Top 5 Things You Didn't Know About Natalie Portman
She's been in the film industry for most of her life. In this countdown we take a look at some things you may not know about Natalie Portman! Did you know what Natalie Portman isn't actually her real name? Born Neta-Lee Hershlag in the city of Jerusalem, when she landed her role as an orphan taken under the wing of a hit man in “Léon: The Professional,” the actress decided to use her paternal grandmother's maiden name as her stage name. Did you know she's kind of a linguistic expert? She knows French, Japanese, German and Arabic!
#5: Natalie Portman is Not Her Real Name
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Natalie Portman’s acclaimed body of work has made her a household name. However, this was not the name she was given at birth. Born Neta-Lee Hershlag in the city of Jerusalem, when she landed her role as an orphan taken under the wing of a hit man in “Léon: The Professional,” the actress decided use her paternal grandmother’s maiden name as her stage name. This was her effort to protect her family’s privacy. The switch was probably for the best, as Portman rolls off the tongue a little easier than Hershlag.
#4: She's Kind of a Linguistic Expert
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Picking up a second language is one of the most difficult things to accomplish… but Natalie Portman more than defied those odds by learning several. Thanks in part to being born to American-Israeli parents, Portman became fluent in both English and Hebrew from a young age. But Portman didn’t just stop at two dialects. The Oscar winner also learned French, Japanese, German and Arabic throughout her life, astounding interviewers ever since. If that isn’t enough to blow you away, Portman also appeared in a Paul McCartney music video using sign language!
#3: She Went Through Hell on the Set of "Black Swan"
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While filming this thriller, Portman dealt with her fair share of adversity. From dislocating her rib to grueling 16-hour training sessions, the indomitable actress barely made it out in one piece. The film’s budget didn’t allow for Portman to have both a trailer and medic, and thankfully she chose the latter. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said, “there were some nights that I thought I literally was going to die.” If that wasn’t bad enough, she claimed director Darren Aronofsky tried to create a rift between her and co-star Mila Kunis in the hopes that the tension would show up on screen. The role would eventually earn Portman her first Oscar… proving that hard work and determination really do pay off!
#2: She is a Social and Political Activist
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Portman’s humanitarian and political work is often reflected in the roles she chooses to tackle – be it an underground revolutionist in “V for Vendetta” or playing former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The actress has been socially active since childhood, joining an environmental song and dance group called the World Patrol Kids. From 2004 to 2005, she served as an Ambassador of Hope for FINCA International, which helps women in poverty by giving them access to business loans. In addition to campaigning openly for the Democratic Party, Portman is unafraid to voice her opinion on matters close to her heart, like when she called out the male-dominant Best Director category at the 2018 Golden Globes ceremony.
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#1: She is a Harvard Graduate
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Fresh off the success of the first “Star Wars” prequel, it would have been easy for this young actress to sit back, count her money, and wait for the next billion dollar franchise to come-a-knocking. Instead, Portman decided to register at Harvard University. Clearly she sees the importance of a good education, once proclaiming “I don’t care if [college] ruins my career. I’d rather be smart than a movie star.” Portman graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, all the while managing to reprise her role as Padmé Amidala. In 2015, the actress returned to her Alma Mater to give a speech to the graduating class on Harvard Class Day.
Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite thing about Natalie Portman? For more entertaining Top 10s and awesome Top 5s, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.
