Editing Natalie Portman (section)

==Activism==

=== Animal and human rights ===
Portman has long been an advocate for various causes, including [[animal rights]], where she became a vegetarian at age eight after witnessing a demonstration of laser surgery on a chicken during a medical conference with her father. This experience deeply influenced her decision and has been a key part of her commitment to [[animal welfare]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brady |first1=Tara |title=Natalie Portman on Jackie O: 'All the people in her life knew different versions of her' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/natalie-portman-on-jackie-o-all-the-people-in-her-life-knew-different-versions-of-her-1.2930472 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=January 13, 2017}}</ref><ref name="observer07">{{Cite news |title = More than meets the eye |url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/nov/25/1 |work = The Observer |date = November 25, 2007 |first = Craig |last = McLean |location = London, UK |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170227165019/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/nov/25/1 |archive-date = February 27, 2017}}</ref> She became a [[Veganism|vegan]] in 2009 after reading [[Jonathan Safran Foer]]'s ''[[Eating Animals]]'' and later produced a documentary on factory farming systems in the U.S. by the same title.<ref name="vegan">{{cite news |url = https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jonathan-safran-foers-iea_b_334407 |title = Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals Turned Me Vegan |first = Natalie |last = Portman |work = [[The Huffington Post]] |date = October 28, 2009 |access-date = October 28, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091029032435/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/natalie-portman/jonathan-safran-foers-iea_b_334407.html |archive-date = October 29, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://deadline.com/2017/09/telluride-film-festival-natalie-portman-eating-animals-1202160237/ |title = Natalie Portman-Narrated Documentary 'Eating Animals' Is A Harrowing Warning Shot About Our Food – Telluride |last = Hammond |first = Pete |date = September 3, 2017 |work = Deadline |access-date = September 28, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170929005214/http://deadline.com/2017/09/telluride-film-festival-natalie-portman-eating-animals-1202160237/ |archive-date = September 29, 2017}}</ref> In September 2017, she was recognized for her work on the film by the [[Environmental Media Association]] Awards with the Ongoing Commitment Award.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/natalie-portman-russell-simmons-michael-bloomberg-honored-at-ema-awards-1042733 |title = Natalie Portman, Russell Simmons and Michael Bloomberg Honored at EMA Awards |author=Herman, James Patrick|work = The Hollywood Reporter |access-date = September 28, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170925220228/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/natalie-portman-russell-simmons-michael-bloomberg-honored-at-ema-awards-1042733 |archive-date = September 25, 2017}}</ref> She does not wear animal products and has praised animal-friendly products designed by [[Stella McCartney]] and [[Target Corporation|Target]]. In 2007, she launched her own brand of animal-friendly footwear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/57108/portman-kicks-back-with-vegan-shoe-line|title=Portman Kicks Back with Vegan Style Shoeline|author=Serpe, Gina|work=eonline.com|date=January 3, 2008|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=September 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926184645/https://www.eonline.com/news/57108/portman-kicks-back-with-vegan-shoe-line|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, Portman traveled to [[Rwanda]] with [[Jack Hanna]] to film the documentary ''Gorillas on the Brink''.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Natalie Portman Braves the Jungle's Species |url = https://www.tvguide.com/news/natalie-portman-gorillas-41669.aspx |first = Ileane |last = Rudolph |work = TV Guide |date = October 26, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110812012733/http://www.tvguide.com/news/natalie-portman-gorillas-41669.aspx |archive-date = August 12, 2011}}</ref> Portman has been an advocate of [[environmentalism|environmental causes]] since childhood, when she joined an environmental song and dance troupe known as World Patrol Kids.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Holub |first1=Christian |title=Natalie Portman Relives Her Past as an Environmental Pop Singer |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/12/15/natalie-portman-world-patrol-kids/ |website=ew.com |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |date=December 15, 2016 |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925195845/https://ew.com/article/2016/12/15/natalie-portman-world-patrol-kids/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Natalie Portman at Columbia University.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Portman in 2007|Portman speaking about the global microfinance organization, [[FINCA International|FINCA]], at [[Columbia University]] in 2007]]

Portman has also supported anti-poverty causes. In 2004 and 2005, she traveled to [[Uganda]], Guatemala, and [[Ecuador]] as the Ambassador of Hope for [[FINCA International]], an organization that promotes [[microcredit|micro-lending]] to help finance women-owned businesses in developing countries.<ref name="finca">{{cite web |title = Celebrating 20 Years of Village Banking |publisher = villagebanking.org |url = http://www.villagebanking.org |access-date = May 1, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060430081153/http://www.villagebanking.org/ |archive-date = April 30, 2006}}</ref> In an interview appearing on the [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] program ''[[Foreign Exchange (US TV series)|Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria]]'', she discussed [[microfinance]]. Host [[Fareed Zakaria]] said that he was "generally wary of celebrities with fashionable causes", but included the segment with Portman because "she really knew her stuff".<ref>{{Cite news |last = Press |first = Joy |title = The Interpreter |work = [[The Village Voice]] |date = August 16, 2005 |url = http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-08-09/news/the-interpreter |access-date = December 22, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150423102638/http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-08-09/news/the-interpreter/ |archive-date = April 23, 2015}}</ref> On ''[[This Week (ABC TV series)|This Week with George Stephanopoulos]]'' in April 2007, Portman discussed her work with FINCA and how it can benefit women and children in [[Third World]] countries.<ref>{{Cite news |title = Voices, Funnies, and in Memoriam |url = https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Voices/story?id=3092028 |work = ABC News |date = May 3, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100407031448/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Voices/story?id=3092028 |archive-date = April 7, 2010}}</ref> In fall-2007, she visited several university campuses, including Harvard, USC, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Princeton, New York University, and Columbia, to inspire students with the power of microfinance and to encourage them to join the [[FINCA International#Village Banking|Village Banking Campaign]] to help families and communities lift themselves out of poverty.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.villagebanking.org/site/c.erKPI2PCIoE/b.2607021/k.A429/FINCA_in_the_News.htm |title = FINCA in the News |access-date = January 6, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071227073151/http://www.villagebanking.org/site/c.erKPI2PCIoE/b.2607021/k.A429/FINCA_in_the_News.htm |archive-date = December 27, 2007}}</ref>

Portman is a supporter of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], and for the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]] she campaigned for Senator [[John Kerry]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://badgerherald.com/news/2004/10/05/natalie-portman-supp/|title=Natalie Portman supports Kerry during campus visit|first=Ryan|last=Masse|date=October 5, 2004|access-date=June 24, 2022|archive-date=September 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926184646/https://badgerherald.com/news/2004/10/05/natalie-portman-supp/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Morris |first1=Wesley |title=Natalie Portman through the years |url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/portman?pg=13 |website=[[Boston.com]] |access-date=August 4, 2022 |archive-date=August 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804025450/http://archive.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/portman?pg=13 |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]], she supported Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] of New York in the Democratic primaries. Portman later campaigned for Senator [[Barack Obama]] of Illinois. In a 2008 interview, she also stated: "I even like [[John McCain]]. I disagree with his war stance – which is a really big deal – but I think he's a very moral person."<ref>{{Cite news |title = The Natural |first = Ariel |last = Levy |url = http://www.elle.com/Pop-Culture/Cover-Shoots/The-Natural/Natalie-Portman-Elle-April-2008 |work = [[Elle (magazine)|Elle]] |date = March 5, 2008 |access-date = November 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100625125354/http://www.elle.com/Pop-Culture/Cover-Shoots/The-Natural/Natalie-Portman-Elle-April-2008 |archive-date = June 25, 2010 }}</ref> In 2010, her activist work and popularity with young people earned her a nomination for [[VH1]]'s [[Do Something]] Awards, which is dedicated to honoring individuals who do good.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.dosomething.org |title = Do Something |publisher = Do Something |access-date = July 15, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100717043910/http://www.dosomething.org/ |archive-date = July 17, 2010}}</ref> In 2011, Portman and her then-fiancé Benjamin Millepied were among the signers of a petition to President Obama in support of [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]].<ref name="Christian Post">{{cite news |url = http://www.christianpost.com/news/natalie-portman-fiance-benjamin-millepied-push-for-gay-marriage-51008 |title = Natalie Portman, Fiancé Millepied Push President Obama for Gay Marriage |first = Jennifer |last = Riley |work = [[The Christian Post]] |location = Washington, DC |date = June 9, 2011 |access-date = August 4, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130119035223/http://www.christianpost.com/news/natalie-portman-fiance-benjamin-millepied-push-for-gay-marriage-51008/ |archive-date = January 19, 2013}}</ref> She supported [[Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign|Obama's re-election campaign]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.lvrj.com/news/actress-natalie-portman-backs-obama-appeals-to-women-voters-167450095.html |work = [[Las Vegas Review-Journal]] |first = Laura |last = Myers |title = Actress backs Obama, appeals to women voters in Las Vegas |date = August 25, 2012 |access-date = August 26, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120828204422/http://www.lvrj.com/news/actress-natalie-portman-backs-obama-appeals-to-women-voters-167450095.html |archive-date = August 28, 2012}}</ref>

In 2009, Portman signed a petition that defended [[Roman Polanski]], who was [[Roman Polanski sexual abuse case|charged with drugging and raping a thirteen-year-old girl in 1977]], and has been a fugitive for decades.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Desta|first=Yohana|title=Natalie Portman Regrets Signing Petition That Defended Roman Polanski: "It Was a Mistake"|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/02/natalie-portman-roman-polanski-petition|access-date=June 5, 2021|magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=February 21, 2018|archive-date=June 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611025802/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/02/natalie-portman-roman-polanski-petition|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Sirin|last=Kale|title=Natalie Portman Is One of the Few Celebrities to Apologize for Supporting Roman Polanski|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/natalie-portman-apology-for-roman-polanski-petition/|date=February 21, 2018|access-date=June 5, 2021|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605141302/https://www.vice.com/en/article/evm59e/natalie-portman-apology-for-roman-polanski-petition|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Natalie Portman On Time's Up, Roman Polanski, And Annihilation's Female-Led Cast|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kateaurthur/natalie-portman-on-times-up-roman-polanski-and|access-date=June 5, 2021|website=[[BuzzFeed News]]|date=February 20, 2018|archive-date=June 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605141304/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kateaurthur/natalie-portman-on-times-up-roman-polanski-and|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2018, she expressed regret over signing the petition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kateaurthur/natalie-portman-is-woke |title=Natalie Portman is woke |website=[[BuzzFeed News]] |date=February 20, 2018 |access-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206144203/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kateaurthur/natalie-portman-is-woke |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2011, Portman was appointed an ambassador of [[WE Charity]] (formerly known as Free The Children), an international charity and educational partner, spearheading their Power of a Girl campaign.<ref name="powerofagirl">{{cite web |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lctTq26XevU |publisher = Free The Children |title = Celebrate The Power of a Girl with Natalie Portman |date = January 30, 2011 |access-date = February 6, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140521173832/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lctTq26XevU |archive-date = May 21, 2014}}</ref> She hosted a contest challenging girls in North America to fundraise for one of WE Charity's all-girl schools in Kenya. As incentives for the contest winner, Portman offered the designer Rodarte dress she wore to the premiere of ''Black Swan'', along with tickets to her next film premiere.<ref name="powerofagirl" /> It was announced in May 2012 that Portman would be working with watch designer [[Richard Mille]] to develop a limited-edition timepiece with proceeds supporting WE Charity.<ref name="mille">{{cite news |url = http://www.watchtime.com/wristwatch-industry-news/richard-mille-partners-natalie-portman-free-children |title = Richard Mille Partners with Natalie Portman and Free the Children Charity |first = Mark |last = Bernardo |work = WatchTime |date = March 16, 2012 |access-date = March 6, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130125201950/http://www.watchtime.com/wristwatch-industry-news/richard-mille-partners-natalie-portman-free-children/ |archive-date = January 25, 2013}}</ref> During WE Day California 2019 Portman gave a pro vegan speech in front of the student audience, linking vegan lifestyle and feminism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/natalie-portman-pro-vegan-speech-16-000-students|title=Natalie Portman Gives Pro-Vegan Speech To 16,000 Students|publisher=plantbasednews.org|author=Chiorando, Maria|date=April 26, 2019|access-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603140237/https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/natalie-portman-pro-vegan-speech-16-000-students|archive-date=June 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=Jonas and Portman speak out at WE Day event|date=April 26, 2019|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8BEdMjCjWI|access-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710110312/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8BEdMjCjWI&gl=US&hl=en|archive-date=July 10, 2019|url-status=live|via=YouTube}}</ref> In December 2019, she visited Kenya a second time with WE Charity and spoke with young girls determined to improve their lives through access to education.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a30084616/giving-tuesday-2019-natalie-portman-we-charity/|title=Natalie Portman Reflects on Her Visit to Kenya and Female Empowerment Work With WE Charity|last=Barrientos|first=Selena|date=December 3, 2019|website=[[Good Housekeeping]]|access-date=February 10, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209172256/https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a30084616/giving-tuesday-2019-natalie-portman-we-charity/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2006, Portman served as a guest lecturer at [[Columbia University]] for a course in [[terrorism]] and [[counterterrorism]], where she spoke about her film ''V for Vendetta''.<ref name="Columbia">{{cite news |publisher = Columbia University |title = Hollywood Star Leads Columbia Class in Discussion of Political Violence |url = http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/06/03/nataliePortman.html |access-date = April 25, 2006 |first=Mary-Lea | last=Cox |date = March 31, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060404180312/http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/06/03/nataliePortman.html |archive-date = April 4, 2006}}</ref> In February 2015, Portman was among other alumni of Harvard University including [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]], [[Darren Aronofsky]] and [[Susan Faludi]] who wrote an open letter to the school demanding it [[Fossil fuel divestment|divest]] its $35,900,000,000 endowment from coal, gas, and oil companies.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3716410/natalie-portman-harvard-divest-stocks-energy/|title=Natalie Portman Joins Calls for Harvard to Sell Off Stocks in Big Energy Firms|first=Charlotte|last=Alter|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=February 20, 2015|access-date=April 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520163858/http://time.com/3716410/natalie-portman-harvard-divest-stocks-energy/|archive-date=May 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year in May, she spoke at the annual Harvard Class Day to the graduating class of 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Pazzanese |first1 = Christina |title = Portman: I, too, battled self doubt |url = http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/05/portman-i-too-battled-self-doubt |access-date = May 28, 2015 |work = [[The Harvard Gazette]] |date = May 27, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150528135909/http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/05/portman-i-too-battled-self-doubt/ |archive-date = May 28, 2015}}</ref>

In January 2018, she donated $50,000 to the [[Time's Up (organization)|Time's Up]] initiative.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vincent |first=Alice |date=January 2, 2018 |title=Celebrities support Time's Up |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2018/01/02/meryl-streep-steven-spielberg-big-spenders-donating-timesup/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215230150/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2018/01/02/meryl-streep-steven-spielberg-big-spenders-donating-timesup/ |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |access-date=December 12, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> Portman took part in the [[2018 Women's March]] in Los Angeles, where she spoke about the "sexual terrorism" she experienced at age thirteen after the release of her film ''Léon: The Professional''. She told the crowd, "I understood very quickly, even as a 13-year-old, that if I were to express myself sexually I would feel unsafe and that men would feel entitled to discuss and objectify my body to my great discomfort."<ref name="womensmarch2">{{cite news |last=Sanchez |first=Ray |date=January 21, 2018 |title=Natalie Portman, at 13, experienced 'sexual terrorism' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/20/us/women-march-natalie-portman-trnd/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123050004/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/20/us/women-march-natalie-portman-trnd/index.html |archive-date=January 23, 2018 |access-date=January 23, 2018 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> She drew attention to the [[MeToo movement]], revealing that her first fan letter was a "rape fantasy" from a man and that her local radio station created a countdown until her eighteenth birthday (when she would reach [[Age of consent|legal age to consent]] to have intercourse).<ref name="womensmarch2"/> In September 2023, Portman spoke at an event for the United Nations Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls, where she urged member states to reinvest in the Initiative and ending gender-based violence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2023 |title=Cecilia Suárez, Natalie Portman urge UN Member States to re-invest in Spotlight Initiative |url=https://www.spotlightinitiative.org/news/cecilia-suarez-natalie-portman-urge-un-member-states-re-invest-spotlight-initiative |access-date=October 12, 2023 |website=Spotlight Initiative}}</ref>

In 2020, Portman endorsed the "[[defund the police]]" movement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=Cydney |date=June 9, 2020 |title=Natalie Portman calls out her own 'white privilege,' supports defunding the police |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/06/09/natalie-portman-calls-out-white-privilege-supports-defunding-police/5329429002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611065339/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/06/09/natalie-portman-calls-out-white-privilege-supports-defunding-police/5329429002/ |archive-date=June 11, 2020 |access-date=June 10, 2020 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> In 2020, Portman collaborated with [[JusticeLA]] to create a public service announcement #SuingToSaveLives about the health of people in L.A. County jails amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moniuszko |first=Sara M. |date=September 24, 2020 |title=Natalie Portman, Gabrielle Union and Joaquin Phoenix join all-star PSA for jail reform amid COVID-19 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/09/24/gabrielle-union-natalie-portman-join-covid-psa-jail-reform/3518083001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628051132/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/09/24/gabrielle-union-natalie-portman-join-covid-psa-jail-reform/3518083001/ |archive-date=June 28, 2021 |access-date=June 16, 2021 |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref name=":42">{{Cite magazine |last=Perez |first=Lexy |date=September 24, 2020 |title=Natalie Portman, Gabrielle Union, Joaquin Phoenix Lead #SuingToSaveLives PSA for COVID-19 Response Coalition (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/natalie-portman-gabrielle-union-joaquin-phoenix-lead-suingtosavelives-psa-for-covid-19-response-coalition-4066236/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627194209/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/natalie-portman-gabrielle-union-joaquin-phoenix-lead-suingtosavelives-psa-for-covid-19-response-coalition-4066236/ |archive-date=June 27, 2021 |access-date=June 16, 2021 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Later in 2020, Portman was announced as one of the co-founders and investors in an almost all-female group that was awarded a new franchise in the [[National Women's Soccer League]], the top level of the [[Women's soccer in the United States|women's sport in the U.S.]] The new team, since unveiled as [[Angel City FC]], began play in the [[2022 NWSL season]].<ref>{{cite press release |title=National Women's Soccer League awards expansion team rights to Los Angeles |date=July 21, 2020 |publisher=National Women’s Soccer League |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/national-womens-soccer-league-awards-expansion-team-rights-to-los-angeles |access-date=July 21, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721191247/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/national-womens-soccer-league-awards-expansion-team-rights-to-los-angeles |archive-date=July 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=Adam Elder |date=March 18, 2022 |title=Natalie Portman wanted to shift football culture. So she founded Angel City FC |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/18/natalie-portman-wanted-to-shift-football-culture-so-she-founded-angel-city-fc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712111130/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/18/natalie-portman-wanted-to-shift-football-culture-so-she-founded-angel-city-fc |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |access-date=July 12, 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

=== Views on Israel ===
Portman has been described by ''[[Haaretz]]'' as "one of Israel's outspoken supporters." Even when global public opinion turns against her, she remains steadfast in her support of "the Holy Land, advocating both through academic articles, lectures, and public declarations." Most notably, she raised funds for the reconstruction of [[Israeli–Lebanese conflict|northern Israel after the Second Lebanon War]].<ref name="IsraeliDream"/>

In 2002, at Harvard, Portman wrote a letter to ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'' in response to an essay critical of [[Human rights violations against Palestinians by Israel|Israeli actions toward Palestinians]], arguing that it misleadingly compared the situation to racial [[apartheid]] and that instead "most Israelis and Palestinians are indistinguishable physically".<ref>{{cite news|first=Natalie|last=Portman|date=April 17, 2002|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2002/4/17/israeli-diversity-shown-even-among-leaders/|title=Israeli Diversity Shown Even Among Leaders|newspaper=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|accessdate=July 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905194142/http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2002/4/17/israeli-diversity-shown-even-among-leaders/ |archive-date=September 5, 2014 }}</ref> She has criticized the [[Cabinet of Israel|Israeli government]], specifically Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], being critical of his [[2015 Israeli legislative election|re-election]] in 2015, saying she was "disappointed" and found his comments racist.<ref name="timesofisrael.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/natalie-portman-refuses-to-collect-prize-in-israel-citing-recent-events/|title=Natalie Portman refuses to visit Israel to accept prize, citing 'recent events'|work=[[The Times of Israel]]|date=April 20, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420015847/https://www.timesofisrael.com/natalie-portman-refuses-to-collect-prize-in-israel-citing-recent-events/|archive-date=April 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2017, Portman was announced as the [[Genesis Prize]] recipient for 2018, which includes $2,000,000 in prize money.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.genesisprize.org/laureates/laureate-2018.html|title=Laureate 2018 – The Genesis Prize|publisher=genesisprize.org|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420135657/http://www.genesisprize.org/laureates/laureate-2018.html|archive-date=April 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="timesofisrael.com" /> The following April, Portman announced that she did not plan to attend the awards ceremony scheduled for June, citing "recent events in Israel" that left her feeling uncomfortable attending public events there, leading to the ceremony being canceled.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/natalie-portman-forces-genesis-prize-to-cancel-israel-ceremony-1.6012937|title=Genesis Prize Cancels Ceremony After 2018 Winner Natalie Portman Says Won't Visit Israel|agency=JTA|date=April 20, 2018|work=[[Haaretz]]|access-date=April 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420034811/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/natalie-portman-forces-genesis-prize-to-cancel-israel-ceremony-1.6012937|archive-date=April 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The statement did not specify which events, but was suggested as referencing the killings and wounding of Palestinian protestors by Israeli fire during the [[2018–2019 Gaza border protests]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pulver |first=Andrew |date=April 20, 2018 |title=Natalie Portman pulls out of Israel award due to 'distressing recent events' there |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/apr/20/natalie-portman-israel-genesis-prize |access-date=December 31, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2018 |title=Natalie Portman snubs Israel Genesis Prize ceremony amid Palestinian Gaza protest backlash - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/natalie-portman-israel-genesis-prize-ceremony-palestinian-gaza-protests/# |access-date=December 31, 2024 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Natalie Portman says to skip Israeli ceremony due to Netanyahu speech |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/natalie-portman-says-to-skip-israeli-ceremony-due-to-netanyahu-speech-idUSKBN1HS05D/#:~:text=%22I%20chose%20not%20to%20attend,over%20its%20treatment%20of%20Palestinians. |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Portman’s decision sparked backlash from [[Israeli nationalism|Israeli politicians]], including Culture Minister [[Miri Regev]], Minister of Public Security and Strategic Affairs [[Gilad Erdan]] and American rabbi [[Shmuley Boteach]], who accused the actress of falling into the hands of the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|BDS]] movement. The [[Likud]] party condemned Portman’s position, with [[Knesset]] member [[Oren Hazan]] calling for her Israeli citizenship to be revoked.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Maya |last2=Caspi |first2=Uncle |date=April 20, 2018 |title=נטלי פורטמן ביטלה הגעתה לישראל |trans-title=Natalie Portman canceled her arrival in Israel |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/article/550243 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=[[Israel Hayom]]}}</ref>

Portman clarified that she was not boycotting Israel, stating, "I am not part of the BDS movement and do not endorse it. Like many Israelis and Jews, I can be critical of Israel's leadership without wanting to boycott the nation." She explained that she did not want to "appear as endorsing" Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was scheduled to speak at the ceremony, and emphasized that "the mistreatment of those suffering from today’s [[Atrocity crime|atrocities]] is not in line with my Jewish values." She added, "Because I care about Israel, I must stand up against violence, corruption, inequality, and abuse of power".<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 20, 2018 |title=Natalie Portman Backs Out of Israeli Award Ceremony (Published 2018) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/world/middleeast/natalie-portman-genesis-prize.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241206013900/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/world/middleeast/natalie-portman-genesis-prize.html |archive-date=December 6, 2024 |access-date=December 31, 2024 |language=en |last1=Kershner |first1=Isabel |last2=Specia |first2=Megan }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Busch |first=Denise Petski,Anita |date=April 20, 2018 |title=Natalie Portman Explains Why She Snubbed Awards Ceremony In Israel – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/natalie-portman-criticized-israeli-government-for-pulling-out-of-awards-show-1202372841/ |access-date=December 31, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Natalie-Portman-says-not-boycotting-Israel-but-Netanyahu-for-atrocities-551351|title=Natalie Portman says not boycotting Israel but Netanyahu for 'atrocities'|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=April 21, 2018|access-date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421172346/http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Natalie-Portman-says-not-boycotting-Israel-but-Netanyahu-for-atrocities-551351|archive-date=April 21, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Later in 2018, Portman criticized the passing of the highly controversial and widely criticized [[Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People|Nation-State Bill]], describing the law as "racist, and there’s nothing else to say about that."<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2018 |title=Natalie Portman slams Israel's 'racist' nation-state law |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/13/natalie-portman-slams-israels-racist-nation-state-law |access-date=December 31, 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritman |first=Alex |date=December 13, 2018 |title=Natalie Portman Criticizes Israel's Nation-State Law as "Racist" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/natalie-portman-criticizes-israels-racist-nation-state-law-1168963/ |access-date=December 31, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> She is also a member of the [[OneVoice Movement|One Voice movement]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.onevoicemovement.org/board/entertainment-council.php |title = Entertainment Council |publisher = Onevoicemovement.org |access-date = June 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101006084712/http://onevoicemovement.org/board/entertainment-council.php |archive-date = October 6, 2010 }}</ref>

October 18, 2023, Portman called for the release of [[Gaza war hostage crisis|hostages held by Hamas]] and condemned their actions. She also advocated for Israeli children who have been kidnapped, urging support for their release. Additionally, she publicized information about [[Dror-Israel|Dror Israel]] on Instagram to raise funds for children near the [[Gaza–Israel barrier|Gaza border]] and called on the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] to address ongoing breaches of International Humanitarian Law within Israel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hananel |first=Inbal |date=2023-10-18 |title=Natalie Portman pleads for hostage release, raises money for children from Gaza border communities |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/rkodd1pwa |access-date=2025-02-21 |work=Ynetnews |language=en}}</ref> On November 12, 2023, she took part in the ''[[March for the Republic and Against Antisemitism]]'' in Paris in response to the [[Antisemitism in 21st-century France|rise in antisemitism]] since the start of the [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/12/world/europe/france-antisemitism-march.html |title=Over 100,000 March in France Against Antisemitism |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=October 10, 2024 |date=November 13, 2023 }}</ref>