Natalie Portman - Actresses
Summary
"Natalie Portman" (; born June 9, 1981) is a Golden Globe-winning, Academy Award-nominated Israeli-American actress.
Biography
Early life
Portman was born "Natalie Hershlag" () 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's father's family members are descendants of Jewish immigrants from Poland and Romania, while her mother's family members were Jewish immigrants from Austria and Russia; her paternal grandfather's parents died in Auschwitz and her Romanian-born great-grandmother was a spy for the British during World War II.
Portman's parents met at a Jewish student center at Ohio State University, where Portman's mother was selling tickets. Portman's father returned to Israel, but the two corresponded and were married when Portman's mother visited Israel a few years later. When Portman was three years old, her family moved from Israel to her mother's native United States, where her father pursued his medical training. The family lived in Washington, D.C. in 1984 (she attended the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School), and then Connecticut in 1988, before finally settling down in Syosset, New York in 1990.
Portman has said that although she 'really loves the States... my heart's in Jerusalem. That's where I feel at home'. Portman is an only child and very close to her parents, who are often seen with her at her film premieres.
Education
Portman has said that she was 'used to A's' but admits to reading about institutional grade inflation in the Ivy Leagues in the "New York Times". She reported on a talk show, 'I'd rather be smart than be a movie star' and that her goal was to graduate from college even if it ruined her acting career. Despite her high profile, Portman went to a Jewish day school (Solomon Schechter High School Of Glen Cove, New York), and then attended the public Syosset High School in Syosset, New York, graduating in June of 1999. Portman reportedly had to miss the premiere of "Star Wars: Episode I" so she could study for her high school final exams.
After high school, Portman enrolled at Harvard University where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology on June 5 2003. In 2005, Portman pursued graduate studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Portman is credited as a research assistant to Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz's "The Case for Israel". She was a research assistant to Dr. Stephen M. Kosslyn's psychology lab as well, and made a cameo appearance as a guest lecturer for the "Terrorism and Counterterrorism" course at Columbia University in early March of 2006, discussing themes from her film "V for Vendetta".
In addition to Hebrew and English, Portman has studied or can speak French, Japanese, and German. She has recently been learning to speak Arabic. She also understands Spanish.
As a student, Portman co-authored two research papers which were published in professional scientific journals. Her 1998 high school paper on the 'Enzymatic Production of Hydrogen' was entered in the Intel Science Talent Search. In 2002, she contributed to a study on memory called 'Frontal Lobe Activation During Object Permanence' during her psychology studies at Harvard.
Career
Early career
Portman started taking dancing lessons at the age of four. She performed in local troupes, and dreamed of dancing on Broadway. At the age of twelve, Portman was discovered in a pizza parlor by an agent for Revlon, who offered her an opportunity to model. However, she asked to be introduced to acting talent scouts instead of modeling agents. Referring to her discovery in an interview with "Blender Magazine", Portman stated 'I was definitely different from the other kids. I was more ambitious, I knew what I liked and what I wanted, and I worked very hard. I was a very serious kid.'
As a child, Portman spent her school holidays attending theater camps. In 1994, she auditioned for Luc Besson's film "Léon" (aka "The Professional"). She was initially turned down, but through further auditioning won the part. Soon after getting the part, she took 'Portman', her grandmother's maiden name, as her stage name, in the interest of privacy; in the Director's Cut of the film found on DVD she is credited as Natalie Hershlag. In the film, Portman plays an orphaned girl who befriends a much older assassin. "Léon" opened on November 18, 1994, and marked her feature film debut at age 13. That same year she appeared in the short film "Developing", which aired on television. Starting at age thirteen, Portman spent her school holidays attending upscale theater camps Stagedoor Manor and Usdan Camp, where she fell in love with acting, playing roles in camp productions such as the title character in "Anne of Green Gables", Dream Laurey in "Oklahoma!", and Hermia in "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
1995–1999
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 1997, Portman played the role of Anne Frank in the Broadway play of The Diary of Anne Frank. She initially turned down the lead role in the film "Anywhere But Here", after learning it would involve a sex scene. Director Wayne Wang and actress Susan Sarandon demanded a rewrite of the script. Portman was shown a new draft, and she joined the project. The film opened in late 1999; she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ann August. Critic Mary Elizabeth Williams of Salon commented on Portman's performance:
'Sarandon is good, but Portman is astonishing. Unlike any number of actresses her age, she's neither too maudlin nor too plucky. Her Ann is both a petulant wet blanket and a thoughtful, painfully lonely girl fumbling to find herself. Portman knows her character is the soul of the story, and she isn't overreaching about it. She portrays Ann's angst quietly, using her wide, expressive face to convey little ripples of frustration and exasperation. She's the counterpoint to Sarandon's bravado, and she keeps the film from becoming a hammy, anything-you-can-cry-I-can-cry-harder diva fest.'
In the late 1990s, Portman was cast as Padmé Amidala in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, and 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. Portman then signed on to play a persevering teenaged mother in "Where the Heart Is".
2000–2005
After filming "Where the Heart Is", Portman moved into the dorms of Harvard University to pursue her bachelor's degree in psychology. She said in a 1999 interview that, with the exception of the "Star Wars" prequels, she would not act for the next four years in order to concentrate on studying. She graduated in 2003.
During June to September 2000, Portman filmed "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" in Sydney , including additional production in London. In July 2001, Portman 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, she was one of many celebrities who made cameo appearances in the comedy "Zoolander". In 2002, the film opened around the world. Portman was cast in a small role in the film "Cold Mountain" alongside Jude Law and Nicole Kidman.
In 2004, 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. Her role of Alice in "Closer" saw Portman win a Supporting Actress Golden Globe as well as a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.
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. 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, Portman shaved her head for her role in the film adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novel, "V for Vendetta", released in March 2006. Her 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,' she 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'. During the latter part of 2005, Portman filmed "Goya's Ghosts". Legendary director Milos Forman hadn't seen any of her work, but thought she looked like a Goya painting so he requested a meeting. During the filming of "Goya's Ghosts", she partied in Madrid with co-star Javier Bardem, but was largely unrecognized due to her mohawk.
2006–present
Portman appeared on "Saturday Night Live" on March 4, 2006, hosting the show with musical guest Fall Out Boy and special guest star Dennis Haysbert. In a now-famous SNL Digital Short, she portrays herself as an angry gangsta rapper (with Andy Samberg as her Flava Flav-esque partner in Viking garb) during a faux-interview with Chris Parnell, saying she cheated at Harvard University while high on pot and cocaine. The skit is available as an easter egg on the second disc of the 2 disc special edition DVD release of V for Vendetta. In another sketch, she portrays a student named Rebecca Hershlag (her actual surname) attending a Bar Mitzvah, and in an installment of the recurring sketch The Needlers (also known as Sally and Dan, The Couple That Should Be Divorced), plays a fertility specialist (her father's profession).
"V for Vendetta" opened in early 2006. Portman portrayed Evey Hammond, a young woman who is saved from the secret police by the main character, V. Portman worked with a voice coach for the role, learning to speak in an English accent, and had to have her head shaved in a scene in the movie. "Maxim" magazine named Portman #33 on its annual (Hot 100) list, citing her "V for Vendetta" hairstyle as a huge accomplishment proving 'you don't need hair to be hot.'
Portman has commented on "V for Vendetta"s political relevance, and mentioned that her character, who joins an underground anti-government group, is 'often bad and does things that you don't like' and that 'Being from Israel was a reason I wanted to do this because terrorism and violence are such a daily part of my conversations since I was little.' She said the film 'doesn't make clear good or bad statements. It respects the audience enough to take away their own opinion'. Portman's upcoming films include "Goya's Ghosts" and "Free Zone" (an Israeli film which received a limited U.S. theatrical release in April 2006). She is set to appear in the children's film "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium", which began filming in April 2006; Portman has said that she was 'excited to do a kids' movie.'
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 was also named one of the hottest women of film and TV, by "Blender" Magazine.
Portman had a small role in the 18th season of "The Simpsons" as the voice of Bart Simpson's love interest, Darcy, from a neighboring town. She also appears in Paul McCartney's music video 'Dance Tonight' from his 2007 album 'Memory Almost Full' directed by Michel Gondry.
Portman also has a cameo in the Wes Anderson film "The Darjeeling Limited" opposite Jason Schwartzman, and will star opposite Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal in the drama film "Brothers", a remake of the 2004 Danish film of the same name.
Activism
Animal rights
Portman, a vegetarian since childhood following her Jewish introduction to kosher food, is an advocate for animal rights and does not associate herself with any type of animal products in her diet or fashion, instead choosing to promote an 'animal-friendly' lifestyle. Of fur, feathers and leather, Portman says:
'I don't wear any leather or fur or feathers or any animal products. All of my shoes are from Target and Stella McCartney, who does all non-leather products.'
Public image
A number of songs and albums are named after her, by artists such as Intel One, Team Sleep, Sage Francis, and Ozma. The make-up brand Stila has a lip color named after her (a sheer plum titled 'Natalie'), fashion designer Zac Posen has referred to her as his 'muse' and writer Kia Abdullah names Portman as the woman she would like to be.
Portman is among a very small number of professional actors with a defined Erd?s-Bacon number.
Personal life
Portman has had romantic links with actors including Gael Garcia Bernal and Jake Gyllenhaal. In the May 2002 issue of "Vogue" Portman called actor/musician Lukas Haas and musician Moby her close friends. She was linked to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, but he claims they are friends. She reportedly dated Nat Rothschild, of the famous multi-billionaire banking family. Recently, she was spotted with former male model Nathan Bogle at the U.S. Open on September 5, 2007.
When asked in a June 2002 "Rolling Stone" interview whether she 'ever wondered, growing up, whether she is gay,' she said: 'Sure. I've never dated a woman or anything like that. But ... I think it's much more the person that you fall in love with - and why would you close yourself off to fifty percent of the people? ... I think my personality is more compatible with men than women.'
Beliefs
Portman has advocated for environmental causes from a young age, becoming a member of the environmental song and dance troupe at age twelve. She is a self-proclaimed 'animal lover,' and has been a vegetarian since she was eight years old.
Portman has spent some of her free time involved in causes such as the Democrats' 2004 U.S. presidential campaign and ending poverty. In 2004 and 2005 she traveled to Uganda, Guatemala, and Ecuador as the Ambassador of Hope for FINCA International, an organization that promotes micro-lending to help finance women-owned businesses in poor countries. In an interview conducted backstage at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia and appearing on the PBS program "Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria" she discussed microfinance. Host Fareed Zakaria said that he was 'generally wary of celebrities with fashionable causes', but included the segment with Portman because 'she really knew her stuff'. In the 'Voices' segment of the April 29th, 2007 episode of the ABC Sunday Morning Program "This Week with George Stephanopoulos", Portman discussed her work with FINCA and how it can benefit women and their children in third world countries. In the Fall of 2007, Portman visited several university campuses, including Harvard, UCLA, UC Berkley, Stanford, Princeton, New York University, and Columbia, to inspire students with the power of microfinance and to encourage them to join the Village Banking Campaign to help families and communities lift themselves out of poverty.
Portman commented in an interview that 'I'm much more like the product of a doctor than I am a Jew'. On the concept of the afterlife, she comments 'I don't believe in that. I believe this is it, and I believe it's the best way to live.'
Controversy
Portman, who had read some of the works by W.E.B. Du Bois, was interviewed for the August 2004 issue of "Allure" magazine where she was quoted as saying, 'Oh my God! I'm not black, but I know what it feels like!' She then wrote a letter to their editor, in which she wrote: 'The 'it' I was referring to when I said, 'I know what it feels like,' was not intended to signify that I know 'how black people feel,' but rather that I know what DuBois' concept of double-consciousness feels like, in variation. Had my quote included what I actually said preceding that statement, perhaps my meaning would have been clearer.'
Portman also made headlines when she was moved away by Israeli Police on February 23, 2005 from Jerusalem's Western Wall after protests by religious Jews who were praying at the holy site. She and Israeli actor Aki Avni were filming a kissing scene near the Wailing Wall for the movie "Free Zone". This was deemed to be 'immodest' and men who were praying heckled the pair until police stepped in and suggested they return later. The site is under the authority of Orthodox Judaism, and Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, who is responsible for the site, said the actors' behavior violated the code of conduct.
It was reported that on July 8, 2005, Portman was pulled over by the NYPD while driving in a transit tunnel underneath New York City for looking unusual and having an expired registration. She had a shaven head from playing her role in "V for Vendetta", and had just arrived back in the United States from Israel and film shooting in Berlin. The policeman told her not to drive in the tunnel, but to take the bridge instead. 'I've never had that happen to me before,' Portman said. 'It's supposedly random... I didn't understand that logic. If you're a suspect, don't take the tunnel, take the bridge?'
Filmography
Theater
"The Diary of Anne Frank" (1999)
"The Seagull" (2001)
Awards
Won
2002 - Teen Choice Awards, Choice Movie Actress: Drama/Action Adventure: "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones"
2005 - Golden Globe Awards, Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: "Closer"
2005 - National Board of Review Awards, Best Acting by an Ensemble: "Closer" (shared with Clive Owen, Julia Roberts, and Jude Law)
2005 - San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, Best Supporting Actress: "Closer"
2007 - The Constellation Awards, Best Female Performance in a 2006 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series: "V for Vendetta"
2007 - Saturn Awards, Best Actress: "V for Vendetta"
Nominations
2000 - Golden Globe Awards, Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: "Anywhere But Here"
2000 - Teen Choice Awards, Choice Movie Actress: "Where the Heart Is"
2007 - Saturn Awards, Best Young Actress: "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace"
2003 - Saturn Awards, Best Actress: "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones"
2005 - Academy Awards, Best Supporting Actress: "Closer"
2005 - BAFTA Awards, Best Supporting Actress: "Closer"
2005 - Satellite Awards, Best Supporting Actress, Drama: "Closer"
2005 - Teen Choice Awards, Choice Movie Actress: Drama: "Closer", "Garden State"; Choice Movie Actress: Action/Adventure: "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith"; Choice Movie Liar, "Garden State"; Choice Movie Liplock: "Garden State"; Choice Movie Love Scene: "Garden State"
2005 - MTV Movie Awards, Best Female Performance: "Garden State"; Best Kiss: "Garden State"
2005 - Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, Best Supporting Actress: "Closer"; Best Acting Ensemble: "Closer"
2006 - Teen Choice Awards, Choice Movie Actress: Drama/Action Adventure: "V for Vendetta"
2007 - Saturn Awards, Best Actress: "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith"
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Natalie Portman.
