She was 13 when she stunned the world in Léon. 🎬 At 45, Natalie Portman has an Oscar, a Harvard degree, and a career most actors only dream of — and 2026 is turning out to be one of her busiest years yet. From Jerusalem to Hollywood royalty — this is the updated story.
Natalie Portman Then 🌱
Natalie Hershlag was born on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem. Her father was an Israeli fertility specialist, her mother an American homemaker.
The family moved to the United States when she was three, settling on Long Island. Acting found her early — she was discovered in a pizza shop at age 11.
Her first audition changed everything. At 13, she won the role of Mathilda in Léon: The Professional (1994), holding her own opposite Jean Reno.
She kept acting through her teens — Heat (1995), Beautiful Girls (1996) — and took the name Portman, her grandmother’s maiden name, to protect her privacy.
Then came the galaxy far, far away. She played Queen Amidala in the Star Wars prequels, starting with The Phantom Menace in 1999.
She did all of this while going to school. In 2003, she graduated from Harvard University with a psychology degree. 🎓
Closer (2004) brought her a Golden Globe and her first Oscar nomination. She shaved her head for V for Vendetta (2005).
And then came the role that defined her. In Black Swan (2010), she played the tortured ballerina Nina Sayers — and won the Academy Award for Best Actress. 🏆
The Middle: Stardom and Substance 👑
The 2010s were a balancing act. She played Jane Foster in the Thor films, then went darker — Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups, the western Jane Got a Gun.
She earned her third Oscar nomination playing Jacqueline Kennedy in Jackie (2016) — a performance critics called devastating.
She made her feature directing debut with A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015), based on the Amos Oz novel, in Hebrew.
Like Tom Hanks, Portman became one of Hollywood’s most respected actor-directors — and like Julia Roberts, she proved she could anchor both blockbusters and arthouse films.
In 2023, she starred in May December, earning a Golden Globe nomination for her role as an actress studying a controversial real-life figure.
In 2024, she headlined the Apple TV+ miniseries Lady in the Lake, playing an ambitious 1960s reporter — and she executive-produced it too.
Natalie Portman Now 📈
Today, Natalie Portman is 45 — and her calendar is packed like it hasn’t been in years.
In May 2025, she starred in Fountain of Youth, Guy Ritchie’s globe-trotting adventure on Apple TV+. She played Charlotte Purdue, a sharp museum curator pulled into a treasure hunt by her estranged brother, played by John Krasinski.
She also lent her voice to Arco, an animated sci-fi film that became a festival favorite — it earned an Oscar nod and won at the 2026 Annie Awards.
Then came Sundance. In January 2026, she premiered The Gallerist, an art-world satire co-starring Jenna Ortega — and Portman produced it through her company MountainA.
More is coming fast. She’s filming Good Sex, Lena Dunham’s new Netflix comedy, and is set to play scientist Rosalind Franklin in Photograph 51 from director Tom Hooper.
She’ll also team up with Jonathan Bailey in Pumping Black, a psychological thriller about pro cycling, shooting in fall 2026.
Her personal life changed too. After divorcing Benjamin Millepied in 2024, she found happiness with French music producer Tanguy Destable — and in April 2026, she announced she’s expecting her third child. 🤰
She told Harper’s Bazaar she’s “very grateful,” adding that growing up as the daughter of a fertility doctor made the miracle feel even bigger.
From a 13-year-old prodigy to a 45-year-old Oscar winner with a third baby on the way. From Queen Amidala to Charlotte Purdue.
Natalie Portman didn’t just grow up in front of us. She grew up brilliantly — and she’s still going. ✨
Quick Answers ❓
How old is Natalie Portman now?
She is 45. She was born on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem, Israel.
What are Natalie Portman’s latest movies?
Fountain of Youth (2025, Apple TV+), the animated Arco (2025), and The Gallerist (2026). Upcoming: Good Sex (Netflix), Photograph 51, and Pumping Black.
Did Natalie Portman win an Oscar?
Yes. She won Best Actress for Black Swan (2010). She has three Oscar nominations total — Closer, Black Swan, and Jackie.
Is Natalie Portman married?
She divorced Benjamin Millepied in 2024. She is now with French music producer Tanguy Destable, and in April 2026 announced she is expecting her third child.
How many kids does Natalie Portman have?
Two so far — son Aleph (2011) and daughter Amalia (2017) — with a third on the way.
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