From her first film, Luc Besson's "The Professional" (1994), the slim, dark, olive-skinned and somewhat exotic looking Natalie Portman was tagged with star quality, and as she matured the actress proved her potential both as an Oscar-nominated dramatic actress and as a pop movie icon with her role as the regal Padme Amidala in the "Star Wars" prequels.

She played an orphan apprenticed to a "cleaner" or hit man (Jean Reno) who serves as her mentor, and she as his savior. "The Professional" proved an auspicious debut, winning Portman attention and positive notices, her performance particularly