Natalie Portman created her stage name when she became famous, so she could lead a normal childhood.

On screen and in the press, she was actress Natalie Portman, but back home she was Natalie Hershlag - and the trick worked.

The 26-year-old Israeli-born actress - who found fame at 12 in 1994 film Leon - says: “It was like having an alter ego. I was able to keep my public persona controlled and let the messiness be in private. I could be a human being.”

She adds: “I don’t want to have a perfect (life), but I know my actions may affect or influence people, and there is a little bit of responsibility in that.”