Natalie Portman Biography
Neta-Lee Hershlag was born on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem, Israel. Under her stage name Natalie Portman, she made her film debut at 13 in Léon: The Professional (1994) and rose to global fame as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. While simultaneously filming those blockbusters, she earned a Psychology degree from Harvard. Her searing portrayal of an obsessed ballerina in Black Swan (2010) won her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Personal Life
Who are Natalie Portman's parents?
Avner Hershlag, Shelley Stevens
Was Natalie Portman married?
Natalie Portman was married once, to Benjamin Millepied.
Did Natalie Portman have children?
Natalie Portman had 2 children: Aleph Portman-Millepied (born 2011), Amalia Millepied (born 2017).
What religion was Natalie Portman?
Natalie Portman was Jewish.
What was Natalie Portman's ethnicity?
Natalie Portman was of Jewish (Ashkenazi) heritage.
Career Highlights
Movies
- Léon: The Professional (1994)
- Beautiful Girls (1996)
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Closer (2004)
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- V for Vendetta (2005)
- The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
- Brothers (2009)
- Black Swan (2010)
- Thor (2011)
- Your Highness (2011)
- Jackie (2016)
- Annihilation (2018)
- Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
- May December (2023)
Awards
- Academy Award — Best Actress, Black Swan (2011)
- Academy Award nomination — Best Supporting Actress, Closer (2005)
- Academy Award nomination — Best Actress, Jackie (2017)
- Golden Globe — Best Actress, Black Swan (2011)
- BAFTA Award — Best Actress, Black Swan (2011)
Facts About Natalie Portman
- Graduated from Harvard with a degree in Psychology (2003) while simultaneously filming Star Wars prequels
- Published two research papers in psychology peer-reviewed journals while still in school
- Started her career at age 13 in Léon: The Professional — her screen debut
- Learned to speak Hebrew as a child in Israel and is fluent in Hebrew, English, French, and Japanese
- Is a committed vegan and wore sustainable fashion to the 2020 Oscars in protest of animal suffering
Natalie Portman Quotes
"I'd rather be smart than a movie star."
"Smart is the new beautiful."
Legacy
Natalie Portman is proof that artistic excellence and academic achievement are not mutually exclusive. One of the few Oscar winners to hold an Ivy League degree, she has consistently championed complex, female-led roles throughout a career spanning over 30 years.
Sources
Last verified: 2026-06-15