Natalie Portman’s family tree reflects her rich Jewish heritage and international upbringing, rooted in both Israeli and American branches and marked by stories of resilience and migration.

Parents and Early Family Life

Father: Dr. Avner Hershlag

  • Born in Israel; a fertility specialist and gynecologist, also a novelist.

  • Parents: Zvi Yehuda Hershlag (1914–2000) and Mania Portman (1915–2000), Polish and Romanian Jewish immigrants and Holocaust survivors.

  • He met Shelley Stevens at Ohio State University, and after a long-distance relationship, they married and welcomed Natalie in 1981 in Jerusalem.

Mother: Shelley Stevens (Shelley Hershlag)

  • Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, artist and former homemaker who later became Natalie’s talent agent.

  • Her parents were Jewish immigrants from Austria and Russia (the family’s original surname was Edelstein, changed to Stevens upon arrival in the U.S.).

Natalie's Childhood

  • Natalie was born on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem, sharing a birthday with her mother.

  • The family moved to the U.S. when she was three, living in Washington, D.C., then Connecticut, and finally settling in Long Island, New York.

  • Natalie attended Jewish day schools and pursued ballet, modern dance, and acting from an early age.

Only Child and Family Influence

  • Natalie believes being an only child played a crucial role in her career, giving her the focus and family support required to balance education with acting ambitions.

  • Both her parents were described as “protective and supportive,” never financially exploiting her success and remaining her strongest supporters through adulthood.

Extended Family and Heritage

  • Paternal family:

    • Grandfather led a Polish Jewish youth movement, survived the Holocaust (his parents were murdered at Auschwitz).

    • Grandmother from Romania, worked as a British spy during World War II.

  • Maternal family:

    • Jewish roots in Austria and Russia.

Portman's Own Family

  • Natalie was married to French choreographer Benjamin Millepied from 2012 to 2024, with whom she has two children: Aleph (born 2011) and Amalia (born 2017).

  • She maintains dual Israeli-American citizenship and closely identifies with her Jewish heritage.

Natalie Portman’s family is a testament to multicultural resilience, a blend of academic and artistic passions, and an enduring legacy of survival and advocacy across generations.

Family Tree Table

Relation Name Notes / Origin
Mother Shelley Stevens American-born; Jewish, artist
Father Avner Hershlag Israeli-born doctor; Jewish
Paternal Grandfather Zvi Yehuda Hershlag Polish Jew, Holocaust survivor’s son
Paternal Grandmother Mania Portman Romanian Jew; her mother was a WWII spy
Maternal Grandparents Austrian/Russian Jewish immigrants  
Spouse Benjamin Millepied French choreographer
Children Aleph, Amalia Millepied  

Natalie Portman’s family history is marked by migration, intellectual achievement, wartime resilience, and artistic influence, providing deep personal connections to her roots

 

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