Mushure mekutora firimu Where the Heart Is, Portman akatamira mudzimba dzeHarvard University kuti aite dhigirii rake reBachelor mu psychology. Akataura mubvunzurudzo ya1999 kuti, kunze kweiyo Star Wars prequels, aisazoita kwemakore mana anotevera kuitira kuti afunge nezvekudzidza. Munguva yekuzorora kwezhizha kubva muna Chikumi kusvika Nyamavhuvhu 2000, Portman akatora firimu Star Wars: Chikamu II <unk> Kurwiswa kweClones muSydney, pamwe nekuwedzera kugadzirwa muLondon. Muna Chikunguru 2001, Portman akavhura muNew York City's Public Theatre kugadzirwa kwaChekhov's The Seagull, inotungamirwa naMike Nichols; akaita basa raNina Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, naPhilip Seymour Hoffman. Mutambo wakavhurwa kuDelacorte Theatre muCentral Park. Gore iro, aive mumwe wevakakurumbira vakaita cameo mu2001 comedy Zoolander?
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