Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman (born Natalie Hershlag) was born June 9, 1981 (her mother's birthday) in Jerusalem, Israel she is 5' 3" and an only child.  She changed her name to Portman (maternal grandmother's maiden name) because of fears that her performance in The Professional, if not good, would discredit her parents.  Her father's, Avner Hershlag's, career as an OB Gyn/Infertility Specialist had him and his family moving around until Natalie was 9, he is from Israel.  Natalie's mom, Shelley Hershlag, is a home-maker and an artist in her free time and is American.  The family lived in Jerusalem from 1981 to 1984, they then moved to the US, to Washington D.C. , Maryland, then to Connecticut, and Long Island, New York when Natalie was nine in 1990.  This is where the family currently resides.

Natalie is a strict vegetarian, has had dance lessons since she was three (ballet, jazz, tap), she enjoys reading and ice skating (which she learned on the set of Beautiful Girls).  In 1992, when she was eleven enjoying a day in a Long Island pizza parlor, a woman representing Revlon (a model scout) asked her if she would like to model, Natalie told her she would rather be an actor.  The scout called some agents and got Natalie some auditions.

Natalie was a straight A student with honors at Syosset High School, in Long Island, and scored a 1400 on the SAT's.  During her summers she attended two Camps: Usdan Theater Arts Camp and Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Camp where she starred in productions of Anne of Green Gables - Anne 1994, Tapestry 1995, Cabaret - Sally 1996, Fiorello and Annie Get Your Gun - Annie.  She graduated from Syosset High on June 29, 1999.

Natalie is known for playing characters that are wise beyond their years and for getting in and out of character very easily/quickly.  She does suffer one set-back, a terrible case of stage fright.

She has won much acclaim for her role as Anne in the play Diary of Anne Frank on Broadway.  She initially turned down the role of Padmé/Queen Amidala in The Phantom Menace because of the play and George Lucas re-scheduled his shooting schedule to accommodate hers.

Natalie gained a Golden Globe nomination for her supporting role, as Ann, in Anywhere But Here 1999.  She originally turned down this role because of the love scene between her and Corbin Allred, which required nudity.  Susan Sarandon would not continue with the project without Natalie.  So the script/scene was re-written and sent back to Natalie, approving of the changes she accepted the role.

Portman graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in psychology in June of 2003 and has done graduate studies at Hebrew University in Israel.

 

 

Film

A Tale of Love and Darkness~200? - Fania Musman (Amos Oz's mother) (TENTATIVE)

The Other Boleyn Girl~2007 - Anne

My Blueberry Nights~2007 -

Goya's Ghost~2006 - Ines/Alicia

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium~2006 - Molly Mahoney

Paris, je t'aime<True>~2006 - Francine in 10th arrondissement

Free Zone, The~2006 - Rebecca

V For Vendetta~2006 - Evey Hammond

Smoker, The~2005 - Nicole Bonner

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith~2005 - Senator Padmé Amidala-Skywalker

In Search of Ted Demme~2004 - Herself

Closer~2004 -. Alice

Garden State~2004 - Samantha

Large's Ark~2004 -

Earthlings~2003 - Herself

Cold Mountain~2003 - Sara

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones~2002 - Padmé Naberrie/Queen Amidala

Bride Wore Black, The~2001 -

R2-D2: Beneath the Dome~2001 (V) - Herself (uncredited)

Zoolander~2001 - cameo as herself at fashion show

Film-Fest DVD: Issue 3 - Toronto~2000 (V) - Herself (interviewee)

Where the Heart Is~2000 - Novalee Nation

Stars of Star Wars: Interviews with the Cast, The~1999 (V) - Herself

Anywhere But Here~1999 - Ann August

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace~1999 - Queen Amidala/Padmé Naberrie

Prince of Egypt, The~1998 (uncredited) (voice) - Additional Voices

Mars Attacks!~1996 - Taffy Dale

Everyone Says I Love You~1996 - Laura

Beautiful Girls~1996 - Marty

Developing~1995 - Nina

Heat~1995 - Lauren

Leon: The Professional~1994 - Mathilda

 

Film Director

A Tale of Love and Darkness~200? (TENTATIVE)

 

TV 

The View~1997 - guest 5/1/07

The Simpsons~1989 - teenage girl

Saturday Night Live~1975 - Hostess 3/4/06

63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards~2005 - Presenter 1/16/06

Cinema mil~2005 - Herself (archive footage) (#1.1) 7/16/05

Caiga quien caiga~1996 - Herself 5/20/05

Magacine~1996 - Herself 5/20/05

Comme au Cinéma~1998 - Herself in Cannes 2005 special 5/17/05

Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show~2003 - Herself 12/8/04

This Morning~1988 - Herself 12/7/04

77th Academy Awards~2005 - presenter/nominee 2/27/05

Late Show with David Letterman~1993 - Herself 11/25/04

Oprah~1986 - Herself 11/4/04

Inside the Actors Studio~1994 - Herself 11/21/04

Hitler's Pawn: The Margaret Lambert Story~2004 - narrator

Late Show with David Letterman~1993 - Herself 7/29/04

Sesame Street~1969 - Herself 5/14/04

Film '72~1972 - Herself 1/20/04

Journey to 'Cold Mountain', A~2003 - Herself

Nicole Kidman: An American Cinemathéque Tribute~2003 - Herself

Sesame Street~1969 - Herself 4/21/03

E! Rank~2001 - Herself in Young Hollywood  12/31/02

R2D2: Beneath the Dome~2002 - Herself

2002 MTV Movie Awards~2002  - Herself

Concert for New York City~2001 - Herself

VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards~2000 - Herself

Late Show with David Letterman~ - Herself (8 plus times)

1996 MTV Awards~1996 - Presenter

Rosie O'Donnell Show, The~1996 - Herself 1/9/98

Hercules~1998 series (voice) - Mimi of the Gemini Twins

 

Commercials

Lux (Japan)

 

Theater

Glass Menagerie, The~2004 - Laura

Diary of Anne Frank, The~1997 - (Broadway) Anne Frank

Seagull, The~2001 - (Broadway) Zarehnaya, Nina Mikhailovna

Before College:

Tapestry~1995

Cabaret~1996 - Sally

Anne of Green Gables~1994 - Anne

Ruthless~1993 - (understudy - professional debut)

Midsummer Night's Dream~ - Hermia

Oklahoma!~ - Dream Laurey

Fiorello~ - 

Annie Get Your Gun~ - Annie

 

Live Performances

Live 8~2005 - Co-Host

Inside of Every Woman is a Star (Isaac Mizrahi show)~2004 - Herself

 

Writer

Harvard Crimson~2002 - an article entitled: Israeli Diversity Shown Even Among Leaders (as Natalie Hershlag)

Time Magazine~1999 - an article about Anne Frank

 

CDs

World Patrol Kids: Earth Tunes~1991 - recorded songs

 

Books

Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish~2007 - Interviewee

 

Awards, Honors and Nominations:

Academy Awards:

Nom 2005 Actress in a Supporting Role for Closer

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films:

Nom 2003 Best Actress for Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Nom 2000 Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress for Episode I: The Phantom Menace

BAFTA Awards:

Nom 2005 Best Supporting Actress for Closer

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards:

Nom 2000 Favorite Actress - Action for Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Broadcast Film Critics Awards:

Nom 2004 Critic's Choice Award - Best Supporting Actress for Closer

Csapnivalo Awards:

Nom 2000 (Golden Slate) Best Female Performance for Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Golden Globes:

Rec'd 2004 Actress in a Supporting Role for Closer

Nom  1999  Best Supporting Actress for Any Where But Here 

International Online Cinema Awards:

Nom 2005 Best Supporting Actress for Closer

People's Choice Awards:

Nom 2004 Favorite Leading Lady

Razzie Awards:

Nom Worst Screen Couple for Episode II: Attack of the Clones (shared with Hayden Christensen)

Nom Worst Supporting Actress for Episode II: Attack of the Clones

ShoWest

Rec'd 2006 Female Star of the Year

Teen's Choice Award:

Rec'd 2002 choice actress in an action/adventure film for Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Tony Awards:

Nom 1998 Best Actress for her role as Anne Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank.

Young Artist Awards:

Nom 2001 Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress for Where The Heart Is

Nom 2000 Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress for Anywhere But Here

Young Star Awards:
Rec'd 2000 Best Young Actress/Performance in a Motion Picture Comedy for Where The Heart Is

Nom 1999 Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film for Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

Nom 1997 Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film for Everyone Says I Love You

Nom 1997 Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama Film for Heat

 

Miscellany

2005 - 9th most searched actor at IMDB, right behind Keira Knightly

 

2005 - Involved in helping women in developing countries Microfinance (getting loans so they can start a business and become self-sufficient)

 

2004 #14 on Empire (online) poll of All-Time Sexiest Movie Stars

 

Hope for Foundation for International Community Assistance - Ambassador

 

Roles turned down:

Juliet in Romeo & Juliet - because of age difference between her and Leonardo DiCaprio

title role in Lolita - because of her views on child exploitation

Wendy in Ice Storm - too dark

The Horse Whisperer - because of her part in Anne Frank

 

She was originally turned down for the part of Mathilda in The Professional because she was too young.

 

One of Teen People Magazine's "25 Hottest Stars under 25" in 2002

Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2002.

Voted the 15th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine September 2002.

Stila has a lip gloss named after her.

Note:  She has played an Ann, Anne or Annie in 3 productions and in two films.

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