Summary

• Natalie Portman's Apple TV+ show, Lady in the Lake, is adapted from a novel and is set in 1960s Baltimore. Portman's character, Maddie Schwartz, leaves her husband to become an investigative journalist and uncovers the mysteries surrounding two murders.
• Lady in the Lake draws inspiration from real-life events, including the abduction and murder of an 11-year-old girl and the death of a Black woman found in a park fountain. The miniseries explores dark and gripping themes.
• This role expands Portman's acting career as she takes on her first lead role in a TV series. It showcases her exceptional talent and ability to tackle polarizing performances in any medium. Lady in the Lake is set to be released on Apple TV+ in 2024.

Portman has been in over 50 movies, with her most recent being the 2023 drama May December.

In the Netflix film, Portman plays Elizabeth Berry, an actress studying the life of the person she's set to play in her next film. Portman's stellar performance in May December garnered her a nomination for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 2024 Golden Globes. Following her success from May December, Portman is now set to grace the small screen in a gripping drama for Apple TV+.

May December released November 17, 2023, on Netflix.

Natalie Portman's Big 2024 Role Is An Apple TV+ Show Titled Lady In The Lake

Natalie Portman is starring in the 2024 Apple TV+ show Lady in the Lake, which is adapted from Laura Lippman's novel of the same name. Set in 1960s Baltimore, the story follows Maddie Schwartz (Portman), a housewife who makes a bold decision to leave her husband and pursue a career as an investigative journalist. Maddie becomes engrossed in uncovering the mysteries surrounding the murders of eleven-year-old Tessie Fine and a bartender named Cleo Sherwood.

Lippman's story draws inspiration from real-life events that shaped her childhood, including the highly publicized abduction and murder of 11-year-old Esther Lebowitz and the death of 33-year-old Shirley Parker, who was a Black woman found dead in the fountain of the Druid Hill Park Reservoir. Lady in the Lake was greenlit in March 2021, started filming in April 2022, and wrapped production in November 2022. The thriller miniseries Lady in the Lake is scheduled for release on Apple TV+ in 2024, and based on Portman's May December role, she's poised to deliver another impressive performance in an even darker project.

Why Lady In The Lake Will Be A Highlight In Natalie Portman's Career

While the actress is no newcomer to the acting industry, Lady in the Lake is Portman's debut as the lead in a non-documentary TV show. To date, Portman has been nominated for three Oscars, winning for her work in Black Swan. She has made her mark in the film industry with her incredible talent. However, her work on television has been limited to appearances as herself, voicing characters in popular animated series, or narrating documentaries.

Portman finally taking on a starring role in a TV series like Lady in the Lake represents a significant shift for her, as it allows her to bring her talent to a new medium. This venture provides her with the opportunity to build her character and unravel the narrative over a series of episodes. Natalie Portman's Apple TV+ show is set to highlight her exceptional talent in a new and exciting way as the lead of a drama television show, proving she can tackle polarizing performances in any medium.