Natalie Portman created her stage name when she became famous, so she could lead a normal childhood. On screen and in the press, she was actress Natalie Portman, but back home she was Natalie Hershlag - and the trick worked.

The 26-year-old - who found fame at age 12 in the 1994 film The Professional - says, "It was like having an alter ego. I was able to keep my public persona controlled and let the messiness be in private. I could be a human being. I don't want to have a perfect (life), but I know my actions may affect or influence people, and there is a little bit of responsibility in that."

-Check out Natalie Portman's Biography

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)