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.

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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.

Lifestyle index · sourced and contextualised

Trivia & tastes

Famesick — Lena Dunham

Among favourite recent reads in August 2026.

Recorded with an attributable source

Book club

Launched in 2021, according to the August 2026 interview.

Recorded with an attributable source

Natalie Portman’s Fables

Her illustrated fable retellings were published in 2020, with illustrations by Janna Mattia.

Recorded with an attributable source

Cover source

FamesickLena Dunham

Among favourite recent reads in 2026.

Named item linked to an attributable source

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No Straight Road Takes You ThereRebecca Solnit

Praised in 2026.

Named item linked to an attributable source

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The Wedding PeopleAlison Espach

Recently read and liked in 2026.

Named item linked to an attributable source

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Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of MossesRobin Wall Kimmerer

Praised as influential reading in 2022.

Named item linked to an attributable source

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IntimaciesKatie Kitamura

Praised in 2022.

Named item linked to an attributable source

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Eating AnimalsJonathan Safran Foer

Reading described as a vegan influence in 2018.

Named item linked to an attributable source

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Natalie Portman’s FablesNatalie Portman; illustrated by Janna Mattia

Authored by Portman; the publisher announcement identifies her fable retellings and Janna Mattia’s illustrations. Published in 2020.

Named item linked to an attributable source

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Wait (The Whisper Song) — Ying Yang Twins

Named as a track she was listening to in 2009; no permanent favourite inferred.

Recorded with an attributable source

Carvel ice cream cake

Named in 2009, before the later vegan interviews.

Recorded with an attributable source

Van Leeuwen mint chip and matcha

Named flavours in her 2018 interview.

Recorded with an attributable source

Couscous, tagines, vegetable stir-fries and chilis

Described cooking these dishes in 2018.

Recorded with an attributable source

Swim, walk and Gyrotonics

August 2026 answer during pregnancy.

Recorded with an attributable source

Mary Helen Bowers — ballet, mat work and cardio

Trainer’s 2010 account of preparing for the film.

Recorded with an attributable source

Naomi Pendergast — strength, stability and agility

Trainer’s 2022 account of preparing for Thor: Love and Thunder.

Recorded with an attributable source

Still vegan

Explicitly reaffirmed in August 2026.

Recorded with an attributable source

Tata Harper cleanser and Dior moisturiser

Named in 2025; exact variants unspecified. Dior ambassador.

Recorded with an attributable source

Joëlle Ciocco toner, Tata Harper moisturiser and sunscreen

Named in her August 2022 direct beauty interview during Dior ambassadorship. Exact cleanser/moisturiser variants unestablished; no product gallery variant inferred.

Recorded with an attributable source

Miss Dior Essence by day; Miss Dior Parfum at night

Conditional options named in 2025. Dior ambassadorship disclosed.

Recorded with an attributable source

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Miss Dior EssenceDior

Possible daytime option named in 2025; Dior ambassador.

Named item linked to an attributable source

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Dog — unnamed

Mentioned travelling with dog photographs in July 2004; current ownership unestablished.

Recorded with an attributable source

Trivia & tastes

Books

Music

Food

Training

Diet

Skincare

Fragrances

Pets