Natalie Portman (who is Natalie Portman?)

Natalie Portman is an Israeli-born American actress, director, and producer. She was born as Neta-Lee Hershlag on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem, Israel. Portman is recognized for her versatility as an actress and has played roles in numerous genres, achieving considerable critical acclaim throughout her career.

Early Life and Education: Portman has an interesting mix of educational and acting pursuits. She studied at Harvard University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2003. Even during her studies, she continued to act, balancing academia and her film career. Portman has also attended graduate courses at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and has co-authored two research papers that were published in scientific journals.

Acting Career: Portman's acting career began at a young age when she was discovered by an agent in a pizza parlor. Her first significant role came when she was cast as Mathilda in Luc Besson's "Léon: The Professional" (1994), where she starred opposite Jean Reno. This was quickly followed by roles in "Heat" (1995), "Beautiful Girls" (1996), and "Mars Attacks!" (1996).

Her portrayal of Padmé Amidala in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy significantly raised her profile. Portman has shown her range by starring in independent films such as "Garden State" (2004) and "Closer" (2004), the latter earning her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Portman won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her leading role as Nina Sayers in "Black Swan" (2010), a performance that also garnered her a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

Some other notable films include "V for Vendetta" (2006), "The Other Boleyn Girl" (2008), "No Strings Attached" (2011), "Thor" (2011), and its sequels in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where she plays Jane Foster.

Directorial Work: Portman has ventured into directing, with her first feature film being "A Tale of Love and Darkness" (2015), based on the memoir of Amos Oz, which she also starred in.

Activism: Aside from her acting career, Portman is known for her activism and support of various causes, including animal rights, environmental issues, and women's rights. She is a supporter of the Democratic Party in the United States and has made her political viewpoints known.

Personal Life: Portman is married to French dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied, whom she met while working on "Black Swan." The couple has two children. She holds dual Israeli and American citizenship.

Portman's ongoing projects and appearances continue to contribute substantially to the entertainment industry. As of my last update, she actively participates in film, television, and charitable activities.

Please note that this information is only accurate up to the date of the knowledge cutoff and does not account for developments that may have occurred afterward.

For comprehensive details and updates on her career, you could refer to her IMDb profile or her entries on other film industry databases. For her academic publications, they can be located through academic databases such as PubMed or Google Scholar.