Summary

• From silver screen to TV, Natalie Portman's leading role in Lady in the Lake marks a pivotal career move after decades of film success.
• Lady in the Lake, set in the 1960s, follows Portman's character, an investigative journalist, as she uncovers the truth behind two murders.
• With co-star Moses Ingram, the Apple TV+ series promises a searing portrait of real-world issues like racism and gender inequality.

Since her teenage years, Academy Award-winning actor Léon: The Professional marked 12-year-old Portman's silver-screen debut. Four years later, Portman appeared on Broadway, and, by 1999, she had landed a starring role in Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace, the first of George Lucas' Star Wars prequel films. Those first few years of Portman's career are a solid summation of the actor's trajectory: Not only has she appeared in award-winning films and indie movies, but Hollywood blockbusters as well.

But for all her big-screen success, Portman has yet to star in a TV series — until now.

Natalie Portman received her first Oscar nomination for Closer, just a decade after she made her acting debut. After that, Portman had remarkable turns in a wide range of genre-spanning films, including the political action thriller V for Vendetta; the psychological horror film Black Swan, which earned Portman her first Oscar win; and Pablo Larraín's offbeat biographical drama Jackie. Most recently, Portman helmed Todd Haynes' May December, and stepped into the role of Mighty Thor in Thor: Love and Thunder. But for all her big-screen success, Portman has yet to star in a TV series — until now.

Natalie Portman’s Lady In The Lake Is Her First Leading Role On TV

Moses Ingram s Portman In The Apple TV+ Series

There's no denying that Apple TV+'s Lady in the Lake is primed to be one of Natalie Portman's most iconic roles to date. For the first time in her 30-year career, the actor is set to lead a TV series, and will co-star alongside fellow Star Wars alum Moses Ingram. Based on Laura Lippman's novel of the same name, Lady in the Lake is set during the 1960s and centers on Maddie Schwartz (Portman), an investigative journalist who leaves her husband for a career in Baltimore. Soon enough, Maddie obsesses over uncovering more about two separate murders.

With Portman and Ingram on board, the series promises to be a similarly searing portrait.

In the show, the murders of 11-year-old Tessie Fine and an outspoken Black bartender named Cleo Sherwood (Ingram) are what Maddie obsesses over, but the killings have real-world inspirations. While Lippman was working at the Baltimore Sun, she discovered the underreported death of Shirley Parker, a young Black woman, and the more well-reported murder of Esther Lebowitz. A slow-burn period piece, the Lady in the Lake novel tackles issues of religious discrimination, racism, and gender inequality, all filtered through Maddie's ambitious perspective. With Portman and Ingram, the series promises to be a similarly searing portrait.

Natalie Portman’s Other TV Roles, Explained

The Actor Has Only Had Guest Acting & Hosting Roles On Television

While they are few and far between, some of Natalie Portman's TV roles are underrated. For starters, there's no denying that she's one of Saturday Night Live's (SNL) more memorable hosts, thanks in large part to her notorious Pé Amidala rap and willingness to send-up some of her most recognizable movie characters. In addition to hosting SNL twice, Portman has voiced The Simpsons' character Darcy on two occasions. The Oscar-winning actor has also lent her voice to an episode of Bluey, the character of Jane Foster in Marvel's What If...? series, and several documentary features.

After three decades, it's about time that the actor made the jump to the small screen.

Apart from those moments and Portman's two-episode stint on Sesame Street, she's only appeared in one live-action guest acting role in Angie Tribeca, a police-procedural parody starring Rashida Jones. In the episode "This Sounds Unbelievable, but CSI: Miami Did It," Portman plays Christine Craft, the no-nonsense head of NASA mission control. Now, with her starring turn in Lady in the Lake, Portman has finally secured her first lead role in a television series. After three decades, it's about time that the actor made the jump to the small screen.

Why Natalie Portman’s Lady In The Lake Is A Crucial Career Move

Portman Should Expand Into TV After Dominating Film

Looking at some of Natalie Portman's best movies, she's already tackled a wide range of genres and characters. From Alex Garland's sci-fi thriller Annihilation to the experimental drama Knight of Cups, the award-winning actor has run the gamut. In fact, Portman has earned most of film's highest honors, including an Academy Award for her performance in Black Swan, as well as a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a BAFTA Award. Needless to say, it makes sense for Portman to transition to television, especially for a series with Emmy-winning potential like Lady in the Lake.

Lady in the Lake premieres on Apple TV+ on July 19, 2024.