Natalie Portman lectures at Columbia University (03/06/2006)

SVZ · March 7th, 2006, 05:02 PM

At the age of just 24 Natalie Portman has already managed to clock up over 20 film credits and establish herself as one of Tinseltown's most sought-after performers. And the diminutive actress, who is fluent in five languages and holds a degree in psychology, has now decided to add teaching to her impressive resumé by becoming a university professor.
The Cold Mountain star made quite an impression on students at Columbia University in New York when she went along to work as a stand-in professor on Monday. The pretty performer is no stranger to the goings-on of a college campus, however, as she studied for her own qualification at Harvard between 1999 and 2003.

LunaShar · March 7th, 2006, 05:25 PM

She looks like a greaser in the 2nd pic.

SVZ · March 7th, 2006, 05:30 PM

how to be an obnoxious stuck up whore 101 who went to haaaaahvud

Luna · March 7th, 2006, 05:33 PM

I'm impressed. She's a very smart girl and beautiful.

chuckpony · March 7th, 2006, 05:55 PM

So, what is she lecturing about?

sweet2071 · March 7th, 2006, 06:05 PM

I respect the fact that she went to college and finished!! Speaking 5 languages is also impressive as hell. I wonder what she is lecturing about too...pop culture or psychology or maybe a film class.

I am all for articulate actors who actually have more going for them then just a pretty face. She obviously has some smarts and I don't see her flaunting it...she seems pretty low key to me.

She isn't a media whore like so many other actresses.

chuckpony · March 7th, 2006, 06:07 PM

Well, if I had disposable amounts of time and money I could probably learn 5 languages too and lecture at Harvard. Pixie bitch.

SVZ · March 7th, 2006, 06:08 PM

she does try to flaunt it, but she just fails miserably in getting her ideas across. which of course has nothing to do with how smart she is, being able to project information is a talent in itself, which not many people have.

you gotta give respect to someone who got into harvard though, it's a very tough hill to climb - and no they won't let you based on your wealth or celebritydom - though it does help pay the outrageous tuition.

AliceInWonderland · March 7th, 2006, 06:10 PM

yeah but can she do this?!:

chuckpony · March 7th, 2006, 06:15 PM

LOL, Alice.

AliceInWonderland · March 7th, 2006, 06:17 PM

^ lol @ "Pixie Bitch!"

Somerset · March 7th, 2006, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVZ

and no they won't let you based on your wealth or celebritydom - though it does help pay the outrageous tuition.

That is patently false (Hello! Dubya has an MBA from harvard). ANY institution will let you in if you're famous enough or if your family has enough money or connections to the university. In this day and age, universities are first and foremost businesses.
Secondly, she has a bachelor of arts in psychology, which every college kid knows is for people who aren't that smart (sorry psych majors).
Thirdly, she throws around big words and ideas, and likes to quote the obscure, but it's obvious to anyone with half a brain cell more than hers that it's all just pomp and pretense.

Luna · March 7th, 2006, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliceInWonderland

yeah but can she do this?!:

Is that Uma?
Who is the guy besides Jake? Some fat cat?

stevie · March 7th, 2006, 11:27 PM

What languages does she speak? And is she truly fluent or just knows how to speak the universal "where's the bathroom" line?

sweet2071 · March 7th, 2006, 11:42 PM

Her parents or maybe just her father is Israeli. Hebrew and English (her native languages), as well as French, German, and Japanese. She also knows some Spanish. I also know her father is a physician, either a OBYN/fertility specialist so there are some smarts in her genes.

I imagine she majored in psych because it applied to her chosen profession more than say molecular biology. Actually, I thought I remember reading that her essay to get into school dealt with some kind of mitchondrial DNA thesis type thing so she very well could have majored in molecular bio. I suppose she could have gotten a performing arts degree or some such but I think psych was a good choice considering what she does for a living.

I think that Jodi Foster may have been a psych degree as well and that woman has some smarts. Jodi is fluent in French and Italian but she was a Yalie, I think.

Personally, I think there is a stigma in this country that if you are beautiful, you couldn't possibly have a brain. I don't know for sure about Natalie but I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.