Katie Couric: Well, it's no surprise that 'Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace' was the number one film this weekend, raking in more than sixty-one million dollars. In it we're introduced to 14-year-old Queen Amidala, who is trying to protect the people of the peaceful planet of Naboo and who we all know by now goes on to become the mother of Luke and Leia. Natalie Portman is Queen Amidala. Good morning. Nice to see you.

NP: Good morning.

KC: Did I say everything right for 'Star Wars' fanatics out there?

NP: Yeah, you did, you did.

KC: Now Natalie, I understand that you really weren't a 'Star Wars' enthusiast when you were approached about this role. How did it come to be?

NP: Well, when the casting director, Robin Gurland, was in town, she met with me and we talked, and I had never seen the film and I was asked to go to San Francisco and I still hadn't seen the film, so I actually saw them for the first time right before my meeting with George [Lucas].

KC: If anything, you were sort of looking forward to starring in 'Dirty Dancing II,' I understand.

NP: [laughing] That was my 'Star Wars.' That was the movie I saw like a thousand times.

KC: Really? Why? Why did you like that film so much?

NP: I don't know. I guess when you're--when you're young and that's kind of--it was just my image of romance and love and--and all that nice stuff when I was younger.

KC: So what sold you on 'The Phantom Menace,' because you signed on for three of these movies.

NP: Right. Well, it was a huge commitment to make at 14 to sign on for basically 10 more years of my life, but I really figured I'd have a great time doing these films because they're so much fun and people really love them and it's nice to do something that becomes part of the culture.

KC: When you saw the movie, did you get it? Did you get why so many people are so crazy about these films or was part of you kind of like, what, it's just a movie, folks.

NP: Well, I mean, for me and my life it is just a movie and it's just, you know, a fun thing to do on a Friday night or something, but I think it's become so popular because it has such a simple kind of basic story that can be taken on a lot of different levels. It can be taken as just, you know, your fun Friday night activity or it can--I mean, it has a lot of kind of religious and mythical undertones and--and you know, you can take it on a much deeper level than just an action movie.

KC: Let's take a look at a clip. As I mentioned, you're Queen Amidala. She's young but she's a formidable character.

NP: Yes.

KC: Let's take a look at you playing her in 'The Phantom Menace'. [Natalie smiles nervously.]

[The 'I've decided to go back to Naboo' clip is shown.]

KC: Nice 'do, Natalie!

NP: [laughing] Thanks! It's a little insane...

KC: What do you think of all these--I mean, the costumes you wore were beautiful, but pretty cumbersome, I understand. Was it tough to act in all this stuff all over the place?

NP: Well, it was really beautiful that--the costumes and all the hair and all the makeup were really, really wonderful, but they were not the most comfortable, but I really, really enjoyed seeing it in the movie afterwards. I mean, I wasn't the happiest...

KC: I was going to say...

NP: ...when it was going on but they were so beautiful.

KC: Your performance has been described as, I'm not sure if it was George Lucas or someone else, as kabuki-like. It was very, you know, restrained in places.

NP: Right.

KC: Was it challenging for you?

NP: Well, it is because you don't want to make it a caricature and you don't want to make it too boring or anything, but at the same time, she's this young queen, no one wants to take her seriously and she's being threatened and she has to keep her resolve and keep her--be contained so that people don't see that she's kind of really scared inside, and so it was interesting, but all the costumes and the makeup really helped for that.

KC: She's got some interesting time ahead. Do you have any idea how she's going to evolve? Obviously she's going to...

NP: Right.

KC: ...sort of flirt with the dark side, right?

NP: [laughs] Well, I--obviously I think all 'Star Wars' fans know that you know, the next time, there'll be a romance with Anakin and [sounding embarrassed] then they have their children and then you know, he eventually turns to the dark side, but how any of that happens, I have NO idea. Nothing's been written or planned...contrary to popular opinion on the Internet! [laughing]

KC: What do you think of the mixed reviews the movie has been getting? I mean, expectations were so high and the hype was so intense.

NP: Right. Well, I think any time that the public is waiting for a film for 22 years or whatever it was, and talking about it on the Internet and just, you know, every little detail just expanding it like it's the most important thing in the world, I think the expectations are going to be so high that not even the most amazing movie can--can meet those expectations. And I think the film's really wonderful and everyone I know really loves it and I know people have already seen it, you know, five times and, and I've seen it four times and I've loved it every time. And I think people sometimes take movies too seriously. I mean, they are just movies in the end.

KC: You know, your life has always been more important than your work.

NP: Right.

KC: I mean, which is great, and you seem very grounded. You're going to college next year.

NP: Yes.

KC: But you've been acting since, what, you were 12 years old?

NP: Right.

KC: And you were on Broadway in 'The Diary of Anne Frank,' and were quite a celebrated actress at an early age. How have you kept from becoming so--I mean, how have you remained so grounded?

NP: Well, I think the most important thing is not to let yourself feel like it's the most important thing in the world. I mean, you can get so focused in this business and so, thinking it's what the world, you know, revolves around, and when you realize, you know, it's your family, it's your friends, it's your education, it's your real life, it's your connection to real people and not, you know, not movies or entertainment or fame or any of that, I mean, just keeping your focus in the right places is...

KC: Well, it sounds like you're doing just that. Natalie Portman, so nice to see you again. Best of luck with the movies...

NP: Thank you, thank you.

KC: ...but more importantly, best of luck at college.

NP: Thank you so much.

KC: Good to see you.