Natalie Portman
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Natalie Portman Timeline
1951
Avner, her father, was born on September 12, 1951.1951
Her father Avner was born on September 12, 1951 and her mother Shelley was born on June 9, 1952.1952
Shelley, her mother, was born on June 9, 1952, and was raised in Cinncinati, Ohio.1960
Participated in a live reading of the 1960 film The Apartment (1960) where she read the part of Fran Kubelik originally portrayed by Shirley MacLaine. The sold out reading directed by Jason Reitman was held on November 17, 2011 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Portman read alongside J.K. Simmons, Ken Jeong, Nick Kroll, and her No Strings Attached (2011) co-star Mindy Kaling.1989
Was a vegetarian from 1989 until 2009 when after reading the book Eating Animals she opted to become a vegan. However she resumed vegetarianism after falling pregnant with her son Aleph to give him the necessary supplements and also due to her insatiable craving for eggs and cheese. Following her son's birth she resumed veganism once again.1990
She entered a project into the Intel Science Talent Search in the late 1990's while at Syosset High School. Her project, titled "A Simple Method to Demonstrate the Enzymatic Production of Hydrogen from Sugar," took her to the semi-finals of the Intel contest. She graduated Valedictorian of Syosset High School in 1999 and went on to study Psychology and Neuroscience at Harvard University, graduating in 2003.1993
As of March 2007, she has appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman" 11 times.1993
As of November 2010, she has appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993) 15 times.1994
She has worked with two Draculas as well as two Frankenstein monsters. In The Professional , she worked with Gary Oldman, who played Dracula for Francis Ford Coppola. In Heat , she appeared with Robert De Niro, who played The Creature for Kenneth Branagh. In Star Wars, she works with Christopher Lee, who played both roles for Hammer studios.1994
She was discovered in a pizza parlor and was originally turned down for the role of Mathilda in The Professional because she was too young.1994
She went to Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Camp in 1994 and 1995 where she was Anne in "Anne of Green Gables" in 1994 and "Tapestry" in 1995.1994
Auditioned for Little Women .1994
She went to Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Camp in 1994 and 1995 where she was Anne in "Anne of Green Gables" in 1994 and "Tapestry" in 1995.1994
Auditioned for Little Women (1994).1994
She was discovered in a pizza parlor and was originally turned down for the role of Mathilda in Léon (1994) because she was too young.1994
She has worked with two Draculas as well as two Frankenstein monsters. In Léon (1994), she worked with Gary Oldman, who played Dracula for Francis Ford Coppola. In Heat (1995), she appeared with Robert De Niro, who played The Creature for Kenneth Branagh. In Star Wars, she works with Christopher Lee, who played both roles for Hammer studios.1995
She has worked with a several of her co-stars twice: Ashley Judd in Heat and Where the Heart Is ; Lukas Haas in Mars Attacks! and Everyone Says I Love You ; 'Julia Roberts' in Everyone Says I Love You and Closer ; Jude Law in Cold Mountain and Closer ; Philip Seymour Hoffman in the play The Seagull and Cold Mountain ; John Carroll Lynch in Beautiful Girls and Anywhere But Here . She has also worked for director Mike Nichols on two occasions: for the play The Seagull and Closer .1995
Both she and Sofia Coppola have played the daughter of a character played by Al Pacino, and also both appeared in a film featuring Pacino and Robert De Niro. Sofia Coppola was in all three Godfather films (though she had only an uncredited part in the 2nd), and Portman was in Heat . Portman and Coppola appeared together in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace .1995
She has worked with or appeared with several of her co-stars twice: Ashley Judd in Heat (1995) and Where the Heart Is (2000); Lukas Haas in Mars Attacks! (1996) and Everyone Says I Love You (1996); 'Julia Roberts' in Everyone Says I Love You (1996) and Closer (2004/I); Philip Seymour Hoffman in the play The Seagull and Cold Mountain (2003); John Carroll Lynch in Beautiful Girls (1996) and Anywhere But Here (1999);Stellan Skarsgård in Goya's Ghosts (2006) and Thor (2011); Olivia Thirlby in New York, I Love You (2009) and No Strings Attached (2011). She has also worked with director Mike Nichols on two occasions: for the play The Seagull and Closer (2004/I). She has also appeared alongside Jude Law three times in Cold Mountain (2003), Closer (2004/I), and My Blueberry Nights (2007) and with Hayden Christensen three times in the Star Wars prequels and New York, I Love You (2009).1995
Both she and Sofia Coppola have played the daughter of a character played by Al Pacino, and also both appeared in a film featuring Pacino and Robert De Niro. Sofia Coppola was in all three Godfather films (though she had only an uncredited part in the 2nd), and Portman was in Heat (1995). Portman and Coppola appeared together in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).1996
Footage of she and Leonardo DiCaprio as Juliet and Romeo in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet was actually shot before executives had her replaced with Claire Danes due to the age difference between Natalie and Leonardo.1996
Says her performances in Everyone Says I Love You is her worst. Her failure, she believes, is her inability to improvise.1996
She spoofed her role in Star Wars before becoming involved in the series. In Mars Attacks! , she gives a medal to Lukas Haas in a scene resembling the award ceremony at the end of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope . The medals were given out by Princess Leia, the daughter of Portman's future character, Queen Amidala. In addition, the recipients of those medals, Haas and Harrison Ford, appeared together in Witness .1996
She spoofed her role in Star Wars before becoming involved in the series. In Mars Attacks! (1996), she gives a medal to Lukas Haas in a scene resembling the award ceremony at the end of Star Wars (1977). The medals were given out by Princess Leia, the daughter of Portman's future character, Queen Amidala. In addition, the recipients of those medals, Haas and Harrison Ford, appeared together in Witness (1985).1996
Says her performances in Everyone Says I Love You (1996) is her worst. Her failure, she believes, is her inability to improvise.1996
Footage of her and Leonardo DiCaprio as Juliet and Romeo in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996) was actually shot before executives had her replaced with Claire Danes due to the age difference between Natalie and Leonardo.1997
Turned down the role of Wendy in The Ice Storm because she felt the material was "too dark." The role went to Christina Ricci, who has said she often gets the projects Natalie turns down.1997
Turned down the title role in Adrian Lyne's Lolita , due to her feelings about young adult actors/actresses being exposed to sex in films.1997
Turned down the title role in Adrian Lyne's Lolita (1997), due to her feelings about young adult actors/actresses being exposed to sex in films.1997
Turned down the role of Wendy in The Ice Storm (1997) because she felt the material was "too dark." The role went to Christina Ricci, who has said she often gets the projects Natalie turns down.1997
She often broke down and cried offstage while part of the Broadway adaptation of "The Diary of Anne Frank" in 1997, where she portrayed Anne Frank, because of her personal connections to the events. Her grandparents lost most of their family members in the Holocaust including her paternal great grandparents who were killed at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.1998
Turned down a role in The Horse Whisperer to act in "The Diary of Anne Frank" on Broadway.1998
Turned down a role in The Horse Whisperer (1998) to act in "The Diary of Anne Frank" on Broadway.1999
During the royal premiere of the Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace , she met 'Prince Charles'. The prince asked her whether she had also been in the original Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope , which had been released four years before her birth.1999
In 1999, magazines reported that Portman started a new trend - wearing logo T-shirts - when they snapped photos of her at her 18th birthday wearing a snug Nesquik shirt. (However, logo T-shirts had already been popular since at least the 1970s) She had borrowed the shirt from her best friend's eight-year-old brother; he was appalled.1999
Had to miss the premiere of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace so she could study for her high school final exams.1999
Bears a striking resemblance to Keira Knightley. Knightley played Sabé, the Queen's decoy, in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace . When in makeup, not even the mothers of the actresses could tell them apart.1999
Before she was cast in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace , she had never seen the original 3 Star Wars movies.1999
Graduated from Syosset High School, Syosset, New York. 1999
Stated in a TV interview that with the exception of the Star Wars prequels, she will not act for the next four years in order to concentrate on studying at Harvard University. 1999
Originally turned down the role of Ann August in the film Anywhere But Here because of the love scene between herself and Corbin Allred that required nudity. Susan Sarandon, who had co-star approval, said she couldn't continue the movie without Portman, so the script was re-written without the scene and she accepted the role.1999
Stated in a TV interview that with the exception of the Star Wars prequels, she will not act for the next four years in order to concentrate on studying at Harvard University. [1999]1999
Graduated from Syosset High School, Syosset, New York. [29 June 1999]1999
Originally turned down the role of Ann August in the film Anywhere But Here (1999) because of the love scene between herself and Corbin Allred that required nudity. Susan Sarandon, who had co-star approval, said she couldn't continue the movie without Portman, so the script was re-written without the scene and she accepted the role.1999
Before she was cast in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), she had never seen the original Star Wars trilogy. She admitted to James Lipton on "Inside the Actor's Studio" in 2004 that before being cast she didn't know the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek.1999
Had to miss the premiere of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) so she could study for her high school final exams.1999
Bears a striking resemblance to Keira Knightley. Knightley played Sabé, the Queen's decoy, in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). When in makeup, not even the mothers of the actresses could tell them apart.1999
In 1999, magazines reported that Portman started a new trend - wearing logo T-shirts - when they snapped photos of her at her 18th birthday wearing a snug Nesquik shirt. (However, logo T-shirts had already been popular since at least the 1970s) She had borrowed the shirt from her best friend's eight-year-old brother; he was appalled.1999
During the royal premiere of the Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), she met 'Prince Charles'. The prince asked her whether she had also been in the original Star Wars (1977), which had been released four years before her birth.2000
Is one of 9 actresses to have won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics' Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The others in chronological order are Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich (2000), Renée Zellweger for Cold Mountain (2003), Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line (2005), Helen Mirren for The Queen (2006), Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006), Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008), Mo'Nique for Precious (2009) and Octavia Spencer for The Help (2011).2000
Where the Heart Is (2000) contains her first on-screen love scene.2001
Dated Lukas Haas. 2002
Said that it was while working on The Seagull (V) that she became aware that acting is much more about the process than the product. Most helpful was when she would peek over Philip Seymour Hoffman's shoulder at the notebook he kept, in which he wrote questions and then answers about his character's feelings.2002
Voted Peta's Sexiest Female Vegetarian in 2002.2002
Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2002.2002
One of Teen People Magazine's 25 Hottest Stars under 25 2002
Voted the 15th Sexiest Female Movie Star in the Australian Empire Magazine September 2002.2002
One of Teen People Magazine's 25 Hottest Stars under 25 [2002]2002
Voted Peta's Sexiest Female Vegetarian in 2002.2002
Said that it was while working on The Seagull (2002) (V) that she became aware that acting is much more about the process than the product. Most helpful was when she would peek over Philip Seymour Hoffman's shoulder at the notebook he kept, in which he wrote questions and then answers about his character's feelings.2003
For her 2003 New Year's party, she wore a Zac Posen dress that had more than $10,000 worth of crystals sewn onto it. She also attended Moby's much-hyped secret Naked NYE party.2003
As the first day of Cold Mountain filming fell on Halloween, Portman came to set dressed as Dorothy Gale only to realize she was the only one who'd dressed up.2003
Received her Harvard degree in June of 2003.2003
Has a passion for travel. In late 2003 and early 2004 she travelled alone to Morocco and Guatemala.2003
Graduated from Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2003 with a Artium Baccalaureus degree in Psychology.2003
For her 2003 New Year's party, she wore a Zac Posen dress that had more than $10,000 worth of crystals sewn onto it. She also attended Moby's much-hyped secret Naked NYE party.2003
As the first day of Cold Mountain (2003) filming fell on Halloween, Portman came to set dressed as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz", only to realize she was the only one who'd dressed up.2004
Replaced Eva Green in Closer .2004
While in northern Iraq in 2004, the 1st Battalion 5th Infantry hung a giant poster of her in their command hanger after discovering that most of the men in the unit were big fans.2004
She and director Tom Tykwer became good friends after working together on True .2004
She hesitantly shot an explicit nude scene for Closer , in the scene where Alice (Portman) strips for Larry (Clive Owen). Ultimately, Portman and director Mike Nichols agreed not to use it, as the scene was effective enough without it.2004
She and director Tom Tykwer became good friends after working together on True (2004).2004
She hesitantly shot an explicit nude scene for Closer (2004/I), in the scene where Alice (Portman) strips for Larry (Clive Owen). Ultimately, Portman and director Mike Nichols agreed not to use it, as the scene was effective enough without it.2004
Replaced Eva Green in Closer (2004/I).2004
In the spring of 2004 she completed one semester of graduate courses at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Jerusalem, Israel.2005
Learned to speak with a British accent for V for Vendetta .2005
Named #42 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2005 list.2005
Named #49 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. 2005
In 2005, she spent a few months in Madrid partying with Javier Bardem and friends. She was mostly unrecognizable to fans because of her Mohawk.2005
Was considered for a role in Elizabethtown .2005
Shaved her head for V for Vendetta .2005
Was considered for a role in Elizabethtown (2005).2005
Shaved her head for V for Vendetta (2005).2005
Worked with a vocal coach to learn how to speak with an English accent for V for Vendetta (2005).2005
Named #49 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)2005
In 2006, she appeared as a guest lecturer at Columbia University in a political science course titled "Terrorism & Counterterrorism." She led the class in a discussion about politically infused violence referencing her most recent film at the time, V for Vendetta (2005). Her appearance was part of an MTV short-series, "Stand Ins," where college professors were replaced with a celebrity instructor for one day.2006
Named #61 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. .2006
Was listed as a potential nominee for the 2008 Razzies for Worst Actress, for her performances in Goya's Ghosts and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium . She didn't make the final ballot.2006
Named #61 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).2006
Was listed as a potential nominee for the 2008 Razzies for Worst Actress, for her performances in Goya's Ghosts (2006) and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007). She didn't make the final ballot.2007
Sold her 2,088-square-foot house in Sea Cliff, New York for $1.750 million. She had purchased it in 2002 for $1.375 million. 2007
Named #2 on Empire Magazine's 100 Sexiest Movie Stars. .2007
She currently lives in Long Island, New York, and also shares a home in London, England. She has lived in Long Island, New York since she was a child. 2007
Was considered for the role of Jane Austen in Becoming Jane , but the role went to Anne Hathaway.2007
Learned how to play the piano and conduct for Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium .2007
Learned how to play the piano and conduct for Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007).2007
Was considered for the role of Jane Austen in Becoming Jane (2007), but the role went to Anne Hathaway.2007
She currently lives in Long Island, New York, and also shares a home in London, England. She has lived in Long Island, New York since she was a child. [2007]2007
Named #2 on Empire Magazine's 100 Sexiest Movie Stars (2007) and was ranked #2 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actress list (2008).2007
Sold her 2,088-square-foot house in Sea Cliff, New York for $1.750 million. She had purchased it in 2002 for $1.375 million. [2007]2008
Was in a relationship with Devendra Banhart (March-September 2008).2008
Sold her two-bedroom loft in Manhattan's West Village for $6.55 million. She purchased the property in 2005 for $5.7 million. 2008
Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008.2008
Decided to move to California to be closer to her boyfriend Devendra Banhart. 2008
Was ranked #2 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actress list..2008
Sold her two-bedroom loft in Manhattan's West Village for $6.55 million. She purchased the property in 2005 for $5.7 million. [2008]2008
In New York, she led a viewing of A Powerful Noise (2008) a documentary about women fighting adversity. Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar held another viewing in Los Angeles [6 March 2009].2008
One month before filming began for The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Portman began taking daily classes to master the English accent under dialect coach Jill McCullough.2009
She paid $3.250 million to purchase a four-bedroom, 4,866-sq.-ft. home in Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills area. Previous owners were Dermot Mulroney and Catherine Keener. 2009
Was originally a vegetarian, but later became a vegan in 2009.2009
She paid $3.250 million to purchase a four-bedroom, 4,866-sq.-ft. home in Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills area. Previous owners were Dermot Mulroney and Catherine Keener. [2009]2010
Is in a relationship with choreographer Benjamin Millipied, having met him on the set of Black Swan (November 2009).2010
Was in consideration for the role of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in Iron Man 2 after Emily Blunt dropped out of the project, but Scarlett Johansson was cast instead.2010
Worked only briefly with Jason Sarayba in the early development stages of Rebel .2010
Was in consideration for the role of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in Iron Man 2 (2010) after Emily Blunt dropped out of the project, but Scarlett Johansson was cast instead.2010
Engaged to Black Swan (2010) choreographer Benjamin Millepied, with whom she is expecting their first child [December 28, 2010].2010
She has said one of the most difficult challenges of filming Black Swan (2010) was her speaking voice. She stated throughout her career, so far, director Mike Nichols has given her consistent criticism on how childish her voice normally sounds and encouraged her to work with vocal coaches to make it sound deeper and more adult. The role of Nina required her to regress backwards to make her voice more child-like. She felt it was taking her back to a point she worked hard to leave behind.2010
Was briefly referenced in The Social Network (2010). Portman was approached by writer Aaron Sorkin when writing the screenplay to the film to get insider information on Harvard University at that time because she was a fellow student of Facebook co-founders Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin, and also Divya Narendra and Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.2010
Paid for all of her own ballet training to prepare for the role of Nina in Black Swan (2010).2010
Was the one who led her Brothers (2009/I) co-star Bailee Madison to Guillermo del Toro for a role in Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2010). Portman spoke about her young co-star with Alfonso Cuarón, who is a good friend of Guillermo del Toro, and then recommended Madison for a role. She ultimately was cast as a lead character, Sally Hirst. In July 2011, Guillermo del Toro spoke in an interview about how Bailee Madison was "a miracle" and that they had Portman to thank for it.2010
On October 18, 2011 she added a fan-voted Spike TV Scream Award for Best Actress in the film Black Swan (2010) to the collection of other awards she received for the same film and category.2011
Was in attendance at the wedding of her Your Highness (2011) co-star Zooey Deschanel to Benjamin Gibbard (13 September 2009).2011
Was originally cast as Catherine Earnshaw in Wuthering Heights (2011), but was replaced by Gemma Arterton, who was later replaced by Kaya Scodelario, after dropping out of the project.2011
In January 2011, she became the new face of Dior in the Miss Dior Cherie ad campaign. On February 27, 2011, a video of top Dior designer, John Galliano, going on an anti-Semitic rant in Paris surfaced online. Portman released a statement condemning Galliano's actions, specifying she was "shocked and disgusted," and as a proud Jewish woman refused to associate herself with him from that point on. Since the Miss Dior Cherie ad campaign was set to officially launch two days after the video surfaced, Dior was forced to take legal action to work out a settlement in order to keep Portman as a spokesperson. Galliano was fired on March 1, 2011 and the ad campaign launched as originally planned.2011
Was ranked #8 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 of 2011 list.2011
Was one of the first actresses offered the role of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) along with Carey Mulligan and Ellen Page, but Portman declined due to exhaustion. The role ultimately went to Rooney Mara.2011
In September 2011 she traveled to Paris, France with fiancé Benjamin Millepied and their son Aleph to celebrate Millepied's retrieval of an award from the French Minister of Culture. Millepied was awarded the "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres".2011
Owns and operates her own film production company, Handsomecharlie Films, with Annette Savitch. As of 2011, every film produced by the company (except for the short film "Eve", which Portman wrote and directed) has featured Natalie in a lead or supporting role. As well as acting in the films produced by Handsomecharlie Films, she is also credited as an executive producer.2011
Served on the jury at the 2011 Gotham Independent Film Awards alongside Nicole Kidman and Jodie Foster.2011
Gave birth to her first child at age 30, a son Aleph Portman-Millepied on June 14, 2011. Child's father is her boyfriend, Benjamin Millepied.2012
Voted #21 on Ask men's top 99 'most desirable' women of 2012.2013
Returned to work 10 months after giving birth to her son Aleph in order to begin filming Untitled Terrence Malick Project (2013).
