Yes, it's that time of the year again: screen goddess Natalie Portman has turned another year older; 33 years old. Can you believe she's been working since she was just 12 years old?
In honor of my favorite actresses birthday (it was 2 days ago, but I've been busy busy busy), I've decided to rank her 5 best performances.
Nat's next scheduled film is the yet to be titled musical-drama Terrance Malick project (co-starring Ryan Gosling, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Christian Bale and Val Kilmer) which is set to be out later this year (though that will most likely change, knowing Malick) and
the heavily troubled "Jane Got A Gun" out early next year.
#5. As Ann August in "Anywhere But Here" (1999)
Easily her most underrated performance, Portman matched more seasoned co-star Susan Sarandon (sometimes even out-acting her) tit for tat in this criminally ignored film about a mother and a daughter's relationship. The story flips the character's roles (i.e. the mother in the role of the helpless daughter with the daughter looking out for the mother), in a bit of a humorous twist, seeing Portman continue to play the very mature roles she was known for young in her career, while being able to display an innate sense of youthful nuance. At least the Golden Globes took notice, rewarding her with her very first nomination
Awards: Best Supporting Actress, Golden Globe Nominee
#4. As Marty in "Beautiful Girls" (1996)
When Natalie starred in "Beautiful Girls" alongside Timothy Hutton, she wowed critics and audiences as the precocious Marty. She had raised some eyebrows already for her curiously mature role in "The Professional" (more on that later). In the film, Portman's character is Hutton's 13 year old neighbor, who describes herself as an "old soul". She spends most of the film borderline flirting with him, wishing she was 18 so they could "walk this world together". Though a supporting role, critics agreed she stole the show. The Washington Post's Desson Howe described her as the movie's "most poignant and witty presence", while the New York Times' Janet Moslin called her a "budding knockout" and "scene-stealingly good".
Awards: None
#3. Nina Sayers in "Black Swan" (2010)
Arguably the most iconic role of her long career, Portman hit it out of the ballpark when she and Darren Aronofsky partnered up to make a gorgeously horrifying film about the world of ballet. In "Black Swan", Portman plays Nina, a ballerina suffering from delusions under the pressure of being able to dance both the White and Black Swan in her dancing company's production of Swan Lake. She also faces heat from her rival Lily (Mila Kunis), who is threatening to replace her; Lily isn't as uptight as Nina is, and can be a better Black Swan than Nina (a White Swan if there ever was one) can be. Not only did she win that long, elusive first Oscar but this was the role that made Portman a true leading lady; the film grossed more than $300 million on just a small budget of $13 million. (Bonus: She did 85% of the dancing shown onscreen after studying for over a year with a professional dancer).
Awards: A million critics awards + the Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA and Oscar for Best Leading Actress
#2.) As Alice/Jane in "Closer" (2004)
As much as I love her Black Swan performance, I have to say that out of her 2 Oscar nominated roles, I truly wish it was this one that won her the Oscar. In Mike Nichols' film about 4 sexually connected people living in London, Portman is the film's most exciting surprise. It was the right moment in her career to take on a role like this; right after Star Wars ended, Portman needed a role to remind critics and audiences she could act (because we all know how her Star Wars work turned out...). Never has she been more naked onscreen, and I'm not talking about the stripping scenes (she used a body double for those). I am talking about the full frontal, raw acting that Portman displays in the film, so unlike anything she had done in her career, completely shattering any preconceived notions of her ability by her detractors. Though she lost the Oscar to Cate Blanchett's hammy Catherine Hepburn impersonation, she will always be the TRUE winner in my book.
Awards: Best Supporting Actress, Golden Globe Winner; Best Supporting Actress, Academy Award Nominee
#1.) As Matilda in "Leon: The Professional" (1994)
Her first performance remains her greatest performance; as the wannabe hit girl in Luc Besson's thriller "Leon", Portman delivered the greatest performance given by a child actor in recent history (besides Kirsten Dunst's performance in "Interview With A Vampire"). As Matilda, she completely hypnotic, mesmerizing, and even a little precocious. There's no doubt in my mind that this role was made for Portman, no one has the right amount of girlish innocence and shocking maturity to pull it off. Only her work in "Closer" challenges the level of sensual hypnotism she has on the camera and audience: both cannot take their attention off of her. Criminally overlooked by the Academy, critics still cite her work in the film when discussing other child performances (most recently Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis' work in "Beasts of the Southern Wild"). Though her career since has been filled with flashier, more high profile projects, her debut will always be one that is revisited when tracking her ascent into the Hollywood A-List.
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