Slideshow · Entertainment
20 Unbelievable Facts About Natalie Portman You Never Knew
Most fans know her as Padmé Amidala, the tormented ballerina of Black Swan, or the Mighty Thor. Behind the Hollywood glamour, however, Natalie Portman is a published scientist, polyglot, and sports mogul whose off-screen achievements defy belief.
10 hours agoVerified Editorial
⏱8 Min Read
◫21 Verified Slides
20 Unbelievable Facts About Natalie Portman You Never Knew 
20. Discovered In A Long Island Pizza ParlorThe actress turned down a modeling contract at age ten. 
19. Her Real Birth Surname Is HershlagThe star adopted her grandmother's maiden name for family privacy. 
18. Debuted In Léon At Age Twelve After First Being RejectedThe director initially dismissed her as too young to star. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
17. Turned Down Lolita And Romeo + Juliet As A TeenagerThe young actress rejected roles that sexualized teenage girls. 
16. Skipped The Star Wars Phantom Menace Premiere To StudyThe newly crowned queen of Naboo prioritized high school exams. 
15. Performed In The Broadway Diary Of Anne Frank While In SchoolThe teenager balanced eight weekly Broadway shows with AP classes. 
14. Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalist In High SchoolThe high school senior invented an eco-friendly sugar hydrogen method. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
13. Co-Authored A Neurobiology Paper At Harvard UniversityThe psychology major published peer-reviewed brain imaging research in 2002. 
12. She Has An Erdős–Bacon Number Of SevenThe rare metric links her scientific and cinematic networks. 
11. Speaks Six Languages Including Hebrew And JapaneseThe bilingual native speaker studied four additional foreign languages. 
10. Guest Lectured At Columbia University On CounterterrorismThe V for Vendetta star addressed political violence students. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
9. Shaved Her Head On Camera In One Single TakeThe actress had zero margin for error during the haircut. 
8. Dislocated A Rib During Eight-Hour Daily Black Swan RehearsalsThe production couldn't even afford a medic on set. 
7. First Person Born In The 1980s To Win Best ActressThe twenty-nine-year-old made Academy Awards history in February 2011. 
6. Her Grandmother Secretly Worked As A British WWII SpyThe family matriarch gathered intelligence against Nazi forces in Europe. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
5. Mike Nichols Wrote A Letter Saving Her Career After Star WarsThe legendary director vouched for her when Hollywood doubted her. 
4. Packed On Muscle For Ten Months To Become Mighty ThorThe five-foot-three star transformed her physique at age forty. 
3. Strict Vegan Since Age Eight Who Designed Luxury Eco-ShoesThe lifelong animal advocate witnessed a medical laser demonstration. 
2. Wore A Cape Embroidered With Snubbed Female Directors At The OscarsThe gold-trimmed Dior cape carried eight overlooked filmmakers' names. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
1. Co-Founded The Most Valuable Women's Soccer Club In The WorldThe Angel City FC co-founder helped build a $250M franchise. - Advertisement
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