Natalie Portman Biography(Artist), Net Worth, Age ,and Star Wars to Academy Awards

5 min readJun 16, 2023

Natalie Portman: An Exemplary Artist and Activist

Early Life and Family Background

Natalie Portman, born on June 9, 1981, as Natalie Hershlag, hails from Jerusalem, Israel. Her parents are Shelley Stevens, an American homemaker who works as her agent, and Avner Hershlag, an Israeli fertility specialist and gynecologist. Natalie’s family moved to the United States when she was three years old. While her family initially lived in Washington, D.C., they eventually settled in Connecticut and then Long Island, New York, where Natalie grew up.

Education

Natalie Portman is well-known for being an exceptionally educated actress. She attended Syosset High School in New York, graduating in 1999. Portman showed an early interest in foreign languages and studied French, Japanese, German, and Arabic. Despite her acting career, she prioritized education and enrolled at Harvard University to study psychology, earning her bachelor’s degree in 2003.

Early Career

Portman’s career in acting began at a young age. She was discovered by an agent in a pizza parlor at the age of 10. However, her breakout role came when she was 13, in Luc Besson’s film “Leon: The Professional” (1994). She played a young girl named Mathilda who becomes an apprentice to a hitman after her family is killed. Her performance garnered critical acclaim and attention in the industry.

Success

Natalie Portman’s early success led to a series of prominent roles. She is perhaps best known for her role as Padme Amidala in the “Star Wars” prequel trilogy (1999–2005). She also received recognition for her roles in “Closer” (2004), which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and “V for Vendetta” (2005).

Portman’s performance as a troubled ballet dancer in “Black Swan” (2010) won her numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actress. She continued to deliver stunning performances in films like “Jackie” (2016), where she played Jacqueline Kennedy, earning her another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

As of 2023, Portman continues to balance commercial projects with independent films. She is also set to star as Jane Foster / Mighty Thor in the upcoming Marvel movie, “Thor: Love and Thunder”.

Personal Life

In terms of her personal life, Portman is fluent in Hebrew and holds dual American-Israeli citizenship. She married French ballet dancer Benjamin Millepied in 2012, whom she met on the set of “Black Swan”. The couple has two children together, Aleph (born 2011) and Amalia (born 2017).

Natalie Portman Instagram account

Natalie Portman is quite active on social media, particularly Instagram. As of this writing, her Instagram account, under the handle @natalieportman, has a following of 8.7 million people. This platform provides her with a space to share personal and professional updates, engage with fans, and advocate for causes close to her heart. It offers a window into her life beyond the silver screen, allowing her to connect more directly and personally with her fans around the world.

Controversies

While relatively free of major scandals, Portman has not completely avoided controversy. Notably, she declined to attend the Genesis Prize ceremony in Israel in 2018 due to “recent events” that she found distressing. Her decision sparked debate and criticism, particularly in her birth country of Israel.

Physical Attributes

As of 2023, Natalie Portman is 42 years old. She stands 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs approximately 50 kilograms.

Physical Characteristics

- Height in Centimeters: 160 cm

- Height in Meters: 1.6 m

- Height in Feet Inches: 5’6″

- Weight: 50kg

- Body Measurement: 34–25–34

- Chest Size: 34 inches

- Waist Size: 25 inches

- Hips Size: 34 inches

- Eye Colour: Light Brown

- Hair Colour: Light Brown

Personal Favorites

- Favorite Colour: Not Known

- Favorite Actor: Ben Kingsley & John Turturro

- Favorite Actress: Julia Roberts, Jennifer Grey & Susan Sarandon

- Favorite Food: Chocolate, Pizza, Tea & Ice Cream

- Hobbies: Reading

- Favorite TV Shows: Ellen, Friends, Dawson’s Creek & Jerry Springer

- Favorite Movies: Dirty Dancing (1987) & Schindler’s List (1993)

- Sexual Orientation: Straight

Filmography

Portman’s extensive filmography includes films like “Heat” (1995), “Mars Attacks!” (1996), “Anywhere but Here” (1999), “Garden State” (2004), “The Other Boleyn Girl” (2008), “Brothers” (2009), “No Strings Attached” (2011), “Thor” (2011), “Annihilation” (2018), and “Lucy in the Sky” (2019) among many others.

Philanthropy

In addition to her acting, Portman is a committed philanthropist and activist. She is an advocate for animal rights and has been a vegetarian since childhood, and a vegan since 2009. She is also involved in the Time’s Up initiative, a movement against sexual harassment in the workplace following the #MeToo movement.

Winning Awards

Throughout her career, Portman has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award for her role in “Black Swan”. She has also been recognized by the BAFTAs, the SAG Awards, and the Critics’ Choice Awards among others.

Conclusion

Natalie Portman is not only one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood but also a shining example of how to balance fame with education and activism. With her impressive acting range, commitment to her principles, and passion for making a positive difference in the world, Portman continues to inspire audiences and individuals around the world.

Quotes

“I’m going to college. I don’t care if it ruins my career. I’d rather be smart than a movie star.”

“I don’t love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful.”

FAQs

What was Natalie Portman’s first big break in the film industry?Natalie Portman’s first significant role was as Mathilda, a young girl taken in by a hitman, in the 1994 film “Léon: The Professional”. However, her breakout role was as Padmé Amidala in “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” (1999).What is Natalie Portman’s educational background?Portman is a highly educated actress. After graduating from Syosset High School in 1999, she enrolled at Harvard University, where she studied psychology and earned a Bachelor’s degree in 2003.What awards has Natalie Portman won?Natalie Portman has received numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “Black Swan” (2010). She has also received a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award for the same role.Has Natalie Portman directed any films?Yes, Portman has ventured into directing. Her directorial debut was with the 2015 film “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” which she also wrote and starred in.How does Natalie Portman contribute to society off the screen?Off-screen, Portman is known for her activism. She advocates for animal rights and is a committed vegan. She is also a supporter of the Time’s Up movement and has been involved in various philanthropic activities throughout her career.What is Natalie Portman’s height and weight?Natalie Portman stands approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs around 50 kilograms.What controversies has Natalie Portman been involved in?One of the major controversies Natalie Portman has been involved in was her decision to decline the Genesis Prize, also known as the “Jewish Nobel”, in 2018 due to her disapproval of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, which caused a major outcry in the Jewish community.What are some of Natalie Portman’s notable quotes?Two notable quotes from Natalie Portman are: “I’m going to college. I don’t care if it ruins my career. I’d rather be smart than a movie star.” and “I don’t love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful.”How many films has Natalie Portman been in?Natalie Portman has appeared in more than 60 films.What is Natalie Portman’s real name?Natalie Portman’s real name is Neta-Lee Hershlag. She was born in Jerusalem, Israel, and moved to the United States as a young child.