With that pesky psychology degree out of the way, she was free to get back in front of the cameras, appearing in Cold Mountain, Garden State, and Closer, the last of which earned her an Oscar nomination. She also played a pregnant Padme in the final Star Wars trilogy, eventually squirting out baby Luke and Leia before collapsing dead on the delivery table, an ignominious end to a beloved character.

Apart from the Star Wars movies, Portman's films have almost all been lower-profile fare. She still loves theater, too -- real, meaty theater like Chekhov (which she performed in Central Park in 2001), which is a lot like Cats without the music, costumes, dancing and the cats. Her appearance in the 2006 film V for Vendetta was politically charged and simultaneously demonstrated her acting depth and that she still looked hot even with a shaved head.

Even with her Ivy League degree and cerebral role choices, she clearly does not take herself too seriously, as evidenced by her brief cameo in Zoolander, and in a 2006 Saturday Night Live appearing as a foul-mouthed gangsta rapper in one memorable segment. She also provided the voice for a Simpsons character in a 2007 episode.

In summation, Natalie Portman similar to Paris Hilton except for her Ivy League education, her ability to speak English, Hebrew, French, Japanese, and German, her awareness as a global citizen, her hair color, her height and her ability at a moments notice to recite the name of the current vice president. Other than that, they're both actresses.