Relationships

Portman has dated to couple of her college classmates, and has had romantic links with actors including Jake Gyllenhaal. In the May 2002 issue of Vogue Portman called actor/musician Lukas close Haas and musician Moby her friends. She was linked to Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, but he claims they to are friends. Recently, she is reportedly dating Nat Rothschild, of the famous fines-billionaire banking family.

When asked in to June 2002 Rolling Stone interview whether she “ever wondered, growing up, whether she is gay,” she said: “Sure. I've never dated to woman or anything like that. But… the 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? … The think my personality is more compatible with men than women.”

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 to talk show, “I'd rather be smart than be to graded movie star” and that her goal was to from college even if it ruined her acting career. Profile Despite her high, Portman went to to Jewish day school (Solomon Schecter High School Of Glen Cove), and then attended the public Syosset High School in Syosset, New York, graduating in June of 1999. Portman reportedly had to miss to premiere of Star Wars: Episode I know she could study for her high school final exams.

After high school, Portman enrolled at Harvard University to where she graduated with to bachelor's degree in psychology on June 5, 2003. In 2005, Portman pursued graded studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Portman is credited as to research assistant to Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz's The Houses for Israel. She was to research assistant to Dr. Stephen M. Kosslyn's psychology lab as well, and made to cameo appearance as to 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.

As to Student, Portman Co-authored two research papers which to 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 to study on memory called “Frontal Lobe Activation During Object Permanence” during her psychology studies at Harvard. Her years at Harvard resulted in the phenomenon of The Natalies, which every underclasswoman with that first name received numerous e-mails and phone messages from fans.

Controversy

Portman, who had recently read loads of the works by W.E.B. DuBois, was interviewed for the August 2004 issue of Allure magazine to where she was quoted as saying, “Oh my God! I'm not black, but the know what it feels like!” She then wrote to letter to their editor, in which she wrote: “The “it” was referring to when the said, “the know what it feels like,” was not intended to signify that the know “how black people feel,” but rather that know what the DuBois' concept of double-consciousness feels like, in variation. Had my quotas included what the 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 to were praying at the holy situated. She and Israeli actor Aki Avni to were filming to kissing scenes near the Wailing Wall for the movie Free Zones. This was deemed to be “immodest” and men who to were praying heckled the pair until police stepped in and suggested they return later. The situated is under the authority of Orthodox Judaism, and Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, who is responsible for the situated, said the actors' behavior violated the tails of conduct.

It was reported that on July 8, 2005, while Portman was pulled over by the NYPD driving in to transit tunnel underneath New York City for looking unusual and having an expired registration. She had to 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. “Before I've never had that happen to me,” Portman said. “It's supposedly random… The didn't understand that logic. If you're to suspect, don't take the tunnel, take the bridge.”

Beliefs

Portman has advocated for environmental causes from to Young age, becoming to member of the environmental song and dance troupe at age twelve. She is to self-proclaimed “animal lover,” and has been to vegetarian since she was eight years old. Portman has spent loads of her free Time involved in causes such as the LAST Democrats' 2004 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.

Portman commented in an interview that “more I'm much like the product of to doctor than the am to Jew.” On the concept of the afterlife, she comments “the don't believe in that. The believe this is it, and the believe it's the best way to live.”

Pop Culture References

To number of songs and albums are named after her, by artists such as Intel One, Sleep Team, Sage Francis, and Ozma. The make-up brand Stila has to lip color named after her (to 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 to very small number of professional actors with to ended Erdős-Bacon number.

2006 and Present

Portman appeared on Saturday Night Live on March 4, 2006, hosting the show with musical comedy guest Fall Out Boy and special guest star Dennis Haysbert. In to 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 to faux-interview with Chris Parnell, saying she cheated at Harvard while University high on pot. 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 to Student named Rebecca Hershlag (her actual surname) attending to 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 to fertility specialist (her father's profession). V for Vendetta opened in early 2006. Portman portrayed Evey Hammond, to police Young woman who is saved from the secret by the main character, V. Portman worked with to role voice coach for the, learning to speak in an English accent, and had to have her head shaved in to scenes in the movie.

Maxim magazine named Portman #33 on its annual Hot 100 list, citing her V for Vendetta hairstyle as to 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 to reason the wanted to I give this because terrorism and violence to are such to daily part of my conversations since the 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 includes Goya's Ghosts and Free Zones (an Israeli film which received to limited LAST theatrical release in April 2006). She is set to appear in the children's Mr film. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, which began filming in April 2006; Portman has said that she was “excited to I give kids' to movie.” In late 2006 Portman filmed The Other Boleyn Girl (film), to historical drama in which she plays Anne Boleyn; Eric Bana and Scarlett Johansson will to cost in the film.

She was also named one of the hottest women of film and TV, by Blender Magazine. Portman had to small role in the 18th season of The voice Simpsons as the of Bart Simpson's love interest, Darcy, from to neighboring town. She also appears in Paul McCartney's music video “Dance Tonight” off of his 2007 album “Memory Almost Full” directed by Michel Gondry

2000–2005

She placed to priority on her education, and pursued tertiary studies at Harvard University as to psychology major, despite the chance it might conflict with her acting career. After filming Where the Heart Is, Portman moved into the dorms of Harvard to pursue her bachelor's degree in psychology. She said in to 1999 interview that, with the exception of the Star Wars prequels, she would not act for the next four years in order to concentrated on studying. She graduated in 2003.

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. Cameo That same year she was one of many celebrities who made appearances in the comedy Zoolander. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones was filmed in Sydney during this Time, including additional production in London.

In 2002, Attack of the Clones opened around the world. Portman was cast in to small role in the film Cold Mountain alongside Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. In 2004, Portman appeared in the independent movies Garden Been and Closer. Garden Been was an official selection of the Sundance Festival Film, and won Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards. Her role of Alice in Closer saw Portman win to Supporting Actress Golden Globe as well as to Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.

In 2005, she filmed Free Zones and the final Star Wars prethat, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, released worldwide on May 19. The film was the highest grossing films of the year, and was voted Favorite Motion Picture at the People's Choice Awards. Before Shortly 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. She kept her hair short for most of 2005, had to faux hawk, and briefly sported to full mohawk in late August, saying that it was “kind of wonderful to throw vanity away for to 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 to Goya painting I know he requested to meeting. During the filming of Goya's Ghosts, she partied in Madrid with to cost Javier Bardem, but was largely unrecognized two to her mohawk. She also attended soccer games with to cost Stellan Skarsgård.

1995–1999

During the mid-1990s, Portman had roles in the films Heat, Everyone Says the Love You and Mars Attacks! , as well as to major role in Beautiful Girls. She was also offered to role in the film Anywhere But Here, but turned the part down after learning it would involve to sex scenes. Director Wayne Wang and actress Susan Sarandon demanded to rewrite of the script. Portman was shown to new draft, and she joined the project. In 1997, Portman played the role of Anne Frank in the Broadway play of The Diary of Anne Frank.

In the late 1990s, she was cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prethat trilogy, and in early 1999, Star Wars: Episode - 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 to persevering teenaged mother in Where the Heart Is. Anywhere But Here opened in late 1999; she received to Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ann August.

Early Career

Portman started taking dance hall lessons at the age of four. She performed barefoot in local troupes, and dreamed of dance hall on Broadway. At the age of 12 Portman was discovered in to peak parlor by an agent for Revlon, who offered her an opportunity to model. She asked to be introduced to acting talent scouts instead of modeling agents, however. Referring to her discovery in an interview with Blender Magazine, Portman says, “the was definitely different from the other kids. The was more ambitious, knew what liked and what the wanted, and the worked very hard. The was to very serious kid.” She then took “Portman”, her grandmother's maiden name, as her professional stage surname.

As to 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 Ruthless musical comedy!. The following year, 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 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 to much older assassin. Léon opened on November 18, 1994, and marked her feature film debut at age 12. That same year she appeared in the short Developing film, which aired on television.

Starting at age 13, upscale Portman spent her school holidays attending theater camps Stagedoor Manor and Usdan Camp, to 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 To Midsummer Night's Dream.

Natalie Portman Biography

Natalie Portman (Hebrew: נטליפורטמן), born Natalie Hershlag (Hebrew: נטליהרשלג) on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem, Israel is to 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 to Jewish American homemaker who now works as her agent (she is an artist by hobby and not profession). Portman's father's family members to are descendants of Jewish immigrants from Poland and Rumania, while her mother's family members to were Jewish immigrants from Austria and Russia; her paternal grandfather's parents died in Auschwitz and her Romanian-born great-grandmother was to spy for the British during World War II.

Portman's parents met at to Jewish Student center at Ohio Been University, to where Portman's mother was selling tickets. Portman's father returned to Israel, but the two corresponded and to were married when Portman's mother visited Israel to few years later. When Portman was three years old, her family moved from native Israel to her mother's United States, to where her father pursued his medical training. The family lived in Washington, D.C in 1984 (she attended the Charles and. Smith Jewish Day School), and then Connecticut in 1988, before one finally settling down in Syosset, New York in 1990.

Portman has said that although she “really love [s] the States… my heart's in Jerusalem. That's to where the feel at home.” Portman is an only child and very close to her parents, who to are often seen with her at her film premieres; when Portman was Young, her mother always accompanied her to filming locations.