Other notable roles for Natalie Portman

• "The Professional" (1994) — Her enormously assured debut (at age 12) as an orphan who seeks protection from hit man Jean Reno made everyone say, "Who is that?"

• "Anywhere but Here" (1999) — Portman copes with erratic mom Susan Sarandon, who moves them to Los Angeles with dreams of turning her daughter into a star.

• "Cold Mountain" (2003) — As a desperate Confederate widow left alone with her baby, Portman, in only a few minutes on-screen, gives the movie more emotional oomph than all of stars Jude Law and Nicole Kidman's scenes combined.

• "Closer" (2004) — Any doubts that Portman is all grown up disappeared during the intense scene with Clive Owen in the strip club....

• "Garden State" (2004) — Portman takes a near-impossible role — talkative, quirky gal who shakes Zach Braff out of his depression — and makes it work. (Unlike, say, Kirsten Dunst's similar character in "Elizabethtown.")

— Steve Murray