Natalie Portman is the ultimate chameleon where choice and range are concerned; her movies have spanned the broad spectrum from intense drama to thriller sci-fi.
A look at some of these standout films in Natalie Portman's career that really showcase her remarkable talent and versatility.
You have seen Bichhu? It was this movie’s adaptation. Early in her career, she did quite well in the title role of Mathilda, a young girl who becomes an apprentice to a professional hitman. She received great praise for her mature and emotionally deep performance-a precursor to her future critical success in Hollywood.
With her role of Padmé Amidala in George Lucas's Star Wars prequel trilogy, Portman gained international renown. Her brilliant acting brought character depth to the queen and later senator, which added a lot to the movie and hence made her one of the major actresses of her time.
She played the role of Nina Sayers, a disturbed ballerina, for which critical acclaim and the Academy Award for Best Actress were tugged. Since the movie deals with both psychological and physical challenges, Portman's performance was highly intense and transformative, adding to her already remarkable ability in engaging in complex characters and delivering truly haunting performances.
In this dystopian thriller, Portman played Evey Hammond, a young woman who becomes entangled in a revolutionary struggle against a totalitarian regime. She played her character from innocence to a symbol of resistance-a performance that has been described as profound and courageous.
Portman was unanimously acclaimed for her portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy in the biographical drama Jackie. The film traces the events of the days immediately following the assassination of President Kennedy, and the subtlety of Portman's performance beautifully conveyed the emotional depth and resilience of this iconic First Lady.
This costume drama saw Portman play Anne Boleyn, the ambitious and contentious second wife of King Henry VIII. She brought a forceful yet dramatic character to the role, which showed she was capable of taking on complex personages from history with nuance and vigor.
She played the character Jane Foster, a scientist and love interest to the Norse god Thor, in Marvel's Thor series of films. She brings depth and humanness to the film genre of superheroes with great charm and emotional resonance in the films.
In this sci-fi thriller, Portman played the role of Lena, a biologist who joins a mysterious expedition into a dangerous and otherworldly zone. Intelligent and emotive, she brought an extra layer of unsettlement to the atmosphere that makes the narrative even more thought-provoking. It could not have been bettered.
Portman then followed with a far more comedic role in this fantasy adventure as the character Isabelle-a warrior princess. Her acting was very different from the dramatic roles that she usually plays. It showed well and truly depicted her range to be able to take on humor and action with equal effectiveness.
In this adaptation of Amos Oz's memoir, Portman directs and stars as Fania Oz. This film of pre-state Israel gave Portman much-desired opportunities not only to act but also to direct, hence reflecting both her serious dedication to storytelling and her deep connection with the material.
Natalie Portman's filmography truly represents her incredible versatility and commitment as an actress.
