Top 10 Greatest Natalie Portman Performances

Natalie Portman has been acting in films from a very young age (we’ll get to some of her earlier roles later) but undeniably her breakthrough role was playing the woman who would become Luke and Leia’s mom, Padmé, in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace”. Fans are deeply split on whether the prequel trilogy has much merit, but you can’t deny that this role propelled Portman into international stardom, and paved the way for the rest of her career. Let’s just agree to forget some of those lines from “Attack of the Clones” okay?

In the early portion of her career, Natalie Portman became known for her work in dramatic films, so it was a breath of fresh air to see her do a romantic comedy in 2011. “No Strings Attached” may not have wowed the critics and may always be compared the similar film released the same year, “Friends with Benefits” but we still loved seeing just how hilarious Portman can be when given the right material. With this role, as a hard-working doc who struggles to maintain her emotional distance from buddy-with-benefits Adam Franklin (played by Ashton Kutcher), she showed us just how multi-talented and well-rounded she is!

Taking on the task of portraying a well known (and much maligned) historical figure is definitely a challenge, but it’s one that Portman excelled at. In “The Other Boleyn Girl”, which is adapted from the novel of the same name, she takes the character of Anne Boleyn and manages to make her relatable and even sympathetic, keeping us on the edge of our seats despite the fact that even the non-history buffs among us knew how this one was going to end. She also managed to totally own her English accent in this role!

Portman tackled another book-to movie-adaptation in 2018 when she starred in this cerebral sci-fi horror flick. She plays Lena, a former soldier and biology professor who was tasked, alongside her fellow soldier husband, with exploring the menacing “Shimmer”, a mysterious area containing unknown dangers. After things don’t end well, she must return to the Shimmer with a team of other scientists. Rolling Stone reporter Peter Travers gave the film a positive review, citing the acting as one of the high points. There are tons of science fiction movies being made this days, but this one stands out.

“Garden State” may have retroactively become criticized by the masses. In fact, the first time the term “manic pixie dream girl” was used, it was by Nathan Rabin of the A.V. Club, and he used it to describe Natalie Portman’s character in this film, among others. But upon its release it was actually well received by critics, with one reporter saying, “Mr. Braff, Ms. Portman, Mr. Sarsgaard and Mr. Holm never strike a false note as a remarkably coherent acting ensemble.” Regardless of how the role is perceived now, it was still an essential one in building Portman’s varied career.

This film feels like a cross between a psychological thriller and a provocative drama, and Natalie Portman, playing a stripper, manages to surf both genres perfectly. “Closer” features an ensemble cast which also includes Jude Law, Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, but Portman was still able to shine alongside these heavyweights. She was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role; and while she didn’t take home the statues, it cemented her status as an awards season regular.

Natalie Portman’s first role in a feature film was actually one of her best. Though she had been in the performing arts since she was just four years old, she made her big screen debut playing 12-year-old Mathilda Lando in this violent thriller. She was praised by critics for her performance as one of the leading cast members, and this is the film that launched her career. When thinking back on the beginning of her career, Portman said she was, "different from the other kids. I was more ambitious. I knew what I liked and what I wanted, and I worked very hard. I was a very serious kid." Clearly it shows in this film!

The director of this film, James McTeigue, had previously worked with Portman on the set of “Attack of the Clones” and this helped secure her place in the top billed role. “V For Vendetta” may not have received the critical accolades that some of the other films on this list did, but it’s undeniably one of Portman’s most iconic parts to date, especially considering the fan following that the movie has. In this dystopian tale, she plays a woman who becomes entangled in an rebellious mission against an oppressive government, and leads a complicated relationship with the rebel leader.

Natalie Portman took on another role in a historical drama when she starred in “Jackie”, portraying Jackie Kennedy in the days after her husband’s assassination. The role is a challenging one, as Portman has to carry almost the entire film with the focus so strongly on her. This biopic may have only brought in $25 million at the box office when it was released, but Portman’s performance as this well known historical figure was heavily praised. Portman took home the Screen Actors’ Guild Award for her performance, and was honored with Golden Globe, Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for Best Actress.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Grace Cahill
“Brothers” (2009)

Lauren Gustafson