The parents of the famous actress Natalie Portman, Avner Hershlag and Shelley Stevens, returned on April 20 to Telenești (Republic of Moldova), the town where, in fact, the family’s story begins. “The visit had a strong symbolic charge, being dedicated to reconnecting with roots and family memory”, writes the Association of Natives from the city of Telenești.
The program included an official meeting with the mayor Vadim Lelic, during which the relations between the city and the diaspora, including the community of Jews originally from Telenești, were discussed.
The discussions highlighted both the historical dimension of these links and their potential for capitalization through cultural initiatives and cooperation projects. The visit continued with a moment of silence at the local cemetery.
According to official information, actress Natalie Portman’s grandmother was born in Telenesti, and the family later lived in Chisinau, before immigrating to Israel in 1978 and later settling in the United States of America.
“Their path reflects a wider history of the diaspora, but also a continuity that, over time, has come to be associated with one of the most famous figures of world cinema”, according to the cited source.
The visit is part of a wider approach by the local authorities in Telenești to strengthen relations with the diaspora, based on common heritage, identity and international openness.
At the end, the mayor Vadim Lelic sent, through the parents, a message to the actress, mentioning the existence of a preliminary commitment regarding the organization of a “Hollywood-Telenesti” evening at the House of Culture in the city.
Natalie Portman has Romanian origins
Aged 44, Natalie Portman has repeatedly spoken about her origins. The actress revealed that her paternal grandparents come from Romania and Poland.
Born in Jerusalem as Natalie Hershlag after her father, Avner Hershlag, the actress later chose the pseudonym “Portman” to protect her family from public exposure. She and her parents lived in Jerusalem until she was three years old, after which they moved to Washington DC, and later to the state of Connecticut, and finally to New York.
She is not the only Hollywood star with Eastern European roots. Actors such as Dustin Hoffman, Harvey Keitel or Winona Ryder discovered, in turn, that they have origins in Romania or in the region.
