Natalie Portman is on track for yet another successful year. The actress has been given rave reviews for her turn as a fierce pop star in Brady Corbet‘s “Vox Lux,” which premiered at the 2018 Venice Film Festival. In our review by Jessica Kiang, which you can read here, Portman’s turn is described as a “like-it-or-loathe-it-you-cannot-ignore-it performance (I love it, for the record).”
Portman is one of the most consistent actresses in Hollywood today. In the last few years, she has stacked up another Oscar nomination, a turn as a pop prima donna, and a film with Terrence Malick. Portman is a reliable source for us to connect with, whether she is acting as a timid ballerina learning to get in touch with her dark side, or a coy love interest, Portman reliably delivers great performances, adding unique characters to her growing credits.
In this supercut from Fandor, some of those strong turns are spliced together, with Portman’s trademark looks given a twist by each of her characters. Audiences know regardless of the strength of the rest of the film, Portman will give her all to the role she is playing. Her face is chronicled here, as the actress shifts from distraught, joyful, and despondent moments of repose. While we can always tell what Portman’s characters are feeling, it’s the intention behind those she embodies that puts a spin on the adjective thrown her way. Each feeling is embodied differently. The mischievousness of Anne Boleyn is far different from that of Mathilda. All we have to do, as the audience, is look closely as every cell of Portman’s face molds to the thoughts and feelings of her characters.