Portrait · Harald Krichel / WikiPortraits / CC BY-SA 4.0

Natalie Portman

Actor, producer and director

Born 1981

Natalie Portman is an actor, producer and director born in Jerusalem and raised on Long Island. A cosmetics scout approached her in a pizza parlour, but she wanted to act; her early screen work included Léon, Heat and Beautiful Girls. She played Anne Frank on Broadway and Nina in Mike Nichols’ Central Park staging of The Seagull. Portman studied psychology at Harvard while continuing her film career, graduating in 2003 and later returning to give the Class Day address. At her Harvard return, she described overcoming self-doubt and choosing work by her own interests. The Star Wars prequels made her Padmé Amidala, while Garden State, Closer and V for Vendetta developed a varied adult career. Black Swan brought the leading-actress Oscar, and Jackie earned another nomination. Her independent-film work includes Annihilation, Vox Lux, Lucy in the Sky and May December; Thor: Love and Thunder returned her to Jane Foster as the Mighty Thor. She wrote and directed A Tale of Love and Darkness and played Fania in its Hebrew-language adaptation. Producing extends from Hesher and Eating Animals to MountainA, her company with Sophie Mas. She combined acting and executive producing on Lady in the Lake and acted and produced May December and The Gallerist. Recent projects also include Fountain of Youth and voice work in The Twits and Arco. Netflix confirms her acting and producing role in Lena Dunham’s forthcoming Good Sex. Her writing also includes the illustrated children’s book Natalie Portman’s Fables.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionSophie MasMountainA producing partner, including May December, Lady in the Lake and Good Sex.

ConnectionLena DunhamGood Sex writer/director and author of Famesick, praised in Portman’s reading interview.

ConnectionCathy YanThe Gallerist director and co-writer.

Natalie Portman at the Black Swan Toronto premiere, September 13,2010. — Profile image · Josh Jensen / CC BY-SA 2.0

NewNews5 Sept 2026

A publicly acknowledged partnership

ELLE’s September chronology identifies music producer Tanguy Destable as Portman’s partner and refers to her April original interview. The dated account supports the public relationship record without inferring private details.

Latest Index

2026

NewsChecked against a primary source or trusted newsroom.

ScopeOnly attributable updates about Natalie Portman's work and public record.

Project
The Gallerist schedules a US theatrical release
TheWrap reports Roadside Attractions and Vertical acquired US distribution of Cathy Yan’s film, with December 4, 2026 scheduled for theaters. Portman acts and produces. This follows its Sundance premiere; the theatrical date remains future.
7 Aug 2026Read the dated distribution report
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Broadcast
Looking forward to Good Sex
In ELLE’s August interview, Portman discusses working with Lena Dunham on Good Sex and her enjoyment of romantic comedies.
3 Aug 2026Read the original interview
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Broadcast
Summer reading with Lena Dunham and Rebecca Solnit
She praises Famesick and No Straight Road Takes You There and discusses her book club.
1 Aug 2026Read the original reading conversation
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Project
Two forthcoming films on the horizon
Her April interview anticipates The Gallerist in late 2026 and Good Sex in early 2027. These were projected windows; the later Gallerist distribution report supplies a US theatrical date, while Netflix’s older Good Sex page has no exact date.
17 Apr 2026Read the original career update
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Project
The Gallerist selected for Sundance
Sundance’s official programme announcement lists The Gallerist as a 2026 world premiere. Portman is both cast member and producer on Cathy Yan’s art-world film, joining an ensemble that includes Jenna Ortega.
10 Dec 2025Read the official festival programme
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Project
An animated role in The Twits
Netflix’s official record gives October 17,2025 as the release of Phil Johnston’s Roald Dahl adaptation. Portman voices Mary Muggle-Wump, alongside the film’s larger voice ensemble.
17 Oct 2025Read the official release and cast record
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Project
A global adventure in Fountain of Youth
Apple’s release record dates Guy Ritchie’s adventure May 23,2025. Portman and John Krasinski play estranged siblings whose search brings them back together. Her credited involvement is acting.
23 May 2025Read the official film record
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Project
Acting and executive producing Lady in the Lake
Apple’s limited series premiered July 19,2024. Its official cast and crew record credits Portman as a performer and executive producer, extending her production partnership with Sophie Mas into television.
19 Jul 2024Read the official cast and producer record
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Selected Credits

View all

Year	Title	Role
2025	Fountain of YouthfilmIMDb	Charlotte Purdue
2026	The GalleristfilmIMDb	Polina Polinski
2026	The Galleristfilm productionIMDb	Producer
2027	Good Sex — forthcomingfilmIMDb	Ally
2027	Good Sex — forthcomingfilm productionIMDb	Producer

Timeline

1981—2026

1981Born in Jerusalem on June 9.
ChildhoodMoves to the United States and grows up on Long Island.
Early discoveryA Revlon scout approaches her in a pizza parlour; she wants to act.
1994Appears as Mathilda in Léon: The Professional.
1995–1996Film work includes Heat, Beautiful Girls and Mars Attacks!
1997Plays Anne Frank in the original Broadway revival cast.
1999Plays Padmé Amidala in The Phantom Menace.
1999–2003Studies psychology at Harvard and graduates with an A.B.
2000Anywhere But Here earns a supporting-actress Golden Globe nomination.
2001Plays Nina in Mike Nichols’ The Seagull at the Delacorte Theatre.
2002–2005Returns for the other Star Wars prequels.
2004Garden State and Closer expand her adult film work.
2005Receives a supporting-actress Oscar nomination for Closer.
2005Wins a supporting-actress Golden Globe for Closer.
2006Plays Evey in V for Vendetta’s public theatrical release.
2008Writes and directs the short Eve.
2009Appears in New York, I Love You and directs a separate segment.
2010Plays Nicole in Hesher and Nina in Black Swan.
2010Produces Hesher.
2011Wins the leading-actress Oscar for Black Swan.
2011–2013Plays Jane Foster in Thor and The Dark World.
2015Writes, directs and stars in A Tale of Love and Darkness.
2015Returns to Harvard for the Class Day address.
2016–2017Jackie brings further acting nominations, including the Oscar.
2018Eating Animals has its public theatrical release; she produces and narrates.
2018Appears in Annihilation and Vox Lux.
2020Narrates Dolphin Reef for its Disney+ premiere.
2020Publishes Natalie Portman’s Fables, illustrated by Janna Mattia.
2021Launches her book club, according to the 2026 interview.
2022Returns as Jane Foster / Mighty Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder.
2023Acts in and produces May December.
2023Narrates Secrets of the Elephants.
2023Executive-produces HBO’s Angel City documentary series.
2024Acts and executive-produces Lady in the Lake.
2025Fountain of Youth releases on Apple.
2025Produces and joins Arco’s English-language voice cast.
2025Voices Mary Muggle-Wump in The Twits.
2026The Gallerist is selected as a Sundance world premiere, with her acting and producing.
ForthcomingActs in and produces Good Sex, with early 2027 reported as a release horizon.

A publicly acknowledged partnership

Latest Index

The Gallerist schedules a US theatrical release

Looking forward to Good Sex

Summer reading with Lena Dunham and Rebecca Solnit

Two forthcoming films on the horizon

The Gallerist selected for Sundance

An animated role in The Twits

A global adventure in Fountain of Youth

Acting and executive producing Lady in the Lake