The character of Padme Amidala was 16 years old in Star Wars Episode 1, The Phantom Menace. At the time, Padme’s character was played by Natalie Portman, who was also 16 years old with just a few years of acting experience.
Thus, there was no age difference between Natalie Portman’s character, Padme, in Star Wars Episode 1 and her real age at that time. However, before each of the three Star Wars films Natalie starred in would be released, the actress would have already advanced in age by 1 or 2 years.
How Old is Padme in Episode 1
In Episode 1 of Star Wars, the character of Padme was 16 years old. Filming of the episode began in 1997, when Natalie Portman, who played Padme’s character, was also 16 years old. Natalie was born on June 9, 1981, in Jerusalem and named Neta-Lee Hershlag.
The Israeli-born American actress had only begun acting in the year 1994 as a 13-year-old playing the role of Mathilda Lando in Léon: The Professional. At 14 in 1995, she starred in Developing as Nina and Lauren Gustafson in Heat.
By the year 1996, when she was 15, Natalie gained more acting experience with roles in Everyone Says I Love You as Laura Dandridge, Marty in Beautiful Girls, and Taffy Dale in Mars Attacks before she began filming Episode 1 of Star Wars.
Who Plays Padme in Star Wars?
Natalie Portman played the character of Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace which was filmed in 1997 and released in the year 1999. She is an Israeli-American actress born to Jewish parents with roots in Poland, Austria, and Russia.
Natalie Portman’s father’s name is Avner Hershlag. He is an Israeli-born gynecologist, while her mother is Shelley (née Stevens), who also works as her agent. Natalie has deep roots in Israel as her maternal grandparents were American Jews while her paternal grandparents, on the other hand, were Jewish immigrants to Israel. Natalie is the only child of her parents. After she was born in Jerusalem, she and her parents first moved to Washington, D.C. before they relocated again to Connecticut in the year 1988 and later on to Long Island.
Growing up under the tutelage of her parents, Star Wars Padme attended Jewish schools for her basic education. She was a student of Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland, and afterward Solomon Schechter Day School in Nassau County. For her tertiary education, Nathalie learned ballet and modern dance at the American Theater Dance Workshop and often attended the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts.
How Old was Natalie Portman in Star Wars?
| Star Wars Episode | Natalie Portman’s Age When Filming Began | Natalie Portman’s Age During Star Wars Release |
| Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace | 16 years old | 18 years old |
| Star Wars Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones | 19 years old | 21 years old |
| Star Wars: Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith | 22 years old | 24 years old |
Natalie Portman was 16, 19, and 22 years old when she acted in the three episodes of Star Wars. In the very first of the Star Wars prequel trilogy Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Nathalie was a teen (16-year-old) in 1997 when she acted in the film as the teenage Queen of Naboo. However, by the time the film was released in 1999, she was already an 18-year-old adult.
At the age of 19, she reprised her role as Queen Padme Amidala (nee Naberrie) in Star Wars Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones. The filming of this episode began in the year 2000, while the actual film was released a few years later, in May 2002. At that time, Natalie was almost 21 years old.
For Star Wars: Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith, Natalie Portman was a 22-year-old lady in 2003 when she began filming the last episode of the trilogy. After filming, the film was released in the year 2005 when she was 24 years old.
What is Natalie Portman’s Age Today?
Natalie Portman is 42 years old at 2024. She was born on the 9th of June 1981 and began her acting career in 1993. Thus, the 42 years old celebrity has been acting for 31 now.
