Natalie Portman
(1981-)

birthdate: June 9
birthplace: Jerusalem, Israel

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Natalie Portman (born Natalie Hershlag) is an Israeli-American Oscar-nominated actress, who became an international star with her role as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. She is also an advocate of many social causes. Natalie has been involved in promoting environmental causes for many years -- at 12 she was part of an environmental song and dance troupe. She is also an ardent "animal lover" and has been a vegetarian since she was 8 years old. Natalie Portman has also been deeply involved in helping to end poverty. She was part of the Live 8 concert raising awareness about ending poverty, and was named the first Ambassador of Hope for FINCA International, an organization that promotes micro-lending to empower women in poor countries by helping them start their own businesses. She traveled to Africa and South America promoting FINCA's work and in April 2007 completed a documentary about the power of micro-financing to change lives in impoverished countries.