With ‘Leon: The Professional’ (1994), Natalie Portman made her acting debut at the young age of 13, playing a youngster working with a hitman (Jean Reno) to revenge on the murder of her family.

Only 10 years later, she received her first Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress for the film ‘Closer’ (2004). She won a Golden Globe for playing Alice, a dancer dating a writer (Jude Law) who is in love with another woman (Julia Roberts), but the Academy chose Cate Blanchett (“The Aviator”) as the winner.

Here’s a list of 5 best of best Natalie Portman movies and TV shows one must watch:

Black Swan

For Darren Aronofsky’s intensely unsettling psychological horror movie, Portman danced away with the Best Actress Oscar. She portrays Nina, as a dancer with a nearly obsessive devotion to her art. She begins to fall apart when she gets the main role in Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” because of her preoccupation with brilliance. Aronofsky creates a nightmare depiction of artistic sacrifice through his direction, which almost matches the operatic ambition of his protagonist. In one terrifying set-piece after another, Portman throws herself into, her performance is nothing short of daring. The movie competed for awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing in addition to winning her category. 

Jackie

Portman is spooky as the most glitzy and enigmatic First Lady in recent history in “Jackie.” This historical play centres on Kennedy’s life just after her husband’s murder in 1963. By delving deeply into her real-life persona, the actress gives us a rare sight of the wrath and anguish that lie hidden under that prim, flawlessly fitted facade. Director Pablo Larrain, who does a great job of graphically depicting PTSD, supports her. Portman appeared to be headed for a second Best Actress Oscar, but Emma Stone (“La La Land”) ultimately won the award.

Closer

For the wrenching drama by Mike Nichols, Portman received her first Oscar nomination. The plot of the critically acclaimed film “Closer,” which is based on the award-winning play by Patrick Marber, centres on two couples: Dan (Jude Law) and Alice (Portman); and Anna (Julia Roberts) and Larry (Clive Owen), whose relationships become complicated as they happen to cross paths over the years. With Shakespearean glee, the performers rip through Marber’s biting speech, creating egotistical, narcissistic characters who we can’t help but identify with. Although Portman won the Golden Globe for her performance, Cate Blanchett (“The Aviator”) won the Academy Award.

VOX Lux

Brady Corbet’s grandiose and fantastical comedy “Vox Lux,” in which Portman stars, is all-in. Following a tragic incident, Celeste (Raffey Cassidy) and her sister Ellie (Stacy Martin) decide to pursue writing. The story begins in 1999. While her sister stays in the background, Celeste is propelled to fame. The pop artist (Portman), who is 31 years old, is planning a return tour for 2017. In a dual role, Cassidy makes an appearance as Albertine, her own daughter. Many of Corbet’s theories on the nature of stardom are thrown at the wall, but not all of them are successful. But Portman, who totally commits to the vacuousness of her role, matches his enthusiasm.

Annihilation

Portman plays a scientist who ventures into the perilous and enigmatic region known as “The Shimmer,” where the rules of nature are gradually dissolving, in Alex Garland’s eerie and frightening sci-fi thriller. The ladies on the expedition all suffer a terrible destiny in “Annihilation,” following in the footsteps of “Ten Little Indians” and “Alien” before it. Garland, however, leaves us perplexed about the ramifications of the conclusion rather than wrapping things up with a huge action set piece, which may have contributed to its dismal box office success. But expect this one to have a second life like “2001,” “Solaris,” and “Blade Runner,” among others (which will make more sense once you see the movie).