Okay, let’s talk about Natalie Portman. I was browsing some old movie stuff and stumbled upon some things about her, especially her early career, like when she was in her 20s. It got me thinking, so I decided to dig a little deeper and see what all the fuss was about.

First off, I went back to when she was just starting out. She was in this play, “The Diary of a Young Girl,” on Broadway back in 1998. That’s pretty cool, right? A teenager on Broadway! Then, boom, she’s in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” in 1999. She played Padmé Amidala, and that’s when everyone started to know her name.
I watched a few clips of her in “Star Wars,” and man, she was young! But it was her role in “Black Swan” in 2010 that really caught my attention. I mean, I had to watch the whole movie. She played Nina Sayers, this ballet dancer who kind of loses it.
I remember this one scene from “Black Swan” where she’s doing the “Dance of the White Swan.” The way she moved, the intensity in her eyes, you could tell she totally immersed herself in the role. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! No wonder she won the Best Actress Oscar for it. People were saying it was a mind-bending performance, and I totally agree.
So, after watching “Black Swan,” I got curious about what she did next. I found out she was in a bunch of other movies like “Heat” in ’95, “Beautiful Girls” in ’96, and “Mars Attacks!” – quite the range, huh?
- “Heat” (1995) – Even though it was a small part, it was interesting to see her in such an early film.
- “Beautiful Girls” (1996) – This one was a bit more substantial, and she played a really mature character for her age.
- “Mars Attacks!” (1996) – Total sci-fi comedy, and she was part of an ensemble cast. Kind of fun to see her in something so different.
But then, I stumbled upon this movie called “Annihilation,” which came out in 2018. It’s this sci-fi, kind of trippy movie. I watched the trailer, and it looked intense. I haven’t watched the whole thing yet, but it’s definitely on my list now.

My Takeaway
Honestly, looking into Natalie Portman’s career from her 20s to more recent stuff has been a ride. From a Broadway debut to becoming a Star Wars icon, then nailing a complex role in “Black Swan,” and now exploring different genres, she’s done a lot. It’s cool to see how an actor’s career evolves. I’m definitely going to watch more of her movies. “Annihilation,” here I come!