Natalie Portman

June 9, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Natalie Portman was born on June 9, 1981. Portman was always passionate about acting and pursued it from an early age. She came to the limelight after acting in “Leon: The Professional.” Portman’s made a name in the entertainment industry. She featured in “Thor,” “The Avengers,” “Star Wars,” and “Lucy in the Sky.” Portman is a versatile actress. She’s perfected roles in different genres and won awards for Best Actress from Teen Choice Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, and many more. We celebrate this shining star today.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Natalie Hershlag

Nickname:

Nat

Birth date:

June 9, 1981

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Gemini

Height:

5' 2.9"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$65 million

Background

Natalie Portman, originally Natalie Hershlag, was born in Jerusalem, Israel. Her family migrated to Washington D.C., before settling in Long Island, New York. Portman’s mother, Shelley Stevens, is her agent. Her father, Avner Hershlag, is a medical doctor ― a specialist in human fertility and reproduction. Portman is an only child. Her heart’s in Jerusalem despite living in the U.S. for so long.

At 10, a Revlon representative discovered Portman and advised her to pursue a modeling career. Portman turned down the offer to focus on acting instead. She featured in various local productions while working at Usdan Theatre Arts Camp. She made her debut in 1994, in “Leon: The Professional.” In 1995, Portman performed wonderfully in “Heat.” She turned down offers to act in “Lolita” and “Romeo and Juliet” because of concerns about early exposure to sex.

Touched by Anne Frank’s faith in humanity, even in those dark times, Portman got inspired to make her Broadway debut as Anne Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank.” In 2003, Portman graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Psychology. She received the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2005, the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in 2016, and a Genesis Prize in 2018.

Portman has been in a relationship with Benjamin Millepied since 2009. Their first child was born in 2011. The couple wed in 2012. Their second child was born in 2017. Portman loves to keep her personal life private.

Career timeline

1994

Her Career Begins

She makes her debut with "Leon: The Professional."

2004

She Shaves Her Head

She cuts her hair for her role in "V for Vendetta."

2010

She Wins an Award

Portman’s role in "Black Swan" earns her an Oscar for Best Actress.

2011

She’s the Face of Dior

Portman becomes the face of Dior.

2012

She Gets Married

Portman marries Benjamin Millepied, a dancer.

2018

She Declines Attending an Award Ceremony

After being announced as one of the recipients of the Genesis Prize, Portman turns down the invitation to attend the ceremony due to recent events in Israel.

2021

She Launches a Production Company

Portman and film producer Sophie Mas launch MountainA and sign a first-look television deal with Apple TV+.

Why We Love Natalie Portman

She values education
Portman never placed her career above education; she opted to miss the grand opening of “Star Wars” because she had an exam. She graduated with honors in Psychology and published two research papers during her time at Harvard.
She prioritizes her moral values
Portman has always been selective regarding her movie roles. She always puts extra effort into her performances but turns down parts that contrast her morals. She refused to appear nude in "Anywhere but Here."
She challenges the norms
Portman believes in empowering and investing in races different from White, especially in the entertainment industry. She launched her own production company, Handsomecharlie Films, which focuses on creating roles for women by women, especially female comedies.

5 Surprising Facts

She had an injury on set
She broke her rib while filming for “Black Swan.”
She’s related to a spy
Portman’s Romanian-born great-grandmother was a British spy during World War II.
She recently became a vegan
Portman’s love for animals made her become a vegetarian at eight years; she became vegan in 2009.
She's a natural-born linguist
Portman’s gift of retaining information in different languages makes her fluent in Hebrew, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and English.
She owns no television
Portman doesn't own a T.V. even though she's an actress and loves cooking shows.