|
Trivia
Birth name: Natalie Hershlag
Date of birth: 9 June 1981
Place of birth: Jerusalem, Israel
Nickname: Nat
Height: 5' 4" (1.63 m)
Turned down a role in The Horse Whisperer (1998) to act in "The
Diary of Anne Frank" on Broadway.
Graduated from Syosset High School, Syosset, New York. [29 June 1999]
Has been a strict vegetarian since the age of 8. She practices what is
called "Vegan Vegetarianism."
Has taken dance lessons since the age of 4.
Says that maths was her favorite subject in school because,
"There's always an answer."
Stated in a TV interview that with the exception of the Star Wars
prequels, she will not act for the next four years in order to
concentrate on studying at Harvard University. [1999]
Can speak five languages fluently. Hebrew and English (her native
languages), as well as French, German, and Japanese. She also knows some
Spanish.
Originally turned down the role of Ann August in the film Anywhere But
Here (1999) because of the love scene between herself and Corbin Allred
that required nudity. Susan Sarandon, who had co-star approval, said she
couldn't continue the movie without Portman, so the script was
re-written without the scene and she accepted the role.
Was a member of the environmental song and dance troupe The World Patrol
Kids under her real name, Natalie Hershlag.
She is an only child.
She went to Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Camp in 1994 and 1995 where
she was Anne in "Anne of Green Gables" in 1994 and
"Tapestry" in 1995.
Was the first choice to play Juliet in Romeo + Juliet (1996) but turned
it down because of the scenes and the age difference between her and
Leonardo DiCaprio.
She was discovered in a pizza parlor and was originally turned down for
the role of Mathilda in Léon (1994) because she was too young.
Harpers and Queen magazine said that she is "the new Audrey Hepburn".
Turned down the title role in Adrian Lyne's Lolita (1997), due to her
feelings about young adult actors/actresses being exposed to sex in
films.
Before she was cast in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999),
she had never seen the original 3 Star Wars movies.
Moved to the US when she was 3 years old.
Turned down the role of Wendy in The Ice Storm (1997) because she felt
the material was "too dark." The role went to Christina Ricci,
who has said she often gets the projects Natalie turns down.
Said would never be in a horror movie or any other "Jennifer
Love Hewitt type" film
Has said in interviews that when she gets older, she would like to be a
doctor like her father.
Was reportedly caught using a fake ID trying to sneak into Boston club
called the Roxy. The performer Moby
insisted that she was invited by him and refused to perform unless she
was admitted. She was admitted, and security watched her as she stood in
the back, watched the show, and didn't drink.
Stated in an on-line interview that the story about sneaking into the
Roxy club in Boston to see Moby
is not true and that she and her friends went home after they were
denied entrance.
Takes pride in the fact that she is a role model for girls and choses
roles that are positive so that they will have a positive role model to
look up to.
Her father is a fertility specialist.
Auditioned for Little Women (1994).
Became interested in acting after spending three summers at the
prestigious (and expensive) Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Camp.
Is very close to her parents and says, "The best part about being
friends with your parents is that no matter what you do, they always
love you."
Grew up in Syosset, Long Island, New York, where her parents still
reside.
Dated Lukas Haas. [July 2001]
Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in
2002.
Natalie was born on her mother's 29th birthday.
Father's name: Avner. Mother's name: Shelley.
One of Teen People Magazine's 25 Hottest Stars under 25 [2002]
Went to Usdan Camp for the arts as a child.
The make-up brand Stila has a lip gloss named after her.
As of June 2002, she has appeared on "Late Show with David
Letterman" (1993), eight times.
won the 2002 Teen's Choice Award for choice actress in an
action/adventure film (Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
(2002))
Voted the 15th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire
Magazine September 2002.
Received her Harvard degree in June of 2003.
Has a passion for travel. In late 2003 and early 2004 she travelled
alone to Morocco and Guatemala.
Favorite actor is Ben Kingsley.
Is trained in ballet, jazz, and tap dancing.
She has worked with a several of her co-stars twice: Ashley
Judd in Heat (1995) and Where the Heart Is (2000); Lukas Haas in
Mars Attacks! (1996) and Everyone Says I Love You (1996); Julia
Roberts in Everyone Says I Love You (1996) and Closer (2004/I); Jude
Law in Cold Mountain (2003) and Closer (2004/I); Philip Seymour
Hoffman in the play The Seagull and Cold Mountain (2003); John Carroll
Lynch in Beautiful Girls (1996) and Anywhere But Here (1999). She has
also worked for director Mike Nichols on two occasions: for the play The
Seagull and Closer (2004/I).
As a young girl, she was an understudy for the lead character in the
off-Broadway show, "Ruthless", alongside Britney Spears. They
still keep in touch, and recently threw a party together in New York
City.
Fashion designer Zac Posen refers to her as his "muse."
Both she and Sofia Coppola have played the daughter of a character
played by Al
Pacino, and also both appeared in a film featuring Pacino and Robert
De Niro. Sofia Coppola was in all three Godfather films (though she
had only an uncredited part in the 2nd), and Portman was in Heat (1995).
Portman and Coppola appeared together in Star Wars: Episode I - The
Phantom Menace (1999).
Is close friends with Jake Gyllenhaal and Bryce Dallas Howard.
She is good friends with the members of the band Maroon 5.
Her comedic influences are Lily Tomlin and Diane Keaton. She said in an
interview, "I love Lily Tomlin and I love Diane Keaton. They're
sort of my heroes. Diane Keaton can do anything. She's just the best
there is."
Has a song named after her by the band TeamSleep.
She and director Tom Tykwer became good friends after working together
on True (2004).
She spoofed her role in Star Wars before becoming involved in the
series. In Mars Attacks! (1996), she gives a medal to Lukas Haas in a
scene resembling the award ceremony at the end of Star Wars (1977). The
medals were given out by Princess Leia, the daughter of Portman's future
character, Queen Amidala. In addition, the recipients of those medals, Harrison
Ford and Lukas Haas, appeared together in Witness (1985).
Shares a birthday with Johnny
Depp and Michael J. Fox.
Was considered for a role in Elizabethtown (2005).
Has a CD named after her by Chicago-based DJ Intel One. The CD was done
for charity, given away, and titled "Love: A Tribute to Natalie
Portman." It featured songs by Shelly Duval, Common, The Roots, and
others.
She has worked with two Draculas as well as two Frankenstein monsters.
In Léon (1994), she worked with Gary Oldman, who played Dracula for
Francis Ford Coppola. In Heat (1995), she appeared with Robert
De Niro, who played The Creature for Kenneth Branagh. In Star Wars,
she works with Christopher Lee, who played both roles for Hammer
studios.
Had to miss the premiere of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
(1999) so she could study for her high school final exams.
Has a song named after her by the band Ozma.
Bears a striking resemblance to Keira
Knightley. Knightley played Sabé in Star Wars: Episode I - The
Phantom Menace (1999), the Queen's decoy. When in make-up, the mothers
of the actresses could not even tell them apart.
She hesitantly shot an explicit nude scene for Closer (2004/I), in the
scene where Alice (Portman) strips for Larry (Clive Owen). Ultimately,
Portman and director Mike Nichols agreed not to use it, as the scene was
effective enough without it.
Shaved her head for V for Vendetta (2006) .
Learned to speak with a British accent for V for Vendetta (2006).
Still takes ballet classes.
Is learning how to play the piano and conduct for Goya's Ghosts (2006).
Named #42 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2005 list.
|
