Natalie Portman is undeniably one of the most phenomenal actors of the 21st century. From starring in more than 50 films in less than three decades to winning an Oscar for Best Actress and using her voice and platform to shed light on pivotal issues like the Times Up movement, she’s left an irreplaceable mark. on the Hollywood veneer. It is clear that the fame and acclaim she attracts is due not only to her talent, but also to the hard work, dedication and enormous effort she puts into shaping her characters. That’s why Portman’s voice in Hollywood reverberates around the world.
Portman has definitely crossed boundaries with her characters. Her enduring voice (in all five languages she knows) is the result of her brilliant performances and innate (Harvard-trained) intelligence. Here are some of Natalie Portman’s best performances that have earned her some well-deserved acclaim and accolades.
8 Closer
Mike Nichols’ Closer is a film based on, and also written by, the award-winning play by Patrick Marber from 1997. The story revolves around four main characters from different paths and backgrounds and focuses on the theme of love. This particular film brought Portman her first Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category. Portman’s role as Jane Jones (aka Alice Ayres) brings out her ability to take on the roles of complicated characters, as well as her talent for navigating different emotions.
7 A story of love and darkness
A story of love and darkness was considered by Rolling Stone to be Natalie Portman’s “passion project,” a rare masterpiece in “formula-obsessed Hollywood.” In her directorial debut (which she also wrote), Portman draws on the memoirs of Israeli author Amos Oz and brings to the screen a story filled with the emotional final years of Mandatory Palestine. Portman’s ability to deliver such an extraordinary piece is due not only to her talent and passion, but also to her sensitivity to Oz’s memoirs and her ability to connect with them because of her Jerusalem roots.
6 Thor and the MCU
“I just thought it was a really weird idea, because Kenneth Branagh is directing it,” was Portman’s funny reason for joining the Marvel movie universe. In both Thor and Thor: The Dark World, Portman takes over the character from Dr. Jane Foster, an astrophysicist who is also Thor’s love interest. Portman’s portrayal of the character led her to develop Dr. Foster to continue, as she will appear in Thor: Love and Thunder as the same character but with the added superhero personality of Mighty Thor, a strong female superhero who is a much-needed addition to Hollywood.
5 The other Boleyn girl
In the historical drama The other Boleyn girl Portman takes on the role of the “evil” sister (or rather the maligned sister) Anne Boleyn, while Scarlett plays Johansson alongside her in the role of the more innocent sister, Mary Boleyn. Playing a historical figure with so many legends surrounding it, but never one specific or one hundred percent accurate is no easy task. Still, Portman delivers a remarkable Anne Boleyn and embodies her cunning, clever and enchanting but also helpless character.
4 Destruction
Destruction is a shocking thriller that even former President Barack Obama considered one of the best films of 2018. The casting of Portman to star, a biologist on a mission to discover the reasoning behind his husband’s strange illness, is a important factor that brought Destruction such great responses. The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee even calls her a “strong, fiercely compelling presence” that “provides an emotional center without the need for sentimentality.” This in itself perfectly articulates Portman’s effect of turning a great movie into one of the best of all time.
3 Jackie
Jackie revolves around the former first lady of the United States, Jacqueline Lee “Jackie” Kennedy Onassis. The story is about the aftermath of the assassination of former US President John F. Kennedy. Portraying such a well-known historical figure is no easy task, perhaps even more difficult than one with so many surrounding myths like Anne Boleyn. Director Pablo Larraín takes it upon himself to dig deep into Jackie Kennedy’s multiple roles and the diverse nature of this unique character. However, it is Portman’s performance that leaves an indelible impression on the viewer. The “gentle and intelligent, groomed and coiffed and vocalized” performance led to her being nominated for Best Actress at the 2017 Academy Awards.
2 V for Vendetta
Based on the British graphic novel written by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, V for Vendetta is set in a dystopian future British society full of corruption and nothing but terror to live in, which in turn leads to a fundamental revolution. Natalie Portman takes on the role of the main character, Evey Hammond. This is another phenomenal achievement from Portman, one that continues to be highly regarded around the world and revered by radicals everywhere. One particular scene that illustrated the main character’s character development is shaving her head, which was done in one take. This in itself shows Portman’s ability to go to great lengths to do justice to her characters.
1 Black Swan
Natalie Portman’s Nina Sayers is a performance for all time. Black Swan is a complicated psychological thriller that follows a main character who goes through major psychological and life changes after her casting as the lead roles, White Swan Odette and Black Swan Odile. Tchaikovsky’s Duality swan lakeNina’s leadership leaves Nina in a world of corruption and pressure, which in turn leads her to tragedy. Portman’s many Best Actress awards for the role can be seen as the result of the immense training she went through for this particular role. The New York Times states that Portman “not only turns an abstraction into flesh and blood, but also takes us inside Nina’s head and under her skin.” After intense physical and mental training, Portman delivered one of the best performances the world had ever seen, demonstrating her sheer talent and dedication as an actress.
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