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Natalie Hershlag (-nominated and Golden Globe -winning Israeli - American Actress . As a young child, Portman spent her school holidays attending theatre camps where she developed her love of acting. After some experience in an Off-Broadway musical, she was cast in '' Léon '' (released in North America as ''The Professional'') at age twelve. During the mid-1990s, Portman had small roles in films such as '' Heat '', '' Everyone Says I Love You '' and '' Mars Attacks! '', as well as having a major role in '' Beautiful Girls ''. She placed a priority on education and pursued tertiary education even when it conflicted with her acting career. In the late 1990s, she was cast as Queen Amidala in the '' Star Wars '' prequel trilogy. Recent roles include '' Anywhere But Here '', '' Garden State '', '' Closer '', and '' V For Vendetta ''. For '' Closer '', she received a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award. BIOGRAPHY Early life Portman was born in Endocrinology ). Her mother, Shelley Stevens, is a Jewish American housewife who now works as her agent (she is an artist by hobby and not profession). Portman's father's family are descendants of Jew ish immigrants from Poland and Romania , while her mother's family were Jewish immigrants from Austria and Russia ; her paternal grandfather's parents died in Auschwitz and her Romanian-born great-grandmother was a spy for the British during World War II .1 Portman's parents met at a Jewish student center at Ohio State University , where Portman's mother was selling tickets. Portman's father returned to Israel, but the two corresponded and were married when Portman's mother visited Israel a few years later. When Portman was three years old, her family moved from Israel to her mother's native United States , where her father pursued his medical training. The family lived in Washington, D.C. in 1984 and then Connecticut in 1988, before finally settling down in Syosset, New York in 1990. Portman has said that although she "really love {Link without Title} the States", her "heart's in Jerusalem. That's where I feel at home." Portman is an only child and very close to her parents, who are often seen with her at her film premieres; her mother always accompanied pre-adult Portman to filming locations. Early career '' (1994).]] Portman started taking dancing lessons at the age of four, performed in local troupes, and dreamed of dancing on Broadway. At the age of twelve Portman was discovered in a Pizza parlor by an agent for Revlon , who offered her an opportunity to model. She asked to be introduced to Acting talent scouts, and took "Portman", her grandmother's maiden name, as her professional stage surname. Starting at age 13, Portman spent her school holidays attending upscale theatre camps Stagedoor Manor and Usdan Camp, where she forged her love for acting, playing roles in the camp productions such as the title character in '' Anne Of Green Gables '', Dream Laurey in '' Oklahoma! '' and Hermia in '' A Midsummer Night's Dream ''. In 1993 Portman was handed her first professional role as an understudy for the off-Broadway musical ''Ruthless!''. Her inaugural experience in professional theatre led her to audition for Luc Besson 's 1994 film '' Léon '' (aka ''The Professional''). She was initially turned down for the role due to her youth, but further auditioning won her the part. Soon after Portman was given the part, she took Portman as her stage name in the interest of privacy. In the film, Portman plays an orphaned girl who befriends a much older assassin. ''Léon'' opened on November 18, 1994 and marked her feature film debut at age thirteen. That same year appeared in the short film '' Developing '' which aired on television. 1995-1999 She was cast in the high-budget action film ''''. She returned to complete her junior year in high school, whilst studying she also performed '' The Diary Of Anne Frank ''. She did eight shows a week while attending classes full-time. The play was performed for a month at the Colonial Theater in Boston before making its Broadway debut at the Music Box Theater in early December. She would receive a Tony nomination for her role as Anne Frank. She was also offered a role in the film '' Anywhere But Here '', but after reading the script turned down the role as her character was involved in a sex scene. Director Wayne Wang and actress Susan Sarandon rushed to her support and demanded a rewrite of the script, allegedly saying they would not continue their involvement in the film unless the young actress’s wishes were respected. Portman was shown a new script and she happily joined the project. In early 1999, ''The Phantom Menace'' opened and became the highest grossing film of the year and the highest grossing film out of the ''Star Wars'' series. Its massive audience and mainstream appeal saw Portman become an instant star. Portman then signed on to play a persevering teenaged mother in '' Where The Heart Is ''. ''Anywhere But Here'' opened in late 1999; she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ann August. 2000-2005 After filming '''' was filmed in Sydney during this time, including additional production in London . ''.]] In 2002, ''Attack of the Clones'' opened around the world. Portman was cast in a small role in the film '' Cold Mountain '' alongside Jude Law and Nicole Kidman . In 2004, Portman had starring roles in the independent movies '' Garden State '' and '' Closer ''. ''Garden State'' was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival and won Best First Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards . Her role of Alice in ''Closer'' saw Portman win a Supporting Actress Golden Globe as well as a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. In 2005 she filmed '''' released worldwide on May 19. The film was the second highest grossing film of the year and was voted Favorite Motion Picture at the People's Choice Awards . Shortly before the film's opening, Portman shaved her head for her role in the film adaptation of Alan Moore 's graphic novel, '' V For Vendetta '' which was set to be released on November 5 , but was pushed back to March 17, 2006. Her shaved head was first seen publicly at the ''Revenge of the Sith'' premieres. She kept her hair short for most of 2005, had a Fauxhawk Mohawk , and briefly sported a full mohawk in late August, saying that it was "kind of wonderful to throw vanity away for a bit".2 During the latter part of 2005, Portman filmed '' Goya's Ghosts ''. 2006 - present '' (2006).]] Portman made her '' Saturday Night Live '' debut on March 4 , 2006 , as she hosted the show with band Fall Out Boy . In the episode, she portrayed herself as a Gangsta Rap per during a faux-interview with Chris Parnell , jokingly claiming that she cheated on exams at Harvard University while high on pot. Video of Portman's appearance on ''Saturday Night Live'' ''V for Vendetta'' opened in early 2006, Portman portrays Evey Hammond , a young woman who is saved from the secret police by the main character, V . Portman worked with a voice coach for the role, learning to speak in an English accent.3 Portman has commented on ''V for Vendetta'''s political relevance, and mentioned that her character, who joins an underground anti-government group, is "often bad and does things that you don't like" and that "Being from Israel was a reason I wanted to do this because terrorism and violence are such a daily part of my conversations since I was little", although the film "doesn't make clear good or bad statements. It respects the audience enough to take away their own opinion".4 Portman's upcoming films include '' Goya's Ghosts '' and ''Free Zone'' (an Israeli film currently scheduled for an April 2006 release in the United States ). She is set to appear in the children's film, ''Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium'', which will begin filming in April 2006; Portman has said she is "excited to do a kids movie". PERSONAL LIFE Controversy In August of 2000, tabloid photos surfaced of Portman sunbathing topless on a deserted Caribbean island near Saint Barts . "The creepy thing was there was someone there, someone following us," she said of the incident. "I was just so angry – it makes you feel dirty inside... OK, everyone's seen boobs, but I just don't like being objectified. I don't go wagging my boobs around in people's faces. I was on a deserted beach." She shrugs. "Today’s paper is used to pick up tomorrow's poop – right?" Portman who had recently read some of the works by W.E.B. DuBois , was interviewed for the August 2004 issue of '' Allure '' magazine where she was quoted as saying, "Oh my God! I'm not black, but I know what it feels like!" This prompted her to follow up with an apology letter to their editor, in which she wrote: "The “it” I was referring to when I said, 'I know what it feels like,' was not intended to signify that I know 'how black people feel,' but rather that I know what DuBois’s concept of double-consciousness feels like, in variation. Had my quote included what I actually said preceding that statement, perhaps my meaning would have been clearer."5 Portman also made headlines when she was moved away by Israeli Police on February 23 , 2005 from Jerusalem 's Western Wall after protests by religious Jews who were praying at the holy site. She and Israeli actor Aki Avni were filming a kissing scene near the Wailing Wall for the movie ''Free Zone''. This was deemed to be immodest and men who were praying heckled the couple until police stepped in and suggested they return later. The site is under the authority of Orthodox Judaism , and Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch , who is responsible for the site, said the actors' behaviour violated the code of conduct.6 It was reported that on July 8 , 2005 , Portman was pulled over by the NYPD while driving in a transit tunnel underneath New York City for looking unusual and having an expired registration. She had a shaven head from playing a freedom fighter in ''V for Vendetta'', and had just arrived back in the United States from Israel and film shooting in Berlin. The policeman told her not to drive in the tunnel, but to take the bridge instead. "I've never had that happen to me before," Portman said. "It's supposedly random... I didn't understand that logic. If you're a suspect, don't take the tunnel, take the bridge?".7 Education Portman has held a 4.0 GPA throughout her high school career. She has said that she was "used to A's" but admits to reading about institutional Grade Inflation in the Ivy League s in the '' New York Times ''. She reported on a talk show, "I'd rather be smart than be a movie star" and that her goal was to graduate from college even if it ruined her acting career. Despite her high profile and the affluence of her parents, at 13 she switched ("because I couldn't stand it anymore") to the public Syosset High School in Syosset, New York , graduating in June of 1999 . Portman reportedly had to miss the premiere of ''Star Wars: Episode I'' so she could study for her high school final exams.8 After high school, Portman enrolled at Harvard University where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Psychology on June 5 2003 . In 2005 Portman pursued graduate studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem , Israel . Portman is credited as a research assistant to Harvard Professor Alan Dershowitz 's '' Case For Israel ''. She was a research assistant to Dr. Stephen M. Kosslyn's psychology lab as well, and made a cameo appearance as a guest lecturer for the ''Terrorism and Counterterrorism'' course at Columbia University in early March of 2006, discussing themes from her upcoming movie V for Vendetta.9 In addition to her native Hebrew and English , Portman has studied and/or can speak (to some degree) French , Japanese , German , and a little Spanish . She is now learning to speak Arabic . Portman loves to read and is often found with a book. As a student, Portman co-authored two research papers which were published in professional scientific journals:
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