Natalie Portman, renowned for her stellar acting career, has shared a surprising alternate career path she might have taken if Hollywood hadn’t worked out for her. Known for her Oscar-winning performance in “Black Swan” and acclaimed roles in movies like “Jackie,” “Closer,” and “May/December,” Portman’s plan B is as daring as her journey in the film industry—but in a very different way.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Portman revealed, “I think I’d be like Jane Goodall, living with animals in the wild,” referring to the celebrated zoologist known for her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees. While she hasn’t become a zoologist, Portman navigates the ‘zoo’ of fame daily.
Portman’s latest project, “Lady in the Lake,” premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday. She stars as Maddie, a 1960s housewife who leaves everything she knows to work as a reporter and uncover the truth behind an unsolved murder. “She’s so in a tunnel of her own needs that it’s like she’s blind to everything else around her,” Portman said of her character. “It was wild to inhabit her intensity.”
In this new series, Portman stars alongside Moses Ingram, who plays Cleo Johnson, a dedicated mother striving to improve the lives of Black people in Baltimore. The show explores the interconnected lives of these two women, a narrative that deeply resonated with Portman. “It had two such incredible female roles—both women looking for their freedom in this incredible world of the 1960s in Baltimore, beautifully realized by all of our daughters,” Portman shared.
Ingram praised Portman, calling her “a legend.” She expressed her awe at working with the actress, saying, “Every day I sit next to her I’m still overwhelmed that someone I’ve watched for so many years, I somehow landed in the TV next to her. It’s super surreal. I’m grateful for it.”
While the idea of becoming the next Jane Goodall is intriguing, Portman is excelling with her original career plan. “Lady in the Lake” is set to captivate audiences, showcasing Portman’s continuous dedication to portraying complex and compelling characters.
