In July, Natalie Portman is set to appear again as Jane Foster with the release of her new film, Thor: Love and Thunder. But she’s been a star on the big screen since she was a child. She’s had many great roles, including that of Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars franchise.
Portman was a star long before the debut of Star Wars even if that made her a household name. She’s appeared in countless films and her career continues to thrive. Ranker has put together a list of her best non-Star Wars films for her fans to enjoy.
Vox Lux (2018)
Stream On Hulu & Kanopy
Natalie Portman plays Celeste, a woman who rose from the ashes of tragedy to stardom. Her story spans 18 years and follows important cultural moments that the audience gets to experience through her eyes.
Portman is hauntingly powerful in her role as Celeste. She steals the attention of the audience, and viewers won’t be able to turn away from her performance even if they wanted to. Vox Lux is a daring original that achieves depth along with telling an incredibly thrilling, funny, but serious film. This is an intellectually charged film that delivers a unique vision that captivates audiences.
No Strings Attached (2011)
Stream On Paramount+
Lifelong friends take their relationship to a whole new level when they start a strictly physical relationship. They make a pact that there will be no jealousy or fighting. There’s just one catch, they aren’t allowed to fall for one another.
Natalie Portman plays a medical student named Emma here. She becomes the dominant figure throughout the movie with her performance, and it’s clear she’s comfortable on screen. Portman is smart, sexy, and sparkles on the big screen. This is a cute, entertaining journey to finding love in unexpected places but some have overlooked it since a similar movie came out that same year.
The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Stream On Netflix
When the king seeks a mistress to provide him with a male heir, two sisters are presented to him. The sisters quickly turn into rivals, vying for the king’s attention and seeking power.
The Other Boleyn Girl is a classic romance movie, filled with drama, sisterhood, and betrayal. Portman plays Anne Boleyn alongside Scarlett Johansson as Mary Boleyn. Portman’s portrayal of Anne is as though she’s been set free. It’s an almost flawless performance as a sister scorned and who wants to become queen. Her character is smart and cunning but is still one of Portman’s most likable characters.
Annihilation (2018)
Stream On Paramount+
A biologist and former soldier join a mission to discover what happened to her husband inside a strange phenomenon spreading along the American coast. Once inside, the group finds beautiful but dangerous creatures and landscapes that threaten not only their lives but their sanity.
2018’s Annihilation is a gripping, survival thriller that is intense and genuinely scary. As one of Portman’s best performances, she easily fits the role of Lena. She’s unable to relax throughout the film, continuing on through grief and fear, but her acting is always on point. You can tell that this is someone desperate to find her lover. This is a sci-fi movie that is tense throughout and nails the final scene.
Where The Heart Is (2000)
Rent On Apple TV
A pregnant teen is left in a Wal-Mart parking lot and eventually gives birth there after living in the store. She becomes a media darling and builds relationships and sisterhood with the people she meets throughout her journey.
Natalie Portman’s role as Novalee is one of her most underrated performances. Portman gives a luminous effort that elevates this film about bettering yourself and choosing who your family is. Natalie’s character is sweet yet naive, and she’s able to perfectly capture the character of a girl who’s on her own, yet desperate to become a better version of herself, for her and her daughter.
Thor (2011)
Stream On Disney+
The Norse god, Thor, is banished to Earth after responding with brutality against his enemies. He’s soon left powerless to face his greatest threat and must learn what it means to be worthy of the power he once possessed.
Portman plays the love interest, Jane Foster. She’s the strong, intelligent scientist that finds Thor when he crashes on Earth, and they quickly fall in love. Portman is a perfect fit for the brilliant scientist and is comfortable in her role as the lead female. She leads the way for Kat Dennings and together the cast creates a surprisingly funny and entertaining first installment of the Thor franchise. Portman will be reprising the role this year but will now take on a superhero aspect.
Closer (2004)
Stream On Netflix & The Roku Channel
Two couples slowly start to lose their grips after so much time together. Things get more complicated when the man and woman from each couple meet and begin to have an affair.
Natalie Portman plays Alice, a young woman who works as a stripper and who just moved to London. Her performance as Alice is very entertaining in a movie that is full of love, laughter, and betrayal. This haunting and hypnotic film brings out a side of Portman fans love to see. It also marked her first of three nominations for an Academy Award.
V For Vendetta (2006)
Stream On HBO Max
London is a police state occupied by a fascist government in V for Vendetta. A masked vigilante uses terrorist tactics to fight the government and quickly finds an ally after saving a young woman from the secret police.
V for Vendetta is a film that sticks with the viewer for a long time after watching it and the film is one of the best non-superhero comic book movies. Portman plays Evey in this compelling political mystery and she very easily portrays a woman who morphs from a dutiful and loyal citizen to a V sympathizer. Natalie gives a solid performance, able to push through particular torture scenes in a believable way and their aftermath.
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Stream On Paramount+ & Epix
A professional hitman takes in a young girl after her family is murdered by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The two form an unusual relationship as the girl becomes his protégé, and he teaches her the hitman trade.
In Leon: The Professional, Natalie Portman plays 12-year-old Mathilda. This is Portman’s film debut, and she plays her part with great resourcefulness. Her character has seen a lot of violence in her short life, but Portman manages to bring to life a character who is tough and old for her years. Her performance in this dark thriller is impressive, showing her talent from a young age.
Black Swan (2010)
Stream On Hulu, Freevee, & The Roku Channel
Nina is a ballerina whose life is consumed with dancing. When she lands the lead role in Swan Lake, she begins to get in touch with her dark side to personify the white and black swan, but she struggles to maintain her sanity.
Natalie Portman plays the lead of Nina in Black Swan. She battles herself throughout the film, and it’s with an intensity viewers have never seen before in her acting career. Portman dominates the action. Her character is obsessive and takes things to the extreme, but it’s never as though Portman is really acting. She faced a great physical challenge with this role, and she didn’t disappoint.
