11 Photos of Young Natalie Portman That Prove She's Always Been a Star

It's no secret that Natalie Portman has a successful film career, staring in iconic roles like May December, No Strings Attached, Thor, Star Wars, Jackie, and Black Swan. Portman's first debut in the film industry was in 1994 when she starred as Mathilda in the action-thriller Léon: The Professional at only 13 years old. The film follows Mathilda, played by young Natalie Portman, as she navigates the dark side of her life and works with a retired hitman. Léon won the Czech Lion Award for Best Foreign Film and the Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing back in 1995 and 1996, and is considered an unforgettable and touching film by many. 

In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Portman explained “It’s a movie that’s still beloved, and people come up to me about it more than almost anything I’ve ever made." The film launched her successful acting career, although she also says her relationship with the movie is complicated due to recent controversies. 

The actress repordedly started her career by being discovered at a pizza parlor by a Revlon representative when she was 11. She began modeling, but later discovered she was more interesting in acting. After her role in Léon, Portman was featured in the comedy-drama film Beautiful Girls in 1996 as Marty—the film is still considered an American romance classic. Later, in 2010, she played the lead role in Black Swan alongside Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey, and Winona Ryder. The film's tension and riveting storyline caught the attention of many film critics and viewers, and it received countless awards like the Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature, and of course Portman's Golden Globe Award for Best Actress awarded in 2011. 

With her debut film's 30th anniversary this year, L'OFFICIEL rounds up young Portman's best looks in and out of the theater.