Natalie Portman

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Born on 06-09-1981 Nationality American		Buy Natalie Portman Contact Information Posters and Photos DVDs/Videos Autographs		Search for Natalie Portman Mailing Address Auctions		Natalie Portman Fun Love Match
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Biography

Natalie Hershlag was born on June 9, 1981 in Jerusalem, Israel. Hershlag is better known as Natalie Portman. Her father, Avner Hershlag, is an Israeli medical doctor and her mother, Shelley Stevens is an artist, housewife and Natalie's agent. Her paternal grandfather's parents died in Auschwitz and her Romanian-born great-grandmother was a spy for the British during World War II. When Natalie was three years old, her family moved from Israel to the United States, where her mother was born. She lived in Washington, D.C. in 1984 and then Connecticut in 1988, before finally settling down in Syosset, New York in 1990. She is an only child and very close to her parents, who are often seen with her at her film premieres; her mother always accompanied her to filming locations before she reached adulthood.

After a little stage experience she was cast in the movie Léon at age twelve. She also had roles in films such as Heat, Everyone Says I Love You and Mars Attacks!, as well as having a major role in Beautiful Girls. Her introduction to international fame came when she was cast as Queen Amidala in the Star Wars trilogy. Although she was soon thought of by critics as the most promising young movie star to come along since Audrey Hepburn, she refused to let the praise go to her head and placed a priority on her education. She subsequently pursued her bachelor's degree in psychology at Harvard University. She moved onto campus and refused to accept any acting roles until she graduated from the prestigious school. True to her word she finished her studies in 2003 and returned to the screen, to the delight of fans and critics alike.

Upon her return to film she had a small role in Cold Mountain and in 2004 she had larger roles in both Garden State and Closer, these films garnered the young actress some of the best critical reviews of her career. She also received her first Academy Award nomination for the movie Closer. In 2005 the final episode of Star Wars was released and she filmed V for Vendetta which was released in 2006. She has numerous projects due out in the coming years and the world over is watching this star closely.

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