# Natalie Portman filmography
The Natalie Portman filmography is the record of screen and stage work by the Israeli-born American actress [Natalie Portman](https://www.edgepedia.org/natalie-portman) (born 1981 in Jerusalem), spanning her 1994 debut as a child in [Luc Besson](https://www.edgepedia.org/luc-besson)'s *Léon* through franchise roles, independent dramas, and her work as a director and producer.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000204) • [2](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2024/02/27/cinema-s-devastating-obsession-with-girls-and-young-women_6562163_117.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981, Jerusalem, Israel[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000204) |
| Film debut | Mathilda in Luc Besson's *Léon* (1994), made at age 12[2](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2024/02/27/cinema-s-devastating-obsession-with-girls-and-young-women_6562163_117.html) |
| Franchise role | Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999, 2002, 2005)[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/natalie_portman) |
| First major awards | Golden Globe win and Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for *Closer* (2004)[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/star-wars-movies/natalie-portman-once-said-everyone-thought-she-was-a-horrible-actress-after-appearing-in-the-star-wars-prequels/) |
| Oscar win | Best Actress for *Black Swan* at the 83rd Academy Awards (2011); the first person born in the 1980s to win that award[5](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000204) |
| Directing | *Eve* (2008 short) and *A Tale of Love and Darkness* (2015), which she also wrote and in which she played Fania[6](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/natalie-portman-2/) |
| Recent work | *May December* (2023), *Fountain of Youth* (2025), *The Twits* (2025, voice), *The Gallerist* (2026)[6](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/natalie-portman-2/) • [7](https://apnews.com/article/21902c93b05e371e0033d1ced2c3b964) |
## Child and teen roles, 1994–1999
Portman's screen career began with *Léon* (released in some markets as *The Professional*), in which she played Mathilda, a young girl who befriends a middle-aged assassin played by [Jean Reno](https://www.edgepedia.org/jean-reno).[2](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2024/02/27/cinema-s-devastating-obsession-with-girls-and-young-women_6562163_117.html) She followed it with supporting roles as a teenager in [Michael Mann](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-mann)'s *Heat* (1995, Lauren Gustafson), Tim Burton's *Mars Attacks!* (1995, Taffy Dale), Woody Allen's *Everyone Says I Love You* (1996), and [Ted Demme](https://www.edgepedia.org/ted-demme)'s *Beautiful Girls* (1995, Marty).[8](https://www.natalieportman.com/films/filmography/) In 1998 she played Ann August opposite Susan Sarandon in Wayne Wang's *Anywhere but Here*, a performance that brought a Golden Globe nomination.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/natalie_portman) • [8](https://www.natalieportman.com/films/filmography/)
She also worked on stage in this period, starring as [Anne Frank](https://www.edgepedia.org/anne-frank) in [James Lapine](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-lapine)'s Broadway production of *The Diary of Anne Frank* (1998) and as Nina in [Mike Nichols](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-nichols)'s Public Theater production of Chekhov's *The Seagull* (2001).[8](https://www.natalieportman.com/films/filmography/) • [9](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/film/natalie-portman)
## The Star Wars years and critical turnaround, 1999–2004
**Padmé Amidala.** Portman played Queen Padmé Amidala in [George Lucas](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-lucas)'s three prequel films: *Star Wars: Episode I* (1999), *Episode II* (2002), and *Episode III* (2005).[8](https://www.natalieportman.com/films/filmography/) The trilogy gave her global visibility, and Rotten Tomatoes' career overview credits it with giving her the standing to work with prominent directors.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/natalie_portman) • [10](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-natalie-portman-movies-ranked/) Portman later said that after the prequels she believed everyone thought she was a "horrible actress," and that her career recovered with acclaimed performances in *Cold Mountain* (2002) and *Closer* (2004).[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/star-wars-movies/natalie-portman-once-said-everyone-thought-she-was-a-horrible-actress-after-appearing-in-the-star-wars-prequels/)
*Closer*, Mike Nichols's adaptation, marked her first major awards run: she won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and was nominated for the Academy Award in the same category for her role as Alice.[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/star-wars-movies/natalie-portman-once-said-everyone-thought-she-was-a-horrible-actress-after-appearing-in-the-star-wars-prequels/) In the same stretch she appeared in [Zach Braff](https://www.edgepedia.org/zach-braff)'s *Garden State* (2004) and took the lead as Evey Hammond in [James McTeigue](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-mcteigue)'s *V for Vendetta* (2005).[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/natalie_portman) • [8](https://www.natalieportman.com/films/filmography/)
## Awards peak and range, 2009–2016
Portman won the [Academy Award for Best Actress](https://www.edgepedia.org/academy-award-for-best-actress) for her performance as ballerina Nina in [Darren Aronofsky](https://www.edgepedia.org/darren-aronofsky)'s *Black Swan* (2010), at the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony held February 27, 2011.[5](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011) IMDb describes her as the first person born in the 1980s to win the Best Actress Oscar.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000204) *Black Swan* was also nominated for Best Picture, with Aronofsky nominated for Directing.[5](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011)
The same years show the range of her choices. She played [Jane Foster](https://www.edgepedia.org/jane-foster) in [Kenneth Branagh](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenneth-branagh)'s *Thor* (2011) and Alan Taylor's *Thor: The Dark World* (2013), a role she reprised as the Mighty Thor in *Thor: Love and Thunder* (2022).[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/natalie_portman) She worked with Terrence Malick on *Song to Song* and *Knight of Cups*, with Wes Anderson on *The Darjeeling Limited* and its companion short *Hotel Chevalier*, with Wong Kar-wai on *My Blueberry Nights*, and with Miloš Forman on *Goya's Ghosts*.[8](https://www.natalieportman.com/films/filmography/) • [10](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-natalie-portman-movies-ranked/) Her Oscar-nominated turn as Jackie Kennedy in Pablo Larraín's *Jackie* (2016) followed, along with Rebecca Zlotowski's *Planetarium*, in which she performed in French.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/natalie_portman) • [11](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2026/02/26/how-paris-is-turning-into-frollywood-a-refuge-for-american-actors_6750892_30.html)
## Directing and producing
Portman made her writing and directorial debut with a short film for the anthology *New York, I Love You* (2008) and a second short, *Eve*, starring Lauren Bacall and Ben Gazzara.[6](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/natalie-portman-2/) Her first feature as director was *A Tale of Love and Darkness* (2015), an adaptation of Amos Oz's memoir in which she also played Fania and which she wrote; it screened in Special Screenings at Cannes in 2015.[6](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/natalie-portman-2/) • [8](https://www.natalieportman.com/films/filmography/)
As a producer her credits include *Hesher* (2010), *Jane Got a Gun* (2015), *Pride and Prejudice and Zombies* (2016), *Eating Animals* (2017), *Vox Lux* (2018), and *May December* (2023), on which she also acted.[12](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-18066/filmographie/)
## Recent and upcoming work
Todd Haynes's *May December* (2023), in which Portman plays an actress preparing to portray the story of Julianne Moore's character, screened In Competition at Cannes.[6](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/natalie-portman-2/) • [13](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2025/01/17/julianne-moore-almodovar-s-new-chica-in-the-room-next-door_6737154_117.html) In 2025 she appeared in Guy Ritchie's adventure *Fountain of Youth* opposite John Krasinski, filmed in part at the pyramids of Giza, and voiced Mary Muggle-Wump in *The Twits*.[14](https://apnews.com/article/28014f9e2ff3e7dbe06391683bc0e533) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/natalie_portman) *The Gallerist*, an art-world satire directed by Cathy Yan in which she plays gallery owner Polina Polinski, premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.[7](https://apnews.com/article/21902c93b05e371e0033d1ced2c3b964) • [15](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-gallerist-review-natalie-portmans-sundance-art-world-satire-is-a-disaster/) She is next set to appear in *Good Sex*, a romantic comedy directed by Lena Dunham alongside Mark Ruffalo.[4](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/star-wars-movies/natalie-portman-once-said-everyone-thought-she-was-a-horrible-actress-after-appearing-in-the-star-wars-prequels/)
## Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, her highest-rated credit is the documentary *Disneynature: Dolphin Reef* (2018) at 100 percent, and her lowest is *Planetarium* (2016) at 15 percent; *May December* (91 percent), *Annihilation* (88 percent), *Jackie* (87 percent), *Garden State* (86 percent), and *Black Swan* (85 percent) sit near the top of her list.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/natalie_portman) Commentators have noted the breadth of her choices, from franchise blockbusters to small independent films, alongside widely praised dramatic performances in *Closer*, *Black Swan*, and *May December*.[10](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-natalie-portman-movies-ranked/)
## References
1. [Natalie Portman, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000204)
2. [Cinema's devastating obsession with girls and young women, Le Monde (2024)](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2024/02/27/cinema-s-devastating-obsession-with-girls-and-young-women_6562163_117.html)
3. [Natalie Portman Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/natalie_portman)
4. [Natalie Portman once said everyone thought she was a "horrible actress" after appearing in the Star Wars prequels, GamesRadar](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/star-wars-movies/natalie-portman-once-said-everyone-thought-she-was-a-horrible-actress-after-appearing-in-the-star-wars-prequels/)
5. [The 83rd Academy Awards (2011), Oscars.org](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011)
6. [Natalie PORTMAN, Festival de Cannes](https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/p/natalie-portman-2/)
7. [Natalie Portman, Seth Rogen debut new movies at Sundance Film Festival, AP News (2026)](https://apnews.com/article/21902c93b05e371e0033d1ced2c3b964)
8. [Filmography, NataliePortman.com](https://www.natalieportman.com/films/filmography/)
9. [Natalie Portman | Film, EBSCO Research Starters](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/film/natalie-portman)
10. [All Natalie Portman Movies Ranked, Rotten Tomatoes Editorial](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-natalie-portman-movies-ranked/)
11. [How Paris is turning into 'Frollywood,' Le Monde (2026)](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/culture/article/2026/02/26/how-paris-is-turning-into-frollywood-a-refuge-for-american-actors_6750892_30.html)
12. [Natalie Portman : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-18066/filmographie/)
13. [Julianne Moore, Almodóvar's new 'chica' in 'The Room Next Door', Le Monde (2025)](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2025/01/17/julianne-moore-almodovar-s-new-chica-in-the-room-next-door_6737154_117.html)
14. [Natalie Portman and John Krasinski embark on a globe-trotting adventure in 'Fountain of Youth', AP News](https://apnews.com/article/28014f9e2ff3e7dbe06391683bc0e533)
15. [The Gallerist review, The Daily Beast (2026)](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-gallerist-review-natalie-portmans-sundance-art-world-satire-is-a-disaster/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actor filmographies and performer list articles › Surnames A to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license