Our Favorite Jewish Actress Natalie Portman, gives an interview in Hebrew, while filming the Israeli movie Free Zone. Pretty hot hearing her speak the mother tongue. We learn that she considers herself a Yerushalmi not a Tel-Avivi, and loves hotel rooms. As always its Israeli Journalism at its best. The interview is in Hebrew with French subtitles but I've posted an English translation below. Enjoy.
Click here for interview
[translation starts when they sit together at the hotel room]
Natalie Portman: I'm glad you came to my home [points to hotel room, laughing]
IN: It's very pretty, this home of yours.
NP: [laughs] I've always wanted to live here [in Israel] for a while, to see how it was, because I left [Israel] at an early age and it was great [back then]. It was really fun. I studied a bit of Arabic and a bit about the history of Islam and the history of Israel, and Hebrew, obviously. I thought of maybe studying in Tel Aviv but I'm glad I decided [to study] in Jerusalem, because I really had no problems with regards to [paparazzi] photographers.
IN: [mumbled in background]
[walking around the hotel room]
IN: maybe you'll show us the view from your window?
NP: [the view is] very beautiful.
IN: are you used to hotel rooms?
NP: yes.
IN: what do you hate the most about hotel rooms?
NP: the heating [laughs].
IN: and what do you like the best about hotel rooms?
NP: I most like the fact that they get cleaned for me.
IN: let's got out to the porch so you can show us Israel. [talks to cameraman:] come over here, she's going to show us
Israel.
[outside on the porch]
IN: what do you think would've happened had you lived here?
NP: [shakes head, not knowing what to say]
IN: would you have been a completely different person?
NP: I don't know, I don't know.
IN: [mumbles] a denizen of Tel Aviv? You're used [to it]. You hang out here..
NP: [laughs] no, I'm a Jerusalemite!
[back inside the room]
IN: what do you do in Jerusalem at nights?
NP: I went out with friends to their apartments, to bars, restaurants, the movies.
[Natalie is handed a bottle of Arak – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arak_(distilled_beverage)]
IN: would you like to drink some Arak?
NP: [laughs, places bottle on table] no, I don't think I'll do that, it's a bad example for kids.
IN: [mumbles]
NP: If I have some effect [on children] I don't want it to be concerning alcohol [laughs].
IN: [holding remote in hand] have you seen “The Ambassador” [Israeli TV show] last night?
NP: no. I've heard a lot about this show, but I've never seen it. I've also heard about the show “A Wonderful Country” [Israeli Satirical show].
IN: [beginning of sentence cut in editing] Oscars, you're presenting as well as nominated for an award.
NP: I will hand the award to the short documentary film. [at first she used the English word Documentary, but then translated to Hebrew]. I'm excited about the ceremony and will be bringing my parents with me, so it'll be fun.
IN: you're going with them?
NP: yes.
IN: do you have your outfit ready?
NP: I don't know yet. I haven't had the chance to look for something. I get [back to the states] on Saturday and the ceremony is on Sunday, so they'll bring me lots of pretty dresses [to pick from].
IN: didn't you find anything nice at the Flea Market? [it's the actual name of a market in Tel Aviv, mainly for clothes and antiques].
NP: [laughs] no, [I can't wear] something hippie-like from Israel.
[cut to a montage from the movie “Leon”]
IN: and you've been shooting this entire month here for a movie?
NP: yes.
IN: [a movie by] Amos Gitai.
NP: yes.
IN: what is its name?
NP: “Free Zone”.
IN: [repeats the name]
NP: I like doing different stuff, because it's good to change the way you act and to try out new things. I really wanted to do a film in Israel. I really loved [names a few recent Israeli films].
IN: do you feel you're an Israeli? What percentage of you is Israeli?
NP: yes, of course! Of course! In the states I feel like an Israeli and over here [in Israel] I feel like an American. It's nice. People say artists need to always feel a bit like a stranger, because they have a different point of view than other people. It's good to be a stranger wherever [you go].
[standing in the middle of the room]
IN: what will you do in your remaining nights here in the city [Tel Aviv]? Will you go out and party?
NP: no [laughs].
IN: you need to sleep in order to wake up at 5 AM?
NP: yes, I'll be working everyday, including on Friday, the day I leave [for the states].
[woman in background]: so that's it?
NP: yes.
IN: but you're young, you need to have fun!
NP: yes, I'm going to the Oscars, I'll be having fun! [laughs] but when working, one needs to concentrate.
[saying goodbyes, then, at the door, signing autograph]
NP: well, thank you very much.
IN: Jonathan [to whom NP is signing, apparently] asked me to tell you he was eight [years old].
NP: awww…
IN: but he's [actually] twenty six.
NP: [hands notepad back to IN] oh, so he's not really eight! [laughs] I don't really get the sarcasm [in Hebrew] yet. [continues talking but the French song overlaps]. ( less )( more )
Click here for interview
[translation starts when they sit together at the hotel room]
Natalie Portman: I'm glad you came to my home [points to hotel room, laughing]
IN: It's very pretty, this home of yours.
NP: [laughs] I've always wanted to live here [in Israel] for a while, to see how it was, because I left [Israel] at an early age and it was great [back then]. It was really fun. I studied a bit of Arabic and a bit about the history of Islam and the history of Israel, and Hebrew, obviously. I thought of maybe studying in Tel Aviv but I'm glad I decided [to study] in Jerusalem, because I really had no problems with regards to [paparazzi] photographers.
IN: [mumbled in background]
[walking around the hotel room]
IN: maybe you'll show us the view from your window?
NP: [the view is] very beautiful.
IN: are you used to hotel rooms?
NP: yes.
IN: what do you hate the most about hotel rooms?
NP: the heating [laughs].
IN: and what do you like the best about hotel rooms?
NP: I most like the fact that they get cleaned for me.
IN: let's got out to the porch so you can show us Israel. [talks to cameraman:] come over here, she's going to show us
Israel.
[outside on the porch]
IN: what do you think would've happened had you lived here?
NP: [shakes head, not knowing what to say]
IN: would you have been a completely different person?
NP: I don't know, I don't know.
IN: [mumbles] a denizen of Tel Aviv? You're used [to it]. You hang out here..
NP: [laughs] no, I'm a Jerusalemite!
[back inside the room]
IN: what do you do in Jerusalem at nights?
NP: I went out with friends to their apartments, to bars, restaurants, the movies.
[Natalie is handed a bottle of Arak – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arak_(distilled_beverage)]
IN: would you like to drink some Arak?
NP: [laughs, places bottle on table] no, I don't think I'll do that, it's a bad example for kids.
IN: [mumbles]
NP: If I have some effect [on children] I don't want it to be concerning alcohol [laughs].
IN: [holding remote in hand] have you seen “The Ambassador” [Israeli TV show] last night?
NP: no. I've heard a lot about this show, but I've never seen it. I've also heard about the show “A Wonderful Country” [Israeli Satirical show].
IN: [beginning of sentence cut in editing] Oscars, you're presenting as well as nominated for an award.
NP: I will hand the award to the short documentary film. [at first she used the English word Documentary, but then translated to Hebrew]. I'm excited about the ceremony and will be bringing my parents with me, so it'll be fun.
IN: you're going with them?
NP: yes.
IN: do you have your outfit ready?
NP: I don't know yet. I haven't had the chance to look for something. I get [back to the states] on Saturday and the ceremony is on Sunday, so they'll bring me lots of pretty dresses [to pick from].
IN: didn't you find anything nice at the Flea Market? [it's the actual name of a market in Tel Aviv, mainly for clothes and antiques].
NP: [laughs] no, [I can't wear] something hippie-like from Israel.
[cut to a montage from the movie “Leon”]
IN: and you've been shooting this entire month here for a movie?
NP: yes.
IN: [a movie by] Amos Gitai.
NP: yes.
IN: what is its name?
NP: “Free Zone”.
IN: [repeats the name]
NP: I like doing different stuff, because it's good to change the way you act and to try out new things. I really wanted to do a film in Israel. I really loved [names a few recent Israeli films].
IN: do you feel you're an Israeli? What percentage of you is Israeli?
NP: yes, of course! Of course! In the states I feel like an Israeli and over here [in Israel] I feel like an American. It's nice. People say artists need to always feel a bit like a stranger, because they have a different point of view than other people. It's good to be a stranger wherever [you go].
[standing in the middle of the room]
IN: what will you do in your remaining nights here in the city [Tel Aviv]? Will you go out and party?
NP: no [laughs].
IN: you need to sleep in order to wake up at 5 AM?
NP: yes, I'll be working everyday, including on Friday, the day I leave [for the states].
[woman in background]: so that's it?
NP: yes.
IN: but you're young, you need to have fun!
NP: yes, I'm going to the Oscars, I'll be having fun! [laughs] but when working, one needs to concentrate.
[saying goodbyes, then, at the door, signing autograph]
NP: well, thank you very much.
IN: Jonathan [to whom NP is signing, apparently] asked me to tell you he was eight [years old].
NP: awww…
IN: but he's [actually] twenty six.
NP: [hands notepad back to IN] oh, so he's not really eight! [laughs] I don't really get the sarcasm [in Hebrew] yet. [continues talking but the French song overlaps]. ( less )( more )