A recent update on the impending Beijing International Film Festival revealed that Oscar and Golden Globe winner Natalie Portman will headline the event scheduled on April.

Portman is a big Hollywood star who has a number of notable movies and accomplishments under her belt. She has a huge following in China and has become very popular since starring as Mathilda in Luc Besson's "León: The Professional," a movie about a hitman who took in Portman's character after her family was murdered and made her his protégée.

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Her mainstream success officially kicked in when she starred as Padmé Amidala in "Star Wars." She continued to star in blockbuster movies including "Closer," a romantic film, which she won a Golden Globe for. Her exceptional performance in the psychological thriller "Black Swan" won her more fans in China and earned her several acting awards including her second Golden Globe award, Academy Award, BAFTA award, BFCA award and SAG award.

According to China.org, aside from her acting prowess, Chinese audience also admire her for excelling in academics. Many of her Chinese fans know that she is multilingual, who graduated from Harvard with a degree in psychology.

Portman is also expected to promote her film, "A Tale of Love and Darkness," at the Beijing International Film Festival. The movie, which is her first as a director, is based on Amos Oz's memoir about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Though hesitant at first, due to fears of the movie being labeled as her vanity project, Portman caved in and also played the role of Oz's mother in the movie.

TagsBeijing international film festival, Natalie Portman, A Tale of Love and Darkness, Natalie Portman China, china, Beijing, Amos Oz