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Natalie Portman Biography
This Section features Natalie Portman's Biography
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Natalie Portman, born Natalie Hershlag on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem, Israel is a Golden Globe-winning, Academy Award-nominated Israeli-American actress.
Portman was born in Jerusalem, Israel. Her father, Avner Hershlag, is an Israeli medical doctor specializing in the research and treatment of human fertility and reproduction (reproductive endocrinology). Her mother, Shelley Stevens, is a Jewish American homemaker who now works as her agent (she is an artist by hobby and not profession).
Portman started taking dancing lessons at the age of four, performed in local troupes, and dreamed of dancing on Broadway. At the age of 12 Portman was discovered in a pizza parlor by an agent for Revlon, who offered her an opportunity to model.
As a child, Portman spent her school holidays attending theater camps. In 1993, Portman was cast in her first professional role, as an understudy for the off-Broadway musical Ruthless!. After some experience in an off-Broadway musical, she was cast in Léon (aka The Professional) at age 12. The following year, she auditioned for Luc Besson's film Léon (aka The Professional).
During the mid-1990s, Portman had roles in the films Heat, Everyone Says I Love You and Mars Attacks!, as well as a major role in Beautiful Girls. In early 1999, "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" opened and became the highest grossing film of the year and the second highest grossing film out of the Star Wars series. Its massive audience and mainstream appeal made Portman an instant star. "Anywhere But Here" opened in late 1999; she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ann August.
She placed a priority on her education, and pursued tertiary studies at Harvard University as a psychology major, despite the chance it might conflict with her acting career.
In 2005, she filmed Free Zone and the final Star Wars prequel, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, released worldwide on May 19.
Portman appeared on Saturday Night Live on March 4, 2006. In late 2006 Portman filmed The Other Boleyn Girl, a historical drama in which she plays Anne Boleyn; Eric Bana and Scarlett Johansson will co-star in the film.
She also apprears in Paul McCartney's music video "Dance Tonight" off of his 2007 album "Memory Almost Full" directed by Michel Gondry.