Actress Natalie Portman was born Natalie Hershlag on June 8, 1981 in Jerusalem, Israel.

• "There's always pressure, from other people and yourself. If you're happy with the looks you're born with, then what are you going to do your whole life?. We keep thinking up new things and finding better ways of doing things because we're not happy with what we're given."




• "Smart women love smart men more than smart men love smart women."




• "I'm a Gemini, so I change my mind every day."




• "I don't think I've ever been in love, I'm sure I will be some day. I've had enormous crushes, although I've never been into the Brad Pitt thing."




• "The only annoying thing is when people stare at me. I know it's part of the thing, so I'm trying to get over it, but it's the weirdest feeling. I just feel like it's a really rude thing to do. I'm not a person who's ever trying to attract attention. Usually, I'm OK because I'm short and I'm brown-haired and I kind of blend in, but it's very weird."




• "I don't want to sound superficial, but when I go see a movie myself, I'd rather look at Tom Cruise than some shmo with a beer belly"




• "I'm much more like the product of a doctor than I am a Jew"




• "When you get older, you realize it's a lot less about your place in the world but your place in you. It's not how everyone views you but how you view yourself."




• "You can't the word enema around my mom because she had to have one when she was pregnant with me in Israel. The word coconut makes me uncomfortable. There are some beautiful words, though. For example, I just love the way clutter sounds."