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Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman biography, photos, age. Natalie Portman height, personal life, movies, latest news


Published 2023-01-02, by ,

Natalie Portman Mom DB

Table of contents:



  • Career: Film, actress, director, screenwriter
  • Date of birth: June 9, 1981 
  • Zodiac sign: Gemini
  • Age: 41 years old
  • Place of birth: Jerusalem, Israel
  • Height: 160
  • Marital status: Married

Biography:

Natalie Portman is an Israeli-born American actress, director and producer, and an Oscar nominee for Lead Actress. Natalie has a cinematic biography with dozens of film appearances, many of which have gone on to become instant cult films and classics. She has risen rapidly to Hollywood's heights, capturing the hearts of millions worldwide from her first roles.

Childhood and youth

A talented actress who has won the love of millions, she was born on June 9, 1981 in the holy city of Jerusalem. Father of the future screen star Avner Hershlag (the surname Natalie bore before her film debut) was a respected doctor specialising in infertility problems.

The celebrity's Jewish roots are scattered all over Europe. Avner's family is of Polish and Romanian descent, while Shelley Stevens, her mother's ancestors, came to the United States from Austria-Hungary and the Russian Empire. It was in America that Shelley met her husband while selling tickets at a student centre in Ohio. Her chosen one first returned home to Israel, and three years later he invited his bride to join him.

Medical professionals of such high qualification have always been in demand in the USA, so in 1984 the family moved to Washington. There Avner took care of his professional development and sent his daughter to a Jewish school where she received a good education and was constantly mindful of national values.

At school Natalie studied well, learned Hebrew, English, French and other languages, which in the future has helped a lot in an acting career. As a child Portman was engaged in dancing, for the summer holidays went to the camp, specializing in the development of acting ability in children. Later, the family of the future actress has moved to Long Island, where Natalie studied in high school.

Actress is extremely responsible attitude to the education, the girl liked to learn and master new skills. Young Natalie was fond of science and even co-authored a paper on "enzymatic production of hydrogen. She actively participated in science exhibitions, competitions and contests. Perhaps if things had turned out differently, the world would never have known about the talented Natalie Portman, but would have seen a scientist Natalie Hershlag.

After high school, Portman went to Harvard University, where she received a bachelor's degree in psychology. Her research paper investigated "frontal lobe brain activity during object persistence". At the same time the student was trying her hand at the theatre stage.

She performed the role of Nina Zarechnaya in Delacorte Theatre's production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull in New York. In 2004 Natalie returned to education and enrolled at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Two years later she gave a lecture at Columbia University.

Natalie Portman films

Portman's career has developed so rapidly and on such a grand scale that almost every work in the vast filmography of the actress deserves a separate mention. Already in childhood, Natalie is fully aware of who she wants to be in the future. Artist attended all auditions, and in 1993 she smiled on luck: she won the lead role in the cult film "Leon" by French director Luc Besson.

That's when the celebrity's transformation from Hershlag to Portman took place. The young brunette took the surname her grandmother had on her mother's side. Curiously enough, Natalie was initially rejected for the role because the assistant director thought Portman was too old. But Besson did not accept any of the proposed actresses for Jean Reno, and the audition had to continue and attract the former candidates, including Portman.

The bright-eyed Natalie won Besson over with her acting as well as her incredible ability to cry on command alone, which was the deciding factor in Portman's favour. It was a resounding start for the 13-year-old, bringing a huge number of film offers. According to rumors, after receiving a fee, the girl had a nose job.

The next role Portman was not as prominent, but the actress again starred in the frame with the first stars of Hollywood - Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in the film "The Clash. Ambitious actress has managed to achieve a lot, in fact in all the films she played with prominent colleagues, which could not fail to affect the success of Natalie.

Films with the young beauty was accompanied by positive reviews from critics, and acting talent Natalie Portman is increasingly deserving of special praise.

Natalie's biggest success and worldwide acclaim came when she was young, after appearing in George Lucas' cult film "Star Wars. Episode I: The Phantom Menace", released in 1999. For the role of Queen Amidala, ruler of the planet Naboo, the actress refused other projects. Portman later starred in episodes 2 and 3 of the epic.

In the story of the character of Natalie worked as a double maid, who had the honor to play a little-known at the time Keira Knightley, thanks to the efforts of makeup artists who became an exact copy of Natalie. The resemblance between the two girls was so striking that later opened the way to Knightley in a big movie.

Audiences have come away incredibly delighted with yet another installment of the beloved film, but critics have been less charitable towards the director's brainchild. The film received numerous Golden Raspberry nominations, including one indirect nomination for Portman for Worst Screen Couple.

Later, a new 'clone', Millie Bobby Brown, has emerged. The Brit is 23 years younger than Portman, but is already trying to keep up with her adult counterpart. Fans are delighted, because now there is someone to play Natalie's daughter if the need arises. Today, among the star doubles for Natalie called also Winona Ryder.

Fame of Natalie spread around the world and the actress was specially invited to the projects. Thus, actress Susan Sarandon gave the director of the film "Anywhere But Here" an ultimatum that she would play only in a couple with the young star, and the writers even had to rewrite the story to remove the erotic scene with Natalie, because of what she had previously refused to participate in the picture.

Critics have come to rave about the game Natalie Portman, a celebrity again earned a lot of positive reviews and received two nominations for the prestigious awards.

The next step in the career of a Hollywood diva was the role in the film "Intimacy", where she was on the same set with Julia Roberts. For her work, Portman won her first Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination.

In 2004, the screen came out a comedy melodrama Zach Braff's "Garden Country", where the actress played cheerful Sam, wonderfully changed the life of the protagonist. Another popular character was influenced by Natalie's next appearance - the courageous Evie Hammond from the dystopia "V for Vendetta". She even had to shave her head bald for the role.

The following year Portman starred in an independent road movie "The Free Zone". Above the project worked the representatives of 4 countries: Belgium, Israel, Spain and France. In the story, three women set out on a dangerous journey. Hanna Laszlo and Hiam Abbas became partners on the set.

In 2008, the actress made her directorial and screenwriting debut with a short film, Eve. According to Natalie, Portman was inspired by her own grandmother to write the story and the image of the protagonist. Soon the talented beauty took part in the work on the script and filming of the movie "New York, I Love You".

Later in the repertoire of actress added a major role in the drama "One more of the Boleyn family". On screen, Portman embodied the historical figure of Anne Boleyn. In the stellar ensemble of actors, along with her included Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana. After this film, Natalie secured the title of "The Hottest Woman in World Cinematography" by Blender.

In 2010, Portman played a ballerina in the acclaimed drama "Black Swan". The role of the ballerina rival played by Mila Kunis. In order to accurately play the dancing heroine, Natalie spent a lot of time on training and lost weight by 9 kg. But the dancing skills of the actress were not enough to repeat the professional movements, and in the difficult moments of Portman's double acted ballerina Sarah Lane.

The celebrity won a much-anticipated Oscar for her work, after which a scandal erupted in the press regarding the number of dances performed by Natalie. Lane claimed that the ballerina performed the lion's share of the dances, while director Darren Aronofsky claimed that Portman appeared in over 80% of those scenes.

A year later, Natalie starred in the romantic comedy More Than Sex, where she was joined by Ashton Kutcher, husband of the actress' previous partner Mila Kunis. After the film was released in the press, there was a joking assumption that Portman was the only person who kissed both spouses of this artistic couple.

In 2011, Natalie joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The American played the female lead in Thor. Portman portrayed the heroine Jane Foster, a scholar and lover of the god of thunder, and in the comics also a warrior, who replaced Thor when the Asgardian left his heroic post.

At the same time, the comedy film Braveheart was also released. The film failed at the box office and garnered negative reviews. Film critic Roger Ebert awarded director David Gordon Green's work 1 star out of 4, and called Natalie's character "a devoid of personality copy of Xena".

In 2013, the star returned to the character of Jane in the sequel Thor 2: Kingdom of Darkness. During this time, Natalie Portman also managed to participate in a music project. She starred in a music video for the song by Paul McCartney My Valentine with Johnny Depp. This hit was included in the musician's 15th studio album Kisses on the Bottom.

In 2015 the Israeli film A Tale of Love and Darkness was released, which was Natalie's feature directorial debut. The actress played the title role of Fani Klausner in the film.

In 2016, 3 films were released in which Natalie Portman played central characters. The western Jane Takes a Gun premiered in March. Natalie played the wife of a criminal who protects a farm from her husband's former associates. The script has been in the works for a long time and the cast has changed. In 2011, the original plot was blacklisted in surveys as a result of the best unproduced scripts.

In September 2016, a dramatic biography of Jackie was released. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The film shows the assassination of American President John F. Kennedy from an unexpected angle, familiar from history lessons. Events unfold after the death of the country's leader and focus on Jacqueline Kennedy, the president's widow.

The film depicted the funeral of the venerable husband and the former First Lady's attempts to survive the tragedy that occurred. The film received high praise from critics and was nominated for many prestigious awards. Before premiering to a wide audience, the project gained mass love thanks to the slick trailers: the interesting and stylish videos captivated connoisseurs.

he day after Jackie premiered, the French-Belgian drama Planetarium was unveiled. Portman played a girl who, along with her sister, claims to have paranormal powers. The role of the heroine's sister Natalie was played by Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp.

In March 2017, a film about love triangles, Song by Song, was released. The main characters in the film were played by Natalie Portman, Rooney Mara, Ryan Gosling and Michael Fassbender. The film received mixed reviews from film critics.

Motherhood hasn't affected Natalie Portman's ability to work either. In 2018 alone, with her participation in the box office launched 3 pictures, in which the actress brilliantly managed to embody on the screen the main characters. In the sci-fi thriller Annihilation, she played biologist Lina, who has been to an anomalous zone. The Toronto International Film Festival presented the drama The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, in which she portrayed the leading character Sam Turner.

At the Venice Film Festival kicked off the screening of the drama "Deluxe Voice", in which Portman tried on the image of singer Celeste. The film was warmly received by film critics, who noted not only the bright game of the main performer, but also her partners - Jude Law and Stacy Martin.

In early 2019, Natalie surprised fans with her work in another Dior commercial. The actress, who is known for her selective roles, appeared topless in a shot of the Dior Forever foundation video. Viewers were able to appreciate the gracefulness of the film diva's figure.

In April 2019, the first screening of the superhero film Avengers: The Final Solution took place in Los Angeles. The film also stars Englishman Benedict Cumberbatch. Critics and fans praised the project.

In the same year, the premiere of the sci-fi drama "Pale Blue Dot" took place. Once again, Natalie was embodied in the central character of the story - astronaut Lucy Cola, who tries to fit into everyday life on Earth after a trip to orbit. Unfortunately, the film was a flop, grossing less than $1 million on a budget of $21 million.

The actress voiced the character Jane Foster in the animated mini-series What If? The animated film was the first of its kind for Marvel Studios.

Promotional contracts

In addition to her film work, Natalie Portman was also invited to star in commercials. For several years now, she has been the official face of Miss Dior perfume brand. In 2017, the artist appeared in a series of new romantic commercials for the brand's new fragrance Miss Dior Eau de Parfum.

In early 2019, Natalie surprised fans with her work in another Dior commercial. The actress, who is known for her selective roles, appeared topless in the clip dedicated to Dior Forever foundation. The viewers were able to appreciate the graceful figure of the movie diva.

In December 2020, she starred in a Dior commercial for the launch of Dior Rouge red lipstick. In January, the company teamed up with Portman to launch her next beauty product, a transparent lip balm.

Natalie Portman personal life

In 2000, Natalie met and began dating young actor Gael Garcia Bernal, but the pair's relationship lasted no longer than a year. Later, the actor said that he did not want to part with lover, but it was hard to maintain relations because of mismatching schedules. Portman was filming in Hollywood, while Bernal was working in Europe.

Portman had an affair with a member of the influential Nat Rothschild dynasty, media representatives attributed the affair to Portman. In addition, journalists believe that Natalie was in a relationship with colleague Jake Gyllenhaal and Venezuelan singer Devendra Banhart.

Marriage to Benjamin Milpier

On the set of Black Swan, the actress met ballet dancer Benjamin Milpier. And in 2010, representatives Portman announced that the couple are engaged and soon expect to fill up the family. In 2011, the artists had a son, Aleph, and a year later the star couple appeared in public wearing wedding rings, although Natalie's representatives have not confirmed rumors of marriage.

The wedding took place in August 2012 and took place according to Jewish traditions. Interestingly, the day after the wedding, the newlyweds did not go on a romantic trip but attended a concert of orchestral music at the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Natalie Portman and her husband

In January 2013, the Portman-Milpieux family announced their intention to move to Paris, where the actress's husband took a job as artistic director of the local ballet theatre. The partners now work and travel the world, but the artist's permanent home is in Los Angeles.

On 22 February 2017, the family had their second child, daughter Amalia. The birth of children has not affected the celebrity's appearance. Portman is still in shape, as her fans have been repeatedly convinced.

At various sites, there are many fan communities devoted to Portman's personal life and work. But Natalie herself has an official page on Instagram (the social network is banned in Russia, it is owned by Meta Corporation, which is recognized in Russia as extremist). The account contains mainly photos of the stylish actress with new haircuts and fashionable hairstyles, as well as posts related to the star's public stance.

In early 2021, the tabloids were filled with a new sensation - Portman is pregnant for the third time. However, this turned out to be just a rumor, and not conditioned by anything.

Natalie Portman now

To star in the film "Thor: Love and Thunder" star had to undergo an amazing shuttle - to appear on the screens with a muscular figure. In an interview with Variety, the star drew an analogy between the role and "Black Swan", where, on the contrary, she was asked to be thinner. And the fight scenes in the film by Taika Waititi reminded her of ballet steps.

The actress was diligently preparing for the shoot, spending all day at the gym. Another problem was the difference in height between her and performer Chris Hemsworth as Thor (160 cm and 190 cm respectively). The film crew had to go to the tricks, in some scenes under Portman's feet were special bridges.

Filmography

  • 1994 - "Leon".
  • 1995 - "The Clash".
  • 1996 - "Pretty Girls".
  • 1999-2005 - "Star Wars".
  • 1999 - "Anywhere But Here".
  • 2005 - "The Free Zone".
  • 2005 - "V for Vendetta"
  • 2006 - "Paris, I Love You".
  • 2006 - "Ghosts of Goya"
  • 2008 - "Another Boleyn."
  • 2009 - "New York, I Love You"
  • 2010 - "Black Swan"
  • 2011 - "Thor."
  • 2013 - "Thor 2: Kingdom of Darkness."
  • 2015 - "Knight of Cups".
  • 2017 - "Song by Song"
  • 2018 - "The Death and Life of John F. Donovan"
  • 2019 - "Avengers: The Finale"
  • 2022 - "Thor: Love and Thunder"

Interesting Facts

  • Portman is also known as a vegetarian and ardent animal advocate who has refused to wear fur, leather or even feathers. In 2007 Natalie created a brand of shoes made of synthetic materials, which, according to the activist, can completely replace products made of natural components. The Hollywood star has also campaigned for an anti-fur PETA campaign.
  • The actress has also presented other social causes: Natalie supported social movement for the rights of black people Black Lives Matter. And she appeared at the 2020 Oscars in a cape emblazoned with the names of women directors who have not been nominated for a film award. She is a supporter of the Democratic Party of the United States and has participated in election campaigns and humanitarian actions.
  • Natalie Portman has dual citizenship - American and Israeli. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the actress said: "I love the US, but my heart is in Jerusalem - that's where I feel at home.
  • At the age of 16, the actress starred in the Broadway production of The Diary of Anne Frank. The script was based on a real historical document. The theme of the Jews who suffered at the hands of the German Nazis is close to Natalie, because her great grandfather and great-grandmother died in Auschwitz.