Natalie Portman’s Young Years: Photos From Her Early Acting Days To Now

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June 9, 2023 2:45PM EDT
Natalie Portman
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From a young ‘Professional’ to a Marvel superhero, there is nothing Natalie Portman can’t do! The Israeli/American actress, born June 9, 1981, got her start at just 12 years old in ‘The Professional’. She would find herself on the international stage after being cast as Padme Amidala in the ‘Star Wars’ prequel saga.

She went on to star in ‘Where The Heart Is’, ‘V For Vendetta’, and ‘Black Swan’, the film for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress. Natalie jumped into the superhero world as Jane Foster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films ‘Thor’ (2011), ‘Thor: The Dark World’ (2013), and the upcoming ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’ (2022). Natalie has practically grown up in the spotlight. Here, the young star is all smiled as she attends the Beverly Hills premiere of ‘The Professional’ on Nov. 3, 1994. She had on a little corset top and carried a fuzzy vest.

 

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Natalie Portman: Then & Now

Natalie Portman: Then & Now
Alex Berliner/BEI/Shutterstock

From a young ‘Professional’ to a Marvel superhero, there is nothing Natalie Portman can’t do! The Israeli/American actress, born June 9, 1981, got her start at just 12 years old in ‘The Professional’. She would find herself on the international stage after being cast as Padme Amidala in the ‘Star Wars’ prequel saga.

She went on to star in ‘Where The Heart Is’, ‘V For Vendetta’, and ‘Black Swan’, the film for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress. Natalie jumped into the superhero world as Jane Foster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films ‘Thor’ (2011), ‘Thor: The Dark World’ (2013), and the upcoming ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’ (2022).

Natalie has practically grown up in the spotlight. Here, the young star is all smiled as she attends the Beverly Hills premiere of ‘The Professional’ on Nov. 3, 1994. She had on a little corset top and carried a fuzzy vest.

Want to see Natalie’s evolution? See how she went from a young ingenue to full-blown superstar in our gallery here.

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Natalie Portman At The Premiere Of ‘The Professional’

Natalie Portman At The Premiere Of ‘The Professional’
Bei/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman attends a screening of ‘The Professional’ on November 3, 1994 in Los Angeles. It would be the start of a wildly successful career.

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Natalie Portman In 1996

Natalie Portman In 1996
Bei/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman appears at the 1996 premiere of ‘Flirting With Disaster’. She wore a black longsleeve shirt.

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Natalie Portman At The Premiere Of ‘Mars Attacks’

Natalie Portman At The Premiere Of ‘Mars Attacks’
Dave Lewis/Shutterstock

Out of this world! Natalie Portman looked great in green at the premiere of ‘Mars Attacks’ in 1996.

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Natalie Portman At The Women in Film Crystal Award Luncheon

Natalie Portman At The Women in Film Crystal Award Luncheon
Alex Berliner/BEI/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman looks darling in lilac at the Women in Film Crystal Award Luncheon on June 21, 1996. She had her hair in curls and wore red lipstick.

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Natalie Portman In 1999

Natalie Portman In 1999
Shutterstock

Natalie Portman is radiant on the red carpet in 1999. She wore pale blue and had her hair up.

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‘Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace’

‘Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace’
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The royal treatment! Natalie Portman appears in full space-face as Queen Padme Amidala in a scene from 1999’s ‘Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace’.

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Natalie Portman At The Premiere Of ‘The Phantom Menace’

Natalie Portman At The Premiere Of ‘The Phantom Menace’
Photo News Service/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman is stylish in pale aqua at the 1999 film premiere of ‘Star Wars: Episode 1’. She had a sheer white shawl that matched her long skirt.

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Natalie Portman Stuns In 1999

Natalie Portman Stuns In 1999
Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Star power! Natalie Portman is simply glowing at the London premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Phantom Menace’. 

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Natalie Portman In 2000

Natalie Portman In 2000
Bei/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman attends Disney’s party celebrating the 57th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 23, 2000. Her chocolate brown dress was lovely.

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Natalie Portman In 2003

Natalie Portman In 2003
Mark J Terrill/AP/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman introduces a film clip at the 18th Annual American Cinematheque Awards in Nov of 2003. She wore a lovely sheer slip and beaded dress over.

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Natalie Portman At The 2005 Academy Awards

Natalie Portman At The 2005 Academy Awards
Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman is beautiful in a plunging grey gown during the 77th Annual Academy Awards in LA on Feb. 27, 2005. She had her hair back with a glimmering headband.

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Natalie Portman In 2006

Natalie Portman In 2006
Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman is so chic in black at a photocall for ‘V For Vendetta’ at the Berlinale Film Festival on Feb. 13, 2006. Her hair was short, after shaving it off completely for the film.

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Natalie Portman In 2007

Natalie Portman In 2007
Paul Buck/EPA/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman wows during the premiere of ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ in LA on Oct. 4, 2007. She had a minor role in the Wes Anderson movie.

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Natalie Portman Does Press For ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’

Natalie Portman Does Press For ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’
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Natalie Portman does press for her film ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ in New York on Feb. 11, 2008. The historical drama starred Natalie (Anne) and Scarlett Johansson (Mary) as two sisters driven by their ambitious father and uncle to advance the family’s power and status by courting the King of England, Henry VIII, played by Eric Bana.

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Natalie Portman At The 2009 Oscars

Natalie Portman At The 2009 Oscars
Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman stuns in a pink strapless Rodarte number at the 81st Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 22, 2009. She looked like a goddess!

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Natalie Portman In 2009

Natalie Portman In 2009
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Natalie Portman attends the Toronto International Film Festival press conference for ‘Love and Other Impossible Pursuits’ at the Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto, Canada on September 16, 2009. She wore a floral blouse.

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Natalie Portman At Vanity Fair’s 2010 Oscar Party

Natalie Portman At Vanity Fair’s 2010 Oscar Party
Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman is so chic in a little black dress during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards on Mar. 7, 2010. She wore black peep-toe heels and had on a diamond necklace and matching bangle.

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Natalie Portman In 2010

Natalie Portman In 2010
Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman is sweet in piink lace at the AFI Life Achievement Awards honoring Mike Nichols on Jun. 10, 2010. They worked on the film ‘Closer’ together.

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Natalie Portman At The 2012 Golden Globes

Natalie Portman At The 2012 Golden Globes
David Fisher/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman is oh-so-elegant in a deep fuchsia number during the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 15, 2012. She wore silver heels and carried a little velvet purse.

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Natalie Portman At The 2012 Oscars

Natalie Portman At The 2012 Oscars
Peter Brooker/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman sets pulses racing in red polka dots during the 84th Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 26, 2012. A diamond necklace and matching earrings amped up the glamour.

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Natalie Portman At The 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party

Natalie Portman At The 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutt

Natalie Portman looks radiant in a white dress during Vanity Fair’s 2013 Oscar Party on Feb. 24. Her look had a black sash on her shoulder.

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Natalie Portman In 2015

Natalie Portman In 2015
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Natalie Portman poses before Christian Dior’s Haute Couture spring-summer 2015 fashion show in Paris, France. She wore a navy jacket with a pinstriped blouse and silk skirt.

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Natalie Portman At The China Beijing Film Festival

Natalie Portman At The China Beijing Film Festival
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Natalie Portman arrives for the opening of the Beijing International Film Festival at the Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in Beijing, China on Apr. 16, 2016. She wore a low, paint-splatter dress and looked thrilled to be there.

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Natalie Portman In 2017

Natalie Portman In 2017
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutt

Natalie Portman arrives at the 28th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala, in Palm Springs, Calif. on Jan. 2, 2017. She was pregnant with her daughter Amalia at the time.

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Natalie Portman In 2017

Natalie Portman In 2017
AP/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman poses during a photocall before Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2017/2018 fashion collection, in Paris on Jul. 3, 2017. She wore a dark off-the-shoulder number and carried a gold-chained purse.

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Natalie Portman At The 2018 Women’s March

Natalie Portman At The 2018 Women’s March
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Natalie Portman speaks at the 2018 Women’s March rally in LA. Eva Longoria and Constance Wu stood behind her, to her right.

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Natalie Portman At The Premiere Of ‘Avengers: Endgame’

Natalie Portman At The Premiere Of ‘Avengers: Endgame’
Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman wows in black Dior at the premiere of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ on Apr. 22, 2019 in LA. The black, bowed top went with a long, sparkling black and silver skirt with a tropical pattern.

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Natalie Portman At The 2020 Oscars

Natalie Portman At The 2020 Oscars
DAVID SWANSON/EPA-EFE/Shuttersto

Natalie Portman is exquisite at the 92nd annual Academy Awards on Feb. 9, 2020. Her Dior cape had the names of prominent female directors stitched into.

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Natalie Portman At Vanity Fair’s 2022 Oscar Party

Natalie Portman At Vanity Fair’s 2022 Oscar Party
Evan Agostini/AP/Shutterstock

Natalie Portman looks like a goddess in olive green during Vanity Fair’s 2022 Oscar Party at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Mar. 27. She had her hair up and played up her eyes with dark liner.

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