10 Most Underrated Natalie Portman Roles

10 Most Underrated Natalie Portman Roles

Fans of Oscar winner Natalie Portman might be aware of her more popular movies, but some of her best roles are both underrated and overlooked.

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Natalie Portman is an Oscar-winning actor who has shown great versatility in her decades in the film industry. One of the rare examples of a child star who grew up to be a successful working actor, Portman has cemented her A-list status in the entertainment industry.

With numerous acting awards to her name, the eclectic Portman has brought many popular characters to life. However, some of her characters are not as well known or praised by the public as they should be.

10 Queen Padme Amidala: Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999)

It may be hard to consider a Star Wars film as underrated. However, the prequel series has received much ire by fans of the franchise. This hatred is unfounded, though, as Portman gives a great performance in the first entry of the prequels.

As young Queen Padme Amidala, Portman needed to give the impression that she is a capable ruler. But since she is just a teenager, the performance also needed to present vulnerability and innocence. Portman gave a perfect blend of both, nailing the characterization of the child intergalactic royal.

9 Nicole: Hesher (2010)

In this independent film, Portman makes a huge departure from her typical roles, playing a timid but well-meaning grocery clerk named Nicole. Nicole often makes the wrong choices and is often in pretty dire financial straits. However, she has a good heart and tries to be a good friend to the grief-stricken protagonist.

Portman makes this character likable, despite her many foibles. Revealing Nicole as a confused and struggling adult, Portman does so in a restrained manner that does not chew the scenery in what is a fairly low-key film.

8 Jackie Kennedy: Jackie (2016)

Portraying a real person can be a daunting task for even the most talented actor. It is even more intimidating when the real person is an iconic figure in popular culture. Natalie Portman was tasked with playing one of the 20th century’s most recognizable faces, Jackie Kennedy.

Portraying Jackie Kennedy at her most emotional and traumatized, the movie takes place in the immediate aftermath of the JFK assassination. Portman shows incredible steely strength while letting the audience feel her devasting pain and grief.

7 Novalee Nation: Where the Heart Is (2000)

Natalie Portman stars as a pregnant Tennesse teenager who tries to rebuild her life with the help of a good samaritan nurse. The movie focuses on friendship, sisterhood, and chosen family. As a result, it was important to have two actresses who could believably convey a close and caring relationship.

Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd do just that in this 2000 film. Portman does a great job of showing the naivete and vulnerability of down-on-her-luck Novalee, while also presenting her as painfully self-aware, desperate to change and improve herself.

6 Sam: Garden State (2004)

Aside from her hilarious rap on Saturday Night Live, audiences rarely see Portman’s funny or silly side. A film that helped birth the term “manic pixie dream girl,” Garden State is an underrated movie that showed Portman’s comedic talents.

In this romantic comedy-drama, Andrew travels back to his hometown for his mother’s funeral. Back in his old stomping grounds, Andrew meets eccentric Sam, who helps him heal past wounds. While the movie has not aged that well for its inaccurate portrayal of mental illness, Portman delivers an admirable performance.

5 Lucy Cola: Lucy In The Sky (2019)

Taking from the infamous real-life story of Lisa Nowak, Lucy in the Sky chronicles the mental and emotional effects that space travel has on humans. Portman masterfully shows the decline of Lucy’s mental well-being after returning from a space mission. Desperate to be back in orbit, she sacrifices her home life and starts engaging in erratic behavior while her paranoia increases.

Through Portman’s portrayal of the character, the film communicates the meaninglessness that astronauts could feel after seeing the Earth in space and then dealing with the minutiae of daily life back on the ground.

4 Taffy Dale: Mars Attacks! (1996)

In the talented Tim Burton’s alien creature feature, Portman has a small but noteworthy role as the president’s daughter. When aliens are spotted circling Earth, it is arranged by the president to welcome the aliens for a peaceful visit. However, the aliens’ intentions prove to be anything but amicable.

Mars Attacks! has a massive ensemble cast, with just some of the famous names including Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Michael J. Fox, and Pam Grier. One of Portman’s earlier roles, her part as Taffy would have been an easy part to skim over if in the hands of a less capable actress. But despite her young age at the time of filming, Portman holds her own against some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

3 Alice: Closer (2004)

In a look at relationships and betrayal, this Mike Nichols film starred Portman as one of the four core cast members. As Alice, Portman seems like she understands every bit of this character as she infuses her with a coy, beguiling attitude.

She never reveals too much about herself, as evidenced by the end of the film. Yet, at the same time, Alice is fragile and immature and sensitive to getting her heart completely shattered by her selfish boyfriend, Dan.

2 Ann August: Anywhere But Here (1999)

Portman stars opposite Susan Saradon in Anywhere But Here. The film chronicles an irresponsible mother and her troubled relationship with her strait-laced daughter when they move to Beverly Hills. Portman gives a heartbreaking performance as the fed-up daughter of Sarandon’s flaky parent, who never seems to make the right decision.

The movie excels at the convincing chemistry the two leads have with one another. Portman’s frustration and level-headedness are a welcome foil to her costar.

1 Evey: V For Vendetta (2005)

While V For Vendetta has a cult following, it doesn’t get nearly the recognition it deserves. It’s an intriguing blend of action and dystopic political thriller and Portman’s role of Evey has an incredible character arc.

She starts the movie as an average young news employee and becomes a fearless freedom fighter. Effectively communicating the complicated emotions she feels towards V, Portman expresses her character’s thoughts and feelings in a manner that is not histrionic but still charismatic.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/underrated-natalie-portman-roles-movies/

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