With an Oscar, a BAFTA, two Golden Globes, and two Critics’ Choice Awards to her name, Natalie Portman has secured her position at the apex of her industry via everything from Closer and Black Swan to Jackie and May December. But before all that, she was a 12-year-old hopeful growing up in Long Island, having moved to the United States with her parents at age three after being born in Jerusalem. Keen on the performing arts, she auditioned for the lead of the 1992 off-Broadway musical Ruthless!. In the end, Jumanji’s Laura Bell Bundy ended up snagging that part—but Portman, along with a nascent Britney Spears, became her understudies (yes, really).
Shortly after, Portman was cast in Luc Besson’s Léon, alongside Jean Reno and Gary Oldman—a startlingly assured, mesmerizing turn that dazzled critics. A string of other films then paved the way to Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, after which her global-movie-star status was all but assured.
As the Hollywood stalwart celebrates her 45th birthday, we wind the clock back to the start of her career through the most glorious ’90s throwback photos of a young Natalie Portman.
1994
Photo: Getty Images
A 12-year-old Natalie Portman, all smiles at a photo session in New York.
1994
Photo: Getty Images
In all black for another studio portrait.
1994
Photo: Getty Images
Embracing her mother, Shelley Stevens.
1994
Photo: Getty Images
On the set of Léon, which marked Portman’s big-screen debut.
1994
Photo: Getty Images
In a fuzzy coat and little black dress for the LA premiere of Léon.
1994
Photo: Getty Images
In a wool coat and cardi for the New York premiere of I Like It Like That.
1995
Photo: Getty Images
Opting for a blazer and oversized shirt for the New York premiere of Mighty Aphrodite, now aged 14.
1995
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Angelic at the New York premiere of Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead.
1996
Photo: Getty Images
Turning on the charm on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
1996
Photo: Getty Images
Luminous at the LA premiere of Flirting with Disaster.
1996
Photo: Getty Images
In a pencil skirt, cami, and short-sleeved shirt for a screening of Dead Man in New York.
1997
Photo: Getty Images
Now 16, and wrapped up in a wool coat for the New York premiere of The Peacemaker.
1998
Photo: Getty Images
A 17-year-old Portman in a denim jacket for the LA premiere of Saving Private Ryan.
1999
Photo: Getty Images
Channelling her character, the poised Padmé Amidala, at the New York premiere of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
1999
Photo: Getty Images
Now 18 and shaking hands with the future King Charles alongside her Phantom Menace co-star, Ewan McGregor, at a screening of the film in London’s Leicester Square.
2002
Photo: Getty Images
A 20-year-old Portman at a New York event with a 21-year-old Jake Gyllenhaal. The pair would go on to date briefly years later, and eventually star together in the 2009 thriller Brothers.
2002
Photo: Getty Images
Portman at 21, supremely casual for the LA premiere of Austin Powers in Goldmember.
2002
Photo: Getty Images
With friend and fellow child actor Claire Danes, then 23, at a VH1 after-party in New York. Before a 17-year-old Danes became the leading lady of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, a 14-year-old Portman had actually snagged the part—but, thankfully, Luhrmann eventually decided she was too young to play the love interest to the 21-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio.
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Radhika Seth is the film & culture editor at British Vogue. She works across both the magazine and the website’s Arts & Lifestyle section, writing and editing pieces on film, TV, and awards season, as well as travel and food. She previously held the same role at Vogue Global Network, ... Read More