I was like a total clichéd '80s child. I had Barbies, obviously, as well as My Little Ponies and Cabbage Patch Kids, but I used to destroy them. I used to draw all over their faces and cut off their hair.

--NATALIE PORTMAN

My dad's a doctor, and when I was 8, I went to one of his medical conferences where they were demonstrating laser surgery on a chicken. I was so mad that a chicken had to die, I never ate meat again.

--NATALIE PORTMAN

I'm going to college. I don't care if it ruins my career. I'd rather be smart than a movie star.

--NATALIE PORTMAN

I am not someone who sacrifices all for the cinema, my life will be always more important.

--NATALIE PORTMAN

It's almost more important for me to be going at something full force than what the specific thing actually is.

--NATALIE PORTMAN

Smart women love smart men more than smart men love smart women.

--NATALIE PORTMAN

Kids are she Shakespearean fools in Hollywood movies. They hold the keys to wisdom in their innocence.

--NATALIE PORTMAN

I don't love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful.

--NATALIE PORTMAN

I try not to read reviews or anything about me. It's totally natural to be interested, but it's completely damaging. Over the almost 20 years I've been working, I've been up, I've been down, I've been in, I've been out. Just getting to do the work is the privilege. I always feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. The one thing you have control over is having a great experience by doing your work fully.

--NATALIE PORTMAN