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Natalie Portman Profile |
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Birth Date: June 9, 1981
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Birth Place: Jerusalem, Israel
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Birth Name: Natalie Hershlag
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Height: 5'4"
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Biography |
Natalie Portman was born on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem,
Israel. The daughter of an infertility specialist and an
artist, Natalie (who uses her grandmother's maiden name in
order to protect her privacy) left Israel at the age of 3
and relocated with her family to Maryland, Connecticut, and
finally to Long Island, New York, where her parents still
reside.
Discovered by a modeling scout at a New York pizza parlor at
the age of 11, Natalie was not motivated by modeling and
wanted to find a more fulfilling job. Although she had no
initial desire to become an actress, Natalie developed an
interest in performing after attending the Stagedoor Manor
Performing Camp for three summers.
Her first acting experiences came from her summers at
Stagedoor Manor, where she was cast in theater performances
of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cabaret, Anne of Green Gables
(in the title role), and Tapestry.
natalie in the professional
Natalie's film career started with her role in the 1994
film, The Professional (a.k.a. Leon), as a hit-man's protge.
The following year, she appeared in the crime-drama Heat,
alongside heavy hitters Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, and
was noticed in the 1996 film, Beautiful Girls, stealing the
screen from another beautiful actress, Uma Thurman.
Her role in Beautiful Girls garnered rave reviews for
Natalie, and that same year she could be seen in the Woody
Allen star-studded musical, Everyone Says I Love You, as
well as Mars Attacks!
After having turned down roles in movies like Lolita (due to
her feeling that young actors should not be exposed to sex
at such a young age) and the role of Juliet in William
Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (because of the age difference
between Portman and Leonardo DiCaprio), Natalie refused the
supporting role in The Horse Whisperer, opting instead to
star as Anne Frank in the Broadway production of The Diary
of Anne Frank. She was nominated for a Tony award for her
performance.
natalie in star wars
But the role that turned Natalie into more than a
Broadway/film actress is that of Queen Padm Amidala, in the
first Star Wars prequel. Her three-film contract, which
started with 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom
Menace, has transformed her into a historic film character.
Ironically, Natalie had never even seen the original three
Star Wars movies before being cast by George Lucas.
Natalie's graduation from Syosset High School took place the
same summer that the much-hyped prequel was released.
After her role in Phantom Menace, Natalie co-starred with
Susan Sarandon in Anywhere But Here (1999), and starred in
the lead role alongside Ashley Judd in the film adaptation
of Where the Heart Is (2000).
natalie in closer
Her next projects were Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the
Clones (2002), Cold Mountain (2003), Garden State (2004),
and True (2004). In 2004, she wowed audiences in Closer,
co-starring Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. She took
home a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress (in Closer)
and was nominated for an Academy Award in the same category
for this role.
Trilingual (Natalie speaks Hebrew, English and Japanese) and
having aspirations of becoming a doctor, Natalie studied
psychology at Harvard University and is currently studying
at Hebrew University in Jerusalem while filming Free Zone
(due for release in 2005). In 2005, she will also appear as
Senator Amidala/Padm Naberrie-Skywalker in the third
installment of the Star Wars prequel series, Episode III -
Revenge of the Sith.
Her other 2005 credits include V for Vendetta, The Smoker
and Paris, je t'aime.
Often referred to as "the new Audrey Hepburn," Natalie
surely has a bright film career ahead of her... if she
decides to remain an actress, that is. |
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Other
Information |
Turned down a role in The Horse Whisperer (1998) to act in
"The Diary of Anne Frank" on Broadway.
Graduated from Syosset High School, Syosset, New York. [29
June 1999]
Has been a strict vegetarian since the age of 8. She
practices what is called "Vegan Vegetarianism."
Has taken dance lessons since the age of 4.
Says that maths was her favorite subject in school because,
"There's always an answer."
Stated in a TV interview that with the exception of the Star
Wars prequels, she will not act for the next four years in
order to concentrate on studying at Harvard University.
[1999]
Can speak five languages fluently. Hebrew and English (her
native languages), as well as French, German, and Japanese.
She also knows some Spanish.
Originally turned down the role of Ann August in the film
Anywhere But Here (1999) because of the love scene between
herself and Corbin Allred that required nudity. Susan
Sarandon, who had co-star approval, said she couldn't
continue the movie without Portman, so the script was
re-written without the scene and she accepted the role.
Was a member of the environmental song and dance troupe The
World Patrol Kids under her real name, Natalie Hershlag.
She is an only child.
She went to Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Camp in 1994 and
1995 where she was Anne in "Anne of Green Gables" in 1994
and "Tapestry" in 1995.
Was the first choice to play Juliet in Romeo + Juliet (1996)
but turned it down because of the scenes and the age
difference between her and Leonardo DiCaprio.
She was discovered in a pizza parlor and was originally
turned down for the role of Mathilda in Léon (1994) because
she was too young.
Harpers and Queen magazine said that she is "the new Audrey
Hepburn".
Turned down the title role in Adrian Lyne's Lolita (1997),
due to her feelings about young adult actors/actresses being
exposed to sex in films.
Before she was cast in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom
Menace (1999), she had never seen the original 3 Star Wars
movies.
Moved to the US when she was 3 years old.
Turned down the role of Wendy in The Ice Storm (1997)
because she felt the material was "too dark." The role went
to Christina Ricci, who has said she often gets the projects
Natalie turns down.
Said would never be in a horror movie or any other "Jennifer
Love Hewitt type" film
Has said in interviews that when she gets older, she would
like to be a doctor like her father.
Was reportedly caught using a fake ID trying to sneak into
Boston club called the Roxy. The performer Moby insisted
that she was invited by him and refused to perform unless
she was admitted. She was admitted, and security watched her
as she stood in the back, watched the show, and didn't
drink.
Stated in an on-line interview that the story about sneaking
into the Roxy club in Boston to see Moby is not true and
that she and her friends went home after they were denied
entrance.
Takes pride in the fact that she is a role model for girls
and choses roles that are positive so that they will have a
positive role model to look up to.
Her father is a fertility specialist.
Auditioned for Little Women (1994).
Became interested in acting after spending three summers at
the prestigious (and expensive) Stagedoor Manor Performing
Arts Camp.
Is very close to her parents and says, "The best part about
being friends with your parents is that no matter what you
do, they always love you."
Grew up in Syosset, Long Island, New York, where her parents
still reside.
Dated Lukas Haas. [July 2001]
Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People
Magazine in 2002.
Natalie was born on her mother's 29th birthday.
Father's name: Avner. Mother's name: Shelley.
One of Teen People Magazine's 25 Hottest Stars under 25
[2002]
Went to Usdan Camp for the arts as a child.
The make-up brand Stila has a lip gloss named after her.
As of June 2002, she has appeared on "Late Show with David
Letterman" (1993), eight times.
won the 2002 Teen's Choice Award for choice actress in an
action/adventure film (Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the
Clones (2002))
Voted the 15th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian
Empire Magazine September 2002.
Received her Harvard degree in June of 2003.
Has a passion for travel. In late 2003 and early 2004 she
travelled alone to Morocco and Guatemala.
Favorite actor is Ben Kingsley.
Is trained in ballet, jazz, and tap dancing.
She has worked with a several of her co-stars twice: Ashley
Judd in Heat (1995) and Where the Heart Is (2000); Lukas
Haas in Mars Attacks! (1996) and Everyone Says I Love You
(1996); Julia Roberts in Everyone Says I Love You (1996) and
Closer (2004/I); Jude Law in Cold Mountain (2003) and Closer
(2004/I); Philip Seymour Hoffman in the play The Seagull and
Cold Mountain (2003); John Carroll Lynch in Beautiful Girls
(1996) and Anywhere But Here (1999). She has also worked for
director Mike Nichols on two occasions: for the play The
Seagull and Closer (2004/I).
As a young girl, she was an understudy for the lead
character in the off-Broadway show, "Ruthless", alongside
Britney Spears. They still keep in touch, and recently threw
a party together in New York City.
Fashion designer Zac Posen refers to her as his "muse."
Both she and Sofia Coppola have played the daughter of a
character played by Al Pacino, and also both appeared in a
film featuring Pacino and Robert De Niro. Sofia Coppola was
in all three Godfather films (though she had only an
uncredited part in the 2nd), and Portman was in Heat (1995).
Portman and Coppola appeared together in Star Wars: Episode
I - The Phantom Menace (1999).
Is close friends with Jake Gyllenhaal and Bryce Dallas
Howard.
She is good friends with the members of the band Maroon 5.
Her comedic influences are Lily Tomlin and Diane Keaton. She
said in an interview, "I love Lily Tomlin and I love Diane
Keaton. They're sort of my heroes. Diane Keaton can do
anything. She's just the best there is."
Has a song named after her by the band TeamSleep.
She and director Tom Tykwer became good friends after
working together on True (2004).
She spoofed her role in Star Wars before becoming involved
in the series. In Mars Attacks! (1996), she gives a medal to
Lukas Haas in a scene resembling the award ceremony at the
end of Star Wars (1977). The medals were given out by
Princess Leia, the daughter of Portman's future character,
Queen Amidala. In addition, the recipients of those medals,
Harrison Ford and Lukas Haas, appeared together in Witness
(1985).
Shares a birthday with Johnny Depp and Michael J. Fox.
Was considered for a role in Elizabethtown (2005).
Has a CD named after her by Chicago-based DJ Intel One. The
CD was done for charity, given away, and titled "Love: A
Tribute to Natalie Portman." It featured songs by Shelly
Duval, Common, The Roots, and others.
She has worked with two Draculas as well as two Frankenstein
monsters. In Léon (1994), she worked with Gary Oldman, who
played Dracula for Francis Ford Coppola. In Heat (1995), she
appeared with Robert De Niro, who played The Creature for
Kenneth Branagh. In Star Wars, she works with Christopher
Lee, who played both roles for Hammer studios.
Had to miss the premiere of Star Wars: Episode I - The
Phantom Menace (1999) so she could study for her high school
final exams.
Has a song named after her by the band Ozma.
Bears a striking resemblance to Keira Knightley. Knightley
played Sabé in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
(1999), the Queen's decoy. When in make-up, the mothers of
the actresses could not even tell them apart.
She hesitantly shot an explicit nude scene for Closer
(2004/I), in the scene where Alice (Portman) strips for
Larry (Clive Owen). Ultimately, Portman and director Mike
Nichols agreed not to use it, as the scene was effective
enough without it.
Shaved her head for _V for Vendetta (2006)_ .
Learned to speak with a British accent for _V for Vendetta
(2006)_ .
Still takes ballet classes.
Is learning how to play the piano and conduct for Goya's
Ghosts (2006).
Named #42 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2005 list. |
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