Portman: 'I'm always asked for identification'
CLOSER - PORTMAN IM ALWAYS ASKED FOR IDENTIFICATION: "CLOSER beauty NATALIE PORTMAN is constantly required to show identification to prove her age, despite her world-famous looks.

The 23-year-old actress admits her youthful image can be a blessing, but it's a hindrance when it comes to ordering an alcoholic beverage at a British bar.

She says, 'Physically I haven't changed since I was 13.

'I can use my young looks to my advantage sometimes - but never in British pubs.

'I always get asked for ID when I order a drink, even though I'm five years over the legal British drinking age.'"
- posted by Natalie @ 9:49 AM

Natalie Portman Enters 'Wonder Emporium'
Natalie Portman Enters 'Wonder Emporium' | Movie News - Empire Movies: "Natalie Portman is a busy girl. In less than a month she'll appear in the final episode of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. She's currently filming V for Vendetta. It was announced just a couple of days ago she'd star in Goya's Ghosts and today it was announced that she'd take on the starring role in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.

In the movie (described as a cross between Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Big), Portman will play the depressed manager of a toy store that seems to come alive when infused by the spirit of its eccentric owner. When his health begins to fail, he wants to turn the store over to her, but her depression proves to be a bit of a problem.

This project has been around for a while. Back in 1999, Drew Barrymore was attached to play the lead role.

The movie is set to be directed by Zach Helm, who also wrote the script."
- posted by Natalie @ 10:41 AM

Natalie Portman in 'Goya's Ghosts'
Natalie Portman in 'Goya's Ghosts' | Movie News - Empire Movies: "It's pretty obvious that Natalie Portman will be glad to have the 'Star Wars' experience behind her. She's a great actress (she was nominated for an Oscar earlier this year) but her performances in the prequels so far have been - well - wooden. Couldn't she have at least pretended to be enjoying herself?

So, with Revenge of the Sith all but a done deal, Portman is moving on to greener pastures, signing to star opposite Javier Bardem in Goya's Ghosts, a long-in-the-works drama about Spanish painter Francisco Goya. Milos Forman will direct.

The drama is set in Spain in 1792, when Goya was the country's most famous painter. A scandal arises when his teenage muse (Portman) is framed for heresy by a manipulative monk (Bardem) who is one of the driving forces behind the Spanish Inquisition. In addition to playing the muse, Portman will also portray her own teenage daughter, who may (or may not) be the result of an illicit affair with the monk."
- posted by Natalie @ 8:54 AM

Portman To Shave Head
TEEN HOLLYWOOD.COM - Hang out with the stars!: "Screen beauty Natalie Portman will be shaving her head for her role in upcoming film V For Vendetta.
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The 23-year-old actress plays a woman who is jailed and tortured in the fantasy movie set in a post-war Britain under Nazi rule.

Portman's demanding role involves her losing weight and ditching her luscious locks, but she is enthusiastic about undergoing the drastic 'physical transformation'.

She says, 'I will be shaving my head and losing weight... not to a self-endangering point, but I won't be getting tortured at home.'

'I will be going through a physical transformation.'"
- posted by Natalie @ 12:53 PM

Natalie Portman Interview on Closer and Star Wars
Natalie Portman in Closer - Natalie Portman Interview on Closer and Star Wars: "Director Mike Nichols worked with Natalie Portman on 'The Seagull' back when Portman was still a teenager. Since that time, the two have remained close with Nichols playing a second father/mentor role in Portman's life.

Reunited for the movie 'Closer,' Portman and Nichols were comfortable around one another and completely trusted in each other's artistic decisions. Trust, and the ability to speak bluntly with one another, helped make Portman's job easier as her character, Alice, is a stripper who joins Clive Owen's character in a very sensual, very intimate encounter in a strip club. Though much has been made of Portman's nude scene, which was filmed but not included in the movie, both actress and director feel the right decision was made to not include the very brief shot in the final cut."
- posted by Natalie @ 1:07 PM

Natalie Portman, born in Hadassah, dedicates $50M unit to treat terror victims
israelinsider: Culture: Natalie Portman, born in Hadassah, dedicates $50M unit to treat terror victims: "Doctors and nurses at Hadassah Hospital can now treat three times as many victims at a time with the new, US$50 million unit in operation.

Dr. Avi Rivkind, head of the hospital's trauma and surgery department regretted that although mortality rates have improved, not everyone can be saved.

'It's still mortality. Beyond these numbers are families, children, so many lives impacted,' he said. 'It's not enough.'

The hospital is sponsored by the Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America, and a 700-member mission from the group is in Israel for the dedication.

At a gala cermony Thursday evening at the Jerusalem Theater, actress Natalie Portman, who was born at Hadassah Hospital, presented an award to Rivkind.
"
- posted by Natalie @ 12:31 PM

Natalie Portman speaks fluent German on set of new movie
Natalie Portman: Natalie Portman speaks fluent German on set of new movie: "Natalie Portman stunned movie makers after she started speaking fluent German on the set of her new movie.

The 'Star Wars' actress surprised her co-workers when she revealed her word-perfect language skills on the Berlin set of forthcoming thriller, 'V For Vendetta'.

A source said: 'Natalie chatted and ordered meals in German .The Germans on the crew really loved her.'
Multi-lingual Natalie, who graduated from America's prestigious Harvard University two years ago, also speaks fluent French, Hebrew and Japanese.

Last month, the 23-year-old actress, who launched her Hollywood career aged 11 in hit movie 'Leon', angered orthodox Jews after shooting a kissing scene in one of Jerusalem's holiest sites."
- posted by Natalie @ 8:55 AM