Quotes from Natalie Portman

In real life I'm not the one who's playing with guns or smoking.

When I was 7 years old, I put on shows for everyone at my grandpa's funeral. I was always the little entertainer.

You have to be careful when you're getting feedback because people will give you conflicting feedback all the time, but ultimately you end up following your own inner guide.

I don't mean to criticize anyone in any way that I wouldn't criticize myself. I think people should have fun, and have a good time, and enjoy the luck that we have to be lazy and dwell in consumerism. But I think that it's a balance. And our job as actors is empathy.

And then there is Cate Blanchett. She is different all the time.

The only place I am recognized all the time is in L.A. and otherwise, it's only about once a day. I feel pretty anonymous.

Well, right now, I'm very fascinated with 1920s Berlin. I mean, probably the more interesting thing would be to go to the beginning of civilization or precivilization - like polytheistic times. It would be interesting to see what came before modern religion and culture - what circumstances created the environment or the need for it.

We live in a real world. Come back to it.

Love is very much perceived as "I couldn't control myself; it's love." But you can. Everything you do in response is a choice.

Jasmine is just the most delicate and beautiful scent.

Young actors often don't think of the consequences of doing nudity or sex scenes. They want the role so badly that they agree to be exploited, and then end up embarrassing family, friends, and even strangers.

It's always strange being a kid on the set, because you're treated like an equal when you're working. But then when you break, the other actors go back to their trailers to take naps and drink beer, and I have to, like, go do school.