in ballet for the role. The performance won the Academy Award for best actress, along with a Golden Globe and a BAFTA.
Jackie and beyond
She received another Oscar nomination for Pablo Larraín’s “Jackie” (2016), playing Jacqueline Kennedy in the days after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. She starred in Alex Garland’s science-fiction film “Annihilation” (2018) and Todd Haynes’s “May December” (2023) opposite Julianne Moore.
Marvel
Portman played astrophysicist Jane Foster in “Thor” (2011) and “Thor: The Dark World” (2013), and returned in “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022), in which Jane wields the hammer as the Mighty Thor.
Directing and producing
Portman wrote, directed and starred in “A Tale of Love and Darkness” (2015), a Hebrew-language adaptation of Amos Oz’s memoir. She starred in and produced the series “Lady in the Lake” (2024) for Apple TV+. Her production company, MountainA, develops film and television projects.
She is also a co-founder of Angel City FC, the National Women’s Soccer League team in Los Angeles that began play in 2022, and has advocated for pay equity in sports.
Causes
A longtime vegan and animal-welfare advocate, Portman has supported microfinance programs and organizations working on women’s rights and education.
Legacy
Portman’s career is notable for its mix of blockbusters and challenging independent work. She has balanced franchise roles with demanding parts that put her psychological and physical range to the test, and she has used her platform to back women in film and sports.
Where to start
Watch “Léon: The Professional,” “Closer,” “Black Swan,” “Jackie” and “Annihilation,” then her turn as the Mighty Thor for something lighter.
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