Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman, Natalie Hershlag(Hebrew: נטלי פורטמן‎) was born on June 9, 1981. Natalie Portman is an Israeli-American actress. Natalie Portman began her career in the early 1990s, turning down the opportunity to become a child model in favor of acting. Potman's first role came in the 1994 independent film Léon. Natalie became well known when she was cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. She, who stated that she would "...rather be smart than be a movie star," completed a bachelor's degree in psychology at Harvard College while Natalie was working on the Star Wars films.

Then in 2001, Natalie Portman opened in New York City's Public Theater production of Chekhov's The Seagull, alongside Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

In 2005, Natalie received a Golden Globe Award as Best Supporting Actress in the drama Closer. In May 2008, Potman served as the youngest member of the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival jury.

Finally, the 65th Venice International Film Festival organizers have announced that the fest's shorts competition will kick off September 1, 2008, with Natalie Portman's directorial debut, Eve.

In 2005, Natalie Portman received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture for the drama Closer.

Natalie Portman shaved her head and learned to speak with a British accent for her starring role in V for Vendetta (2006), for which she won a Constellation Award for Best Female Performance, and a Saturn Award for Best Actress.

Natalie Portman played leading roles in the historical dramas Goya's Ghosts (2006) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

In May 2008, Natalie Portman served as the youngest member of the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival jury. Portman's directorial debut, Eve, opened the 65th Venice International Film Festival's shorts competition in 2008.

In 2011, Natalie Portman won the Academy Award, the Golden Globe Award, the Screen Actors Guild Award, and the BAFTA Award for her lead performance as Nina in Black Swan.

Edited May 27, 2011