Fans Shocked to Learn Natalie Portman’s Real Name Isn’t Actually Portman

Fans were left surprised this week after discovering that Natalie Portman’s real name isn’t actually Portman. The Oscar-winning actress, whose full birth name is Natalie Hershlag, has used her stage name since she first started acting as a teenager, and now, decades later, fans are reacting to the revelation online.

After a post on social media revealed her real name, many people shared their thoughts in the comments. Some were amused, while others said they completely understood why the actress made the change.

One fan wrote, “Can see why Natalie went with Portman,” while another added, “I understand why Natalie Hershlag wanted a change.” Another person even joked that “Natalie Hershlag is a career ender.”

Portman, who has been in Hollywood since she was 13, spoke about her decision in an interview last year.

She explained that using a stage name was something she did to keep her personal and professional lives separate. “I got very protective of it very early on. I chose a different name when I started, which was kind of an interesting way that I separated identities,” she said.

The actress admitted that she took the separation very seriously, especially when she was younger. “I would get upset if someone at school called me Natalie Portman,” she recalled. “I was like, if you know me, you know me as Natalie Hershlag at school. It was kind of an extreme bifurcation of identity that I’ve tried to integrate a little bit more as an adult.”

Now, with more than 30 years in the spotlight, Portman says she’s realized that creating two separate identities wasn’t as healthy as she once thought. “As I started having kids and a family, I started realizing that maybe it was not helpful to be like, there’s two of me,” she said. “I have many interactions during my day as a public person. To exclude that from my experience is not real.”

Portman, who has become one of Hollywood’s most respected stars, has often been open about the pressures of fame and the need to protect her privacy. Her comments offer a rare glimpse into how she balances her personal identity with her public image, something many celebrities struggle with.

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