Academy Award winner and activist Natalie Portman at IAA MOBILITY

She wanted to be an astronaut as a child, studied psychology, and became an Academy award winner and activist for social issues. Natalie Portman has chased - and achieved - many dreams in her life. At the same time, she regularly lends her influential voice to social and political discourse. In September, the actress will come to IAA MOBILITY to talk about ways to make mobility solutions affordable and accessible to everyone.    

Born in Jerusalem, Natalie Portman grew up in the United States and discovered her passion for the creative arts at an early age. She made her acting debut in 1994 at the age of 12 in Luc Besson's cult film "Léon the Professional". While still in high school, she made her Broadway debut in 1998 in a production of "The Diary of a Young Girl" and gained international recognition in 1999 for her portrayal of Padmé Amidala in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. A role she reprised in the two sequels, "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" and "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith”.  She went on to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in the 2004 film "Closer" and a Golden Globe Award and Academy Award trophy for her starring role as a ballerina in the 2010 drama "Black Swan". She has had other iconic roles in films such as 2005's "V for Vendetta," 2016's "Jackie" as presidential widow Jackie Kennedy, and the superhero films of "Thor." 

Today, the 42-year-old actress, who also works as a director and writer and has a degree in psychology from Harvard University, is one of the most popular and versatile US actresses. At the same time, she has positioned herself as an activist on socio-political issues such as social inequality, women's rights and poverty, as well as veganism and climate protection.   

And more: She sees the fight for greater sustainability and against climate change as the greatest challenge of our time, one that is essential for the future of the planet. Among other things, global meat production and livestock farming account for a large share of global greenhouse gas emissions compared to other food products. A key part of Portman's lifestyle is therefore her commitment to veganism. Not only has she been a vegan for a long time, but she also supports animal welfare in other ways. For example, she co-produced "Eating Animals," a film that exposes factory farming in the U.S. and launched a vegan shoe collection. For years, she has also worn and purchased clothing only from brands committed to organic practices.  

In line with her interest in combating climate change, the issue of sustainable mobility is also very important to her, especially given her many commitments that require her to travel around the world.  

At the IAA MOBILITY on September 5, as part of the IAA Conference, she will discuss how sustainable mobility solutions can be made affordable and accessible to everyone so that the transition to sustainable mobility can succeed.