By Sondra Barr
From the streets of Jerusalem to the glittering stages of Hollywood, Natalie Portman’s journey is anything but conventional. At 11, she was plucked from obscurity while eating pizza, her wide-eyed innocence masking the fierce intelligence that would soon captivate audiences worldwide. By 13, she was walking her first red carpet, a rite of passage that would mark the beginning of an extraordinary career.
Now, after decades of fame, an Oscar win, and a very public divorce, Portman stands at a crossroads—embracing a new chapter with the same quiet determination that has defined her from the start. But behind the glamour and accolades lies a woman who has consistently chosen depth over superficiality, substance over spectacle. This is Natalie Portman, unfiltered and unafraid, as she navigates life beyond the silver screen, where the real story begins.
A Star is Born
Born Natalie Hershlag in Jerusalem on June 9, 1981, Portman’s early years were shaped by a deep connection to her heritage and a keen sense of curiosity. Her parents relocated to the United States when she was 3, and Portman soon found herself adapting to life in various cities before the family settled in Long Island, New York. The constant movement fostered a sense of dislocation, a theme Portman would later explore in her work. “I’ve always felt disconnected from the places my family has lived because every generation has been in a different place,” she shared in a recent interview with The Guardian.
At just 11 years old, Portman’s life took a dramatic turn when she was discovered by a Revlon agent at a local pizza parlor. Portman found modeling mundane and instead gravitated toward acting, where she appeared in a number of local productions with the Usdan Theatre Arts Camp. Portman’s movie debut was in Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional (1994), where she played Mathilda, the clever assassin protégé. The role showcased her innate talent and set her on a path to stardom. Reflecting on her early career, Portman told Vanity Fair, “I was lucky. My parents protected me, and I was lucky not to have any traumatic experiences. I feel a lot of gratitude, and I know how much is chance.”
“I have remarkable parents. I’ve never seen disappointing behavior from them…Neighter of my parents were ever involved financially at all in my career –at all. They were just very much parents – protective parents who didn’t want me exploited,” the actress told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016.
The Ascent to Fame
Portman’s transition from child star to serious actress was marked by a series of roles that highlighted her versatility. In the late 1990s, she appeared in a string of films that showcased her range, including Heat (1995), Beautiful Girls (1996), and Mars Attacks! (1996). However, it was her portrayal of Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy that catapulted her to international fame. The films, while polarizing, cemented Portman’s status as a household name and introduced her to a global audience.
Despite the demands of her burgeoning career, Portman remained committed to her education. In 2003, she graduated from Harvard University with a degree in psychology—an indication of her intellectual curiosity and determination to live a life beyond Hollywood’s confines. Writer and director Greta Gerwig, her co-star in Jackie (2016), said to Vanity Fair, “She reads everything—there is no end to her curiosity. It’s never homework; it’s pleasure.”
An Oscar-Winning Performance
Portman’s dedication to her craft reached new heights with her performance in Black Swan (2010). Portraying a ballerina descending into madness, Portman underwent a rigorous physical transformation, losing 20 pounds and enduring intense ballet training. The role earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, cementing her place among Hollywood’s elite. “It was a beautiful experience, but also incredibly challenging,” Portman reflected. “I met my husband on it, so I think I was in, like, dreamland.”
Her now former husband, French dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied, played a role in Black Swan’s success. The couple married in 2012, and their union was often described as a fairy tale—one that later led them to Paris, where Millepied served as the director of dance at the Paris Opera. Two children, Aleph and Amalia, followed.
Life Behind the Camera
Portman has never been content to stay in front of the camera. In 2016, she made her directorial debut with A Tale of Love and Darkness, an adaptation of Amos Oz’s memoir. The film was a deeply personal project for Portman, who also wrote the screenplay and starred in the lead role. It was a bold move that highlighted her multifaceted talent and deep connection to her Israeli roots.
Portman’s career has been marked by a series of carefully chosen roles that reflect her intellectual and artistic ambitions. Whether playing a pop star in Vox Lux (2018) or the iconic Jacqueline Kennedy in Jackie (2016), Portman has consistently pushed the boundaries of her craft. “My work demands me to be believable, so the less people know about me personally, the better,” she once told The Guardian. It’s a philosophy that has allowed her to maintain a level of privacy rare among celebrities of her stature.
A New Chapter
In recent years, Portman’s life has been marked by significant change. In 2023, after 11 years of marriage, she quietly filed for divorce from Millepied, a decision finalized in early 2024. The news was met with surprise by many, but those close to her recognized it as part of her ongoing journey of self-discovery and growth.
Portman has never shied away from speaking her mind, especially on issues close to her heart. Her decision to decline the 2018 Genesis Prize, citing her discomfort with being onstage alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, made headlines and underscored her complex relationship with her country of birth. “I was choosing not to attend an event where I was supposed to be onstage with Prime Minister Netanyahu, sitting next to him, which felt like an endorsement,” she explained to Vanity Fair. This same commitment to her principles is evident in her work with Angel City Football Club, a women’s soccer team she co-founded.
Portman has expressed her long-term commitment to the project. “I know that you can’t just build it and then move on to another project,” she says. “This is going to be the rest of my life, putting attention and time and love into this.”
Since its founding in 2020 by Portman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman, and video game entrepreneur Julie Uhrman, Angel City FC has been a trailblazer in women’s sports. The club’s ownership group, composed predominantly of women, includes minority owners who are pioneers in their fields, such as Billie Jean King, Candace Parker, and 13 former players from the U.S. women’s national soccer team, including Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm. Angel City FC made its NWSL debut in the 2022 season and boasts a star-studded roster featuring players like Christen Press, Sydney Leroux, and sisters Alyssa and Gisele Thompson. Last year, the club led the league in attendance, revenue, and season ticket membership, solidifying its place as a powerhouse in women’s sports.
In a groundbreaking achievement for women’s sports, Angel City FC recently finalized a new ownership agreement, making it the highest-valued women’s professional sports team in the world.
Living Well After Divorce
Portman’s recent appearance on The Tonight Show highlighted her resilience and sense of humor in the face of personal challenges. When asked about her experience meeting Rihanna at Paris Fashion Week, Portman quipped, “I think every woman going through divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she’s a bad b—h. It was a formative moment in my life.” The comment, delivered with a smile, was a reminder that Portman remains as grounded and relatable as ever, even after years in the spotlight.
As she moves forward, Portman is focused on living well—both for herself and her children. She has embraced a vegan lifestyle for over a decade, a decision she credits with helping her maintain her health and energy. “It’s such a privilege to age,” she told Elle in February 2024. “You have to appreciate it at every moment.”
Portman’s commitment to self-care extends beyond diet. She prioritizes regular massages and maintains a simple skincare routine. “I’m not very high maintenance,” she admitted. “I only really use face wash and moisturizer.”
Forward Looking
As she enters this new phase of her life, Portman remains as passionate about her work as ever. She recently starred in May December and received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. Additionally, in July, Portman’s production company released the highly anticipated adaptation of Laura Lippman’s Lady in the Lake on Apple TV+, a project where she not only stars but also plays a significant role behind the scenes. Set in 1960s Baltimore, the show follows Portman’s character, Maddie Schwartz, a Jewish housewife who boldly leaves her family to become an investigative journalist. Maddie soon finds herself reporting on the mysterious death of Cleo Sherwood, a Black activist played by Lupita Nyong’o, whose body is discovered in a city park. The series delves deep into the social and racial complexities of the time, with Portman’s portrayal of Maddie capturing the transformation of a woman determined to seek out the truth in a world that often silences voices like hers.
Working on Lady in the Lake also prompted Portman to reflect on the strides women have made over the past half-century. Maddie’s journey to break into the male-dominated world of journalism—and even her struggle to buy a car without her husband’s signature—highlighted the systemic barriers women faced. “How powerful it is that we’ve made such strides in the 50 years or so since then,” Portman noted. “What could be possible, if that much change is possible again, in the next 50 years—it gives hope.”
Portman also observed changes within her own industry. “When I was starting out, actresses’ careers were over when they were 40. Now, our greatest actresses who are doing the most interesting work, I feel, are in their 60s, 70s, 80s. We’re really seeing interest in a woman’s whole life and whole self. I’m so grateful to the actresses who are paving the way for that, and are refusing to disappear,” she told The Guardian.
In a world where fame often comes at the cost of authenticity, Portman stands out as an example of someone who has managed to navigate the treacherous waters of Hollywood without losing sight of who she is. She’s proven that real success is about living authentically and finding balance along the way.
