Pocket venus Natalie Portman turns 31

Natalie Portman, who won the Best Actress Oscar last year for her role as a deeply disturbed ballerina in Black Swan, celebrates her 31st birthday today.

  • Natalie Portman, who won the Best Actress Oscar last year for her role as a disturbed ballerina in <i>Black Swan</i>, celebrates her 31st birthday today.
    Natalie Portman, who won the Best Actress Oscar last year for her role as a disturbed ballerina in Black Swan, celebrates her 31st birthday today.
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  • In 2009, Natalie started dating ballet dancer Benjamin Millepied, whom she met on the sets of <i>Black Swan</i> which Millepied choreographed.
    In 2009, Natalie started dating ballet dancer Benjamin Millepied, whom she met on the sets of Black Swan which Millepied choreographed.
  • She became engaged to Millepied in December 2010 and gave birth to their first child, Aleph Portman-Millepied in 2011. The couple married in February 2012.
    She became engaged to Millepied in December 2010 and gave birth to their first child, Aleph Portman-Millepied in 2011. The couple married in February 2012.
  • Natalie returned to work just 10 months after giving birth to Aleph in order to begin filming <i>Lawless</i>.
    Natalie returned to work just 10 months after giving birth to Aleph in order to begin filming Lawless.
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  • In 2011, she won the Academy Award, the Golden Globe Award, the Screen Actors Guild Award, Independent Spirit Awards, and the BAFTA Award for her performance as Nina Sayers in <i>Black Swan</i>.
    In 2011, she won the Academy Award, the Golden Globe Award, the Screen Actors Guild Award, Independent Spirit Awards, and the BAFTA Award for her performance as Nina Sayers in Black Swan.
  • She said that <i>Closer</i> director Mike Nichols always gave her consistent criticism on how childish her voice normally sounded and encouraged her to work with vocal coaches to make it sound deeper and more adult. But for the role of Nina she had to make her voice more child-like. She felt it was taking her back to a point she worked hard to leave behind.
    She said that Closer director Mike Nichols always gave her consistent criticism on how childish her voice normally sounded and encouraged her to work with vocal coaches to make it sound deeper and more adult. But for the role of Nina she had to make her voice more child-like. She felt it was taking her back to a point she worked hard to leave behind.
  • In May 2008, she served as the youngest member of the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival jury.
    In May 2008, she served as the youngest member of the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival jury.
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  • In 2008, her directorial debut, <i>Eve</i>, opened the 65th Venice International Film Festival's shorts competition. She also directed a segment of the film <i>New York, I Love You</i>.
    In 2008, her directorial debut, Eve, opened the 65th Venice International Film Festival's shorts competition. She also directed a segment of the film New York, I Love You.
  • In 2005, she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for the movie <i>Closer</i>.
    In 2005, she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for the movie Closer.
  • Natalie won a Constellation Award for Best Female Performance and a Saturn Award for Best Actress for her role in the dystopian thriller <i>V for Vendetta</i>.
    Natalie won a Constellation Award for Best Female Performance and a Saturn Award for Best Actress for her role in the dystopian thriller V for Vendetta.
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  • In 2001, Natalie played in New York City's Public Theater production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull.
    In 2001, Natalie played in New York City's Public Theater production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull.
  • Born in Israel, Natalie, who was discovered by an agent in a pizza parlor at the age of 11, made her acting debut with the movie <i>Leon: The Professional</i> and later appeared in movies like <i>Heat</i>, <i>Beautiful Girls</i>, and <i>Mars Attacks</i>.
    Born in Israel, Natalie, who was discovered by an agent in a pizza parlor at the age of 11, made her acting debut with the movie Leon: The Professional and later appeared in movies like Heat, Beautiful Girls, and Mars Attacks.
  • Natalie shot to fame in 1999 with her role of Queen Amidala in the million-grossing prequel <i>Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace</i>. Later, she also starred in critically acclaimed movies like <i>Anywhere But Here</i>, <i>Where the Heart Is</i> and <i>Closer</i>.
    Natalie shot to fame in 1999 with her role of Queen Amidala in the million-grossing prequel Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Later, she also starred in critically acclaimed movies like Anywhere But Here, Where the Heart Is and Closer.
  • The actress, who has been a vegetarian since childhood, does not eat animal products or wear fur, feathers or leather.
    The actress, who has been a vegetarian since childhood, does not eat animal products or wear fur, feathers or leather.
  • Here is wishing the yummy mummy a very Happy Birthday.
    Here is wishing the yummy mummy a very Happy Birthday.