Occupation: Actress
Real Name: Portman is her grandmother's maiden name
Date of Birth: June 9, 1981
Place of Birth: Jerusalem, Israel
Sign: Gemini
Relations: Rumored companion: Hayden Christensen or Lukas Haas

Facts about Natalie Portman:

Turned down a role in The Horse Whisperer (1998) to act in "The Diary of Anne Frank" on Broadway.

(May/June 1999) Graduated from Syosset High School, Syosset, NY.

Has been a strict vegetarian since the age of 8.

Has taken dance lessons since the age of 4.

Says that math is her favorite subject in school because, "There's always an answer."

(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.

Can speak fluent Hebrew, French, and Japanese.

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 which 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 sent to Natalie, and she accepted.

Portman is her grandmother's maiden name. She avoids revealing her real name so she can have more privacy.

Her mother is an artist, and her father a doctor. She is an only child.

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.

Was the first choice to play Juliet in Romeo + Juliet (1996) movie but turned it down because of the scenes, and the age difference, between her and Leonardo DiCaprio.

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.

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.

Before she was cast in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), she had never seen the original 3 Star Wars movies.

Moved to the US when she was 3 years old.

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.

Said would never be in a horror movie or any other "Jennifer Love Hewitt type" film

Has said in interviews that when she gets older, she would like to be a doctor like her father.

Was reportedly caught using a fake ID trying to sneak into the Roxy. The performer Moby insisted that she was invited by him, and refused to perform unless she was admitted. She was admitted and security watched her as she stood in the back, watched the show, and didn't drink.

Stated in an online interview that the story about sneaking into the Roxy to see Moby is not true, and that she and her friends went home after they were denied entrance.

(2000) Studying psychology at Harvard (where she has three room-mates), and says that she may plan to make that her career.

Takes pride in the fact that she is a role model for girls and choses roles that are positive so that they will have a positive role model to look up to.

Became interested in acting after spending three summers at the prestigious (and expensive) Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Camp.

Is very close to her parents and says, "The best part about being friends with your parents is that no matter what you do, they always love you."

Grew up in Syosset, Long Island, New York, where her parents still reside.

Personal quotes:

(On Lolita) "I don't think there needs to be a movie out where a child has sex with an adult." Source: Entertainment Tonight

"Young actors often don't think of the consequences of doing nudity or sex scenes. They want the role so badly that they agree to be exploited, and then end up embarassing family, friends, and even strangers." - Calgary Sun 11/7/99

(On Acting) "I started to do this at age 11. At age 20, I might say, this is enough"

(On violence in the media) "We live in a violent world, but since the success of films like Pulp Fiction (1994), it seems every movie has some violence in it, and it's now being used as a form of comedy-audiences are now being encouraged to laugh when people get their heads blown off. I just don't like hearing people laugh at violence."

"I also feel I'm a positive role model by not putting my education on hold."

"She's really a smart girl who has had a very rarified upbringing, who has been raised with alot of confidence and self-esteem, so she seems older than she is in many ways. I felt at all times that I was working with and equal. She has a natural grace that doesn't make her seem as if she's of her generation." (Susan Sarandon on Portman)

"I want to use college to explore what other careers I might be interested in."

(On acting) "I'm taking it day by day. Right now I like acting, but if something else sparks my interest in college, I'll do that. It's so limiting to say, this is it for the rest of my life. There are so many things that interest me-I love math, science, literature, languages." - Vanity Fair may 1999

"I'm going to college. I don't care if it ruined my career. I'd rather be smart than a movie star."

"I don't know if acting is what I want to do for the rest of my life, it's just what I've, you Know, ended up doing when I was little, and I've kinda grown up with it."

"When I'm working they pretty much treat me like an adult, but then when there's a break everyone else goes to their trailers and drinks beer and I like, go to school."

"I think school is so much harder than real life. People are so much more accepting when they are adults."

"Danny [Aiello] told me: Don't do television".

"Cute is when a person's personality shines through their looks. Like in the way they walk, every time you see them you just want to run up and hug them."

Michael Mann on Natalie Portman: "When I met her, you could tell she was kind of a prodigy".

"I've never tried smoking. I don't drink. I've never tried drugs." (Australian Dolly August 2000)

When asked by Seventeen magazine what advice she had for teenagers going off to college she said, "I would say practicing laundry it's so hard." (November 1999)

"There is a lot lacking on the intellectual side and on the values side when being an actor." (Seventeen, November 1999)

Told the November 1999 issue of Mademoiselle magazine that she wished she knew David Letterman because, "He seems to be so smart, but you never get to hang out with him after the show."

When asked by German Cosmopolitan (3/00) if she would like having herself as a daughter she replied, "Well of course. I am a good person, nice, smart, witty, trustworthy, know nice people, don't do drugs and earn a lot of money." On what she likes about her parents: "They have made it quite clear that they believe I can be great. Had my parents expected less of me, I would not be the person I am now. And I am very happy with myself." (German Cosmopolitan March 2000)

"I don't think I'd be able to deal with just acting, because I don't know if you get to use your brain that much. You do, for certain roles, but not most. Acting is more of a hobby for me." (W Magazine November 1997)

When asked about her prom dress: "A designer is going to give me something to wear. It's the most amazing perk I have." (Source: USA Today May 28,1999)

"I didn't have this undying need to be an actress. I didn't have that fire in me ever -- at any point. And still, I don't think I have that within me, " she says. Source: CNN Online 11/10/99