Natalie Portman biography Natalie Portman was born in Jerusalem, Israel, on June 9, 1981. The daughter of an infertility specialist and an artist, Natalie, left Israel at age 3. She moved with her family to Maryland, Connecticut, and Long Island, New York, where she still lives. Discovered by a modeling scout at a pizzeria in New York at the age of 11, Natalie was unmotivated for modeling and wanted to find a more fulfilling job. Although she had no initial desire to become an actress, Natalie developed an interest in acting after attending the Stagedoor Manor Performing Camp for three summers. Natalie Portman's first acting experiences came from her summers at Stagedoor Manor, where she was cast in theater productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cabaret, was the title character in Anne of Green Gables, and appeared in Tapestry. Natalie's film career started with her role in the 1994 film, The Professional (aka Léon) as an assassin's protégé. The following year, she a