Natalie Portman career 2000–2005

Natalie Portman moved into the dorms of Harvard University to pursue her bachelor's degree in psychology, after filming Where the Heart Is. Portman said in a 1999 interview that, w/ the exception of the Star Wars prequels, she would not act for the next four years in order to concentrate on studying.

During the summer break, from June to September 2000, Natalie Portman filmed Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones in Sydney, including additional production in London.

In July 2001, She opened in New York City's Public Theater production of Chekhov's The Seagull, directed by Mike Nichols, playing the role of Nina alongside Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The play opened at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. That same year, Portman was one of many celebrities who made cameo appearances in the comedy Zoolander.

In 2002, the film opened around the world. She was cast in a small role in the film Cold Mountain alongside Jude Law and Nicole Kidman.

In 2004, Natalie Portman appeared in the independent movies Garden State and Closer. Garden State was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival, and won Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards. Portman's performance as Alice in Closer saw Portman win a Supporting Actress Golden Globe as well as a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.

2005 saw the worldwide release of the final Star Wars prequel, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith on May 19. The film was the highest grossing film of the year, and was voted Favorite Motion Picture at the People's Choice Awards. Shortly before the film's opening, She shaved her head for her role in the film adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel V for Vendetta, released in March 2006. Portman shaved head was first seen publicly at the Revenge of the Sith premieres. "Making a dramatic change that isn't reversible is always a worthy experience", Portman said of the drastically different hairstyle, "and that sort of gave me the courage to do it." She kept her hair short for most of 2005, had a fauxhawk, and briefly sported a full mohawk in late August, saying that it was "kind of wonderful to throw vanity away for a bit".

Also in 2005, Natalie filmed Free Zone and director Milos Forman's Goya's Ghosts. Forman had not seen any of her work, but thought she looked like a Goya painting so he requested a meeting.