Natalie Portman, 39, has hardly aged a day as she shares 20-year-old throwback photo

by

Natalie Portman, 39, has hardly aged a day as she shares a throwback photo taken in the Blue Mountains two decades ago

By D. Lawrance For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

She’s been embracing life in Australia while shooting Thor: Love and Thunder.  

But on Wednesday, Natalie Portman flashed back to a previous trip Down Under, when she filmed one Star Wars: Episode II in Sydney back in 2001.

The 39-year-old appears to have hardly aged a day since taking the photo, in which she posed with her co-star Ahmed Best, who played Jar Jar Binks in the much-maligned trilogy.

TBT: On Wednesday, Natalie Portman flashed back to a previous trip Down Under, when she filmed one Star Wars: Episode II in Sydney back in 2001. Seen here with Ahmed Best [R]

In the faded photograph, the Oscar-winning actress wrapped her arms around Ahmed as they stood on a lookout atop the iconic NSW mountain range.

The Black Swan star captioned the post: ‘Throwback to the Blue Mountains with my forever friend @bestahmed – while shooting episode 2 in Sydney, 20 years ago! #maythefourthbewithyou.’

The mother of two’s post was made on the USA’s May 4th – an important date for Star Wars fans given its audible similarity to the film’s famous line ‘May the Force be with you’.

Natalie played Padmé Amidala in George Lucas’ highly anticipated prequel trilogy, which was largely filmed in Sydney. 

In character: Portman famously played Padmé Amidala (left) in George Lucas' highly-anticipated prequel trilogy, while Best played Jar Jar Binks (right)

In character: Portman famously played Padmé Amidala (left) in George Lucas’ highly-anticipated prequel trilogy, while Best played Jar Jar Binks (right)

Ahmed played the controversial character of Jar Jar Binks in the sci-fi series.

Much criticism of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and its sequels focused on the perception of Jar Jar as a racist caricature.

Although the character was mostly computer generated, with Ahmed providing its voice and general movements, the actor has admitted he took the backlash personally.

The Mother and Child star, 47, previously revealed he contemplated suicide following Episode I’s release in 1999.

Another one: Ahmed and Natalie seen here in an undated throwback snap shared by the Mother and Child actor last year

Another one: Ahmed and Natalie seen here in an undated throwback snap shared by the Mother and Child actor last year

Natalie, meanwhile, is currently living in Sydney, and has gone largely unnoticed as she fits in easily with the laid-back locals in trendy areas around the eastern suburbs.

She’s also been spotted in the grandstands at several football events recently, having last month attended an NRL game in Sydney alongside fellow A-listers Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky. 

Natalie will reprise her role as astrophysicist Jane Foster in Thor: Love and Thunder – the fourth move in the superhero franchise – and her character will gain powers similar to Thor.

The film is scheduled for release on May 6, 2022.