Natalie Portman - Biography

Natalie Portman was born in Jerusalem, Israel on June 9, 1981. She is a daughter of Avner Hershlag and Shelley Stevens. Her father is an Israeli medical doctor specializing in the research and treatment of human fertility and reproduction. And her mother is a Jewish American housewife.

At the age of three Natalie's family left Israel and moved to her mother's native United States. At U.S her father had done his medical training. The family relocated in Washington D. C. in 1984 and then Connecticut in 1988. Finally the family settled in Syosset, New York in 1990.

She was offered for modeling by a modeling scout at a New York pizza parlor at the age of 11. But she wants to become an actress and attended the Stage door Manor Performing Camp for three summers. Firstly she was casted in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cabaret, Anne of Green Gables (in the title role), and Tapestry.

From 1984 her film career started with the film The Professional. After that she appeared in the crime drama Heat and was noticed in the 1996 film beautiful Girls. The role in Beautiful Girls garnered rave reviews for Natalie and after that she was acted in Everyone Says I Love You, as well as Mars Attacks!.

Her next projects were Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002), Cold Mountain (2003), Garden State (2004), and True (2004). In 2004, she wowed audiences in Closer, co-starring Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Clive Owen.

Some fun facts about Natalie Portman.

• Favorite Subjects: Math, Biology, Science, Politics, Languages, Psychology
• Hobbies: reading, Dancing (ballet, jazz, tap), writing, ice-skating (which she picked up during the filming of Beautiful Girls), modeling, and of course, acting.
• Habits: Eyebrow-tweezing, collecting purses and small bags, does Lily Tomlin impressions, generally considers herself as a bit of an obsessive-compulsive.
• Favorite City: Paris
• Addictions: Chocolate, Jolly Ranchers Candies
• Eating Habits: Strict vegetarian, but does it eggs and drinks at least one glass of skim milk daily.
• Favorite Foods: Pizza, chocolate, tea, ice cream, skim milk
• Favorite Song: Ben by Michael Jackson
• Favorite Country: Israel
• Favorite Movies: Dirty Dancing, Schindler's List, Amelie, Y Tu Mama Tambien
• Favorite Actors: Ben Kingsley, Brad Pitt, John Turturro, Patrick Swayze.
• Favorite Actresses: Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Jennifer Grey.
• Favorite TV Shows: Friends, Ellen, Dawson's Creek, Jerry Springer
• Favorite Books: The Diary of Anne Frank, Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov
• Favorite Sports: Track and field, plays football with her friends, does not show any particular interest in professional sports.