There are plenty of young, beautiful starlets in Hollywood today, but few have the grace, charm and talent of Natalie Portman. Not to mention, Harvard degree to boot. Since her explosive debut at just 12 years old in The Professional, Natalie has starred in some of the most critically acclaimed films of the last decade. While she may not be splattered across the covers of tabloids, she is certainly a star in her own right. Not familiar with some of her best films? Flip on your high definition televisions and get to know this phenomenal young actress with her five best films of all time:
The Professional (1994)- Natalie made her acting debut in this gritty thriller from director Luc Besson. Costarring with French actor Jean Reno, Natalie played the often heartbreaking role of Mathilda, a young girl whose parents are brutally murdered and who is then taken under the wing of her neighbor, played by Reno. The catch? Her neighbor is a professional assassin who reluctantly teaches Mathilda his trade.
Heat (1995)- Costarring with Hollywood heavyweights Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, Natalie plays the troubled daughter of a Los Angeles crime detective on the path of an expert thief. The film takes a dark look at corruption and crime in Los Angeles, and offers some of the most jaw-dropping chase scenes ever seen on film. Watch it in HD to get the full effect.
Everyone Says I Love You (1996)- This musical comedy from legendary director Woody Allen was a stark turn for Natalie. While most of her previous work was undeniable dark and serious, this playful film with an all star cast takes place on New York’s Upper East Side in the 1930’s. It is a throwback to the days when musicals were plentiful in the movie theaters, and will have you humming a tine around your living room.
Beautiful Girls (1996)- In this romantic drama from director Tod Demme, Natalie plays the precocious Marty, a preteen that catches the eye of Willie Conway, played by Timothy Hutton. Conway and his high school friends, including the former town sports star and the class clown, return to their hometown for their high school reunion. The film is a touching, and often funny look at the difficulties of modern relationships, and the pain that often surfaces when you go home again.
Anywhere But Here (1999)- This story about a dysfunctional Midwestern mother who desperately wants her beautiful young daughter to become a movie star, was a heartbreaking look at a relationship gone horribly wrong. Natalie starred opposite the incomparable Susan Sarandon, as Ann August, a girl who dreamt of the Ivy League, not the big screen. She ultimately learns to walk away from the controlling grasp of her unstable mother and follow her own dreams.
Garden State (2004)- Scrubs star Zach Braff blew audiences away with this unassuming film about a young man who returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, and is forced to face the family that he has been estranged from. Natalie stars as his love interest named Sam, a fun-loving and quirky girl who ultimately brings him out of the darkness.