Natalie Portman Biography

Natalie Portman, Actress

Birthdate: June 9, 1981

Birthplace: Jerusalem, Israel

Sign: Gemini

Natalie Portman, an Israeli-American actress and only child, was born Natalie Hershlag to father, Avner Hershlag, an Israeli doctor specializing in reproductive endocrinology. Her mother was American homemaker, Shelley Stevens, who now represents Portman as her agent.

Portman moved from Israel to the U.S. when she was three, first living in Washington, D.C. and then relocating to Connecticut in 1988. Her family then moved to Long Island, New York in 1990, where they currently live.

Portman began dancing lessons at four and was asked at ten by Revlon to become a model. She turned the offer down to pursue acting. In 1994, she auditioned and received the role of Mathilda in "Leon," also known as "The Professional," playing a child who is befriended by her hitman neighbor after her family is murdered. After getting the role, the actress took on her grandmother's maiden name of "Portman" as her stage name for privacy.

The actress continued to gain roles in films such as "Heat," "Everyone Says I Love You," "Mars Attacks!" and "Beautiful Girls." In 1997, she took on the role of Anne Frank in a Broadway adaptation of "The Diary of Anne Frank."

Her first award came after playing the role of Ann August in "Anywhere But Here," starring alongside Susan Sarandon and earning Portman a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress along with the respect of film critics.

Portman became more of a household name when she became involved with the next Star Wars prequel trilogy, playing Padme Amidala, with the first movie "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace" opening in early 1999. During the filming she completed her senior year in high school, missing the premiere of the film to study for finals and earning her degree from Syosset High School.

Filming continued for the trilogy, with Portman earning her degree from Harvard College in psychology in June of 2003, while also completing filming on "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones."

She went on to film "Where the Heart Is," "Garden State" and "Closer." Her performance in "Closer" gained the actress a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award for Supporting Actress.

In 2005, the final Star Wars prequel, "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith," was released and became the highest grossing film of the year. In 2006, Portman shaved her head and learning an English accent for "V for Vendetta."

Portman's other films include "The Other Boleyn Girl," "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" and "My Blueberry Nights."

Portman is a well known advocate for the environment and animal rights and has been a vegetarian since she was a child. In 2007, she launched her own line of vegan footwear. She is also heavily involved in charity work, including the Village Banking Campaign.

She is currently dating the Venezuelan folk singer Devendra Banhart and has been linked to actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Lukas Haas in the past.