A Dark Side of Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman - Black Swan

When she debuted at the age of 13 in the 1994 hit The Professional, Natalie Portman (born Natalie Hershlag) captivated audiences with her portrayal of the lone surviving member of a highly dysfunctional family who is taken in by the hit-man who lives across the hall. In the film, her precocious character wins the heart of the hit-man (played by actor Jean Reno), and in real life, the hearts of America.

America has watched her grow up on screen in a variety of roles in movies such as V for Vendetta (2006), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), and the role which launched her to world wide acclaim as the Queen and Senator Padmé Amidala in George Lucas’ Star Wars Episodes I, II, and III. Just to name a few of the 35 film/shows which span the 29 year old actress’ career since 1994.

In one of her most recent releases, Black Swan, Portman takes on the role of a ballet dancer who dances the lines between art and madness in what has been described as a dark psychosexual thriller. There is already Oscar buzz surrounding her work on this film.

In an interview with David Letterman, Portman said that she had trained in ballet for a full year prior to shooting the film. Although she had studied dance for several years as a child, Portman, who actually dances in the film, wanted to bring her performance up to professional standards to create a believable character. In perhaps her darkest character to date, audiences will get to see a whole new side of the Israel born actor.