PLEASURE WORLD

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Though Natalie Portman (nee Hershlag) was born in Jerusalem, her family moved to the United States when she was just 3 in order for her father to continue his career in medicine. By 1988, her family settled in Long Island, and Portman, who has always felt a close tie to her Jewish roots, attended Solomon Schechter Day School of Glen Cove, New York, and graduated from Syosset High School. When she was 11, Portman was discovered in a New York pizza joint by a modeling scout, but her true passion was acting, which she fell in love with while attending the exclusive Stagedoor Manor Performing Camp for three summers.

Natalie Portman’s film career kicks off with the professional

When Luc Besson cast a 12-year-old girl with no film acting experience named Natalie Hershlag in his film The Professional (aka Leon), he couldn’t have foreseen that he was launching the career of one of the most celebrated young actresses of our generation. But that’s exactly what happened. As soon as the precocious girl walked into the frame of the slick urban thriller — about an assassin that befriends a young girl — a star was born. The film was a roaring success and has since become a cult classic, but some critics took issue with a such a young girl taking part in such an extremely violent film. Still, Portman had emerged a star, and used her unusual maturity to land roles in Michael Mann’s Heat, Ted Demme’s Beautiful Girls, Woody Allen’s Everyone Says I Love You, and Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks!. Not too shabby for the start of a career.

Natalie Portman is indoctrinated into the star wars universe

Before George Lucas cast Natalie Portman to play Padme Amidala in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, the actress had not even seen one of the previous three films. Still, by signing on to the project (and its two sequels) — by far one of the most highly anticipated movie events in history — Natalie Portman cemented a place on the wall of your parents’ basements for all time. Though the films were box office juggernauts, stiff dialogue and lazy storytelling couldn’t save them from critical and audience backlash. Though Portman had entered the world of blockbuster filmmaking with a bang, fans couldn’t help but wonder if her talents would be better served elsewhere.

Natalie Portman charms our pants off in garden state

Though she already earned a Golden Globe nod for her turn in Anywhere But Here, and portrayed a teenage mother in Where The Heart Is, audiences still longed to see Natalie Portman in a role that utilized her charming girl-next-door appeal. In walked Zach Braff, who, with his ode to family, coming home and New Jersey, made Natalie Portman the apple of every headphone-wearing hipster’s eye. After watching Garden State, in which Portman literally plays a girl next door, it was impossible not to crush on the enchanting actress.

Natalie Portman stars in closer

Proof that Natalie Portman had finally reached the pinnacle of superstardom was in director Mike Nichols’ decision to cast her alongside Julia Roberts, Clive Owen and Jude Law in the steamy drama Closer. As one quarter of the sexiest foursome to hit the screen since Screech did those three chicks and taped it, Portman stripped her way to a Golden Globe for best supporting actress and an Oscar nod to boot. Officially on Hollywood’s exclusive A-list, Portman had her choice of films, and she ran the gamut in both size and scope. From big budget blowouts like V For Vendetta and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, arty indies like My Blueberry Nights and The Darjeeling Limited and pensive period pieces like Goya’s Ghosts and The Other Boleyn Girl, Portman was proving that no matter what the script called for, she was game. Except nudity of course. To this day, Portman has yet to show us the goods on screen (save for a brief butt appearance in Wes Anderson’s short film Hotel Chevalier).

Up next for natalie portman

Natalie Portman is officially in her comfort zone. With a slew of incredible projects on the horizon including Kenneth Branagh’s Thor, Darren Aronofsky’s ballet thriller Black Swan and David Gordon Green’s medieval stoner comedy (no, we’re not kidding) Your Highness, Portman has positioned herself to be at the forefront of our collective radars for the distant future. And yes, that’s a very good thing.

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Filmography

Film and television

Theater

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
• 2000 – 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: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones; 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
• 2006 – Saturn Awards, Best Actress: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
• 2010 – Saturn Awards, Best Actress: Brothers