Biographic - Sunday February 25, 2018 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

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Natalie Portman She speaks six languages, has a psychology degree from Harvard, took graduate courses at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, was the youngest-ever juror at the Cannes Film Festival, and is an ambassador for a foundation that assists women in the third world. She's also one of the most talented movie actresses of her generation... Natalie Portman was born Natalie Hershlag in Jerusalem on June 9, 1981. Raised on Long Island, New York, she became interested in acting after spending summers at performing arts camps. She was an understudy for the lead in an off-Broadway show called "Ruthless" alongside another ambitious young hopeful named Britney Spears. Natalie catapulted to stardom when she was cast as 12-year-old orphan Mathilda opposite Jean Reno in 1994's "Leon" AKA "The Professional." Her performance attracted rave reviews, leading to starring roles in movies such as "Heat" "Beautiful Girls" and "Mars Attacks!" But she was also very picky about the parts she accepted, turning down leads in "The Ice Storm" "Lolita" and "The Horse Whisperer" she also famously turned down "Romeo + Juliet" citing the age difference between her and leading man Leonardo Dicaprio. In 1999, the same year that she graduated from High School with honors, Natalie starred as Queen Amidala in "Star Wars: Episode II -Attack Of the Clones" and spent a summer starring in a production of Chekhov's "The Seagull" in New York's Central Park. She graduated in 2003 and was soon back on the big screen in "Cold Mountain" and "Garden State" her performance in 2004's "Closer" earned her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Award. Following "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," She shaved her head for 2006 "V For Vandetta" Subsequent movies included "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium." "The Other Boleyn Girl" and the acclaimed "Brothers" She undertook six months of intensive dance training and shed 20 pounds to play a troubled ballerina in "Black Swan" a role that earned her an Oscar and a Golden Globe and introduced her to dancer Benjamin Mellipied. They married in 2012 and have two children together. She played Jane Foster in 2011's "Thor" and its 2013 sequel, made her feature film directorial debut with "A Tale of Love and Darkness" and starred as Jacqueline Kennedy in "Jackie," a role that earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. This month sees her star in the sci-fi action horror "Annihilation."

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