Natalie Hershlag, known professionally as Natalie Portman, is an Israeli-born American actress known for her prolific screen career from her teenage years. Portman began her acting career at the age of twelve when she starred in the action film Léon: The Professional. She gained international recognition after starring as Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. From 1999 to 2003, Portman attended Harvard University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She continued to act, with notable films including V for Vendetta, The Other Boleyn Girl, and Black Swan, which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also starred in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero films. In addition to her acting career, Portman directed the short film Eve and the biographical drama A Tale of Love and Darkness, and co-founded the production company MountainA in 2021. Apart from her professional career, she is also an advocate for animal rights and environmental causes.

Portman was born on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem, Israel, to Jewish parents. She spent her early life in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, and Long Island, attending the Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County in her youth. She pursued ballet and modern dance. At the age of ten, Portman was discovered by a Revlon agent and subsequently dove into the acting industry. She made her significant debut in Léon: The Professional in 1994. Despite the controversy surrounding the sexual nature of her character, Portman continued her acting career, aiming to pick roles that did not objectify her as a young actress. Throughout her career, Portman has navigated her way through blockbusters and independent films alike, often choosing complex, strong female roles.