Natalie Portman (born Natalie Hershlag on June 9, 1981) is an Israeli-American actress. 'Portman' is a stage name taken from her grandmother's maiden name. Her ethnic background is Polish-Jewish.

She was born in Jerusalem but her family soon relocated to the United States, first Maryland, then Connecticut, before finally settling down in Long Island, New York. She was discovered in a pizza parlor at the age of eleven by an agent for Revlon, who wanted her to model. Soon thereafter she was introduced to acting talent scouts and made her movie début at the age of twelve playing a child who befriends a much older assassin in Luc Besson's movie Léon ... (read more )