Who's the queen?

L.A. TIMES | REDEYE

February 29, 2008

FACEOFF

Natalie Portman vs. Scarlett Johansson

In the new film "The Other Boleyn Girl," which opens Friday, Natalie Portman plays Anne Boleyn and Scarlett Johansson is Mary Boleyn, her sister and rival for the hand and the bed of the handsome King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). What if Natalie and Scarlett were pitted as rivals? They're both popular, in-demand actresses in their 20s. Tie up your bodices, it's a fight for the crown.

JUST THE FACTS

Born Natalie Hershlag in 1981 in Jerusalem, she was discovered at a Long Island pizza parlor by a Revlon agent who wanted her to model. Portman turned it down, preferring to be an actress. She spent her holidays at theater camps and in 1994 auditioned for "The Professional." Initially turned down, she auditioned again and won the role.

Born in 1984 in New York City, she began her training by attending and eventually graduating in 2002 from the Professional Children's School. Her mother took her on several auditions; she made her film debut in Rob Reiner's 1994 flop "North."

'HORSE' CONNECTION

She was courted to appear in Robert Redford's 1998 adaptation of the blockbuster novel "The Horse Whisperer," but she turned it down to make her Broadway debut in the 1997-98 revival of "The Diary of Anne Frank."

She took the part Portman rejected, starring opposite Redford in the weepie for which she received excellent reviews.

MUSES

George Lucas turned her into an international star when he cast her as Padme Amidala (right) in the "Star Wars" prequels.

Woody Allen (right) has fallen under Johansson's spell, casting her in "Match Point," "Scoop" and the upcoming "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

EDUCATION

A straight-A student, she graduated from Harvard

University in 2003. She's bilingual in Hebrew and English and did postgraduate studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 2004.

She attended high school.

BOX OFFICE

Lifetime gross: $1,373,814,410; average: $98,129,601

Lifetime gross: $391,699,628; average: $21,761,000

MEN

She's been linked with Gael Garcia Bernal, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine and actor Lukas Haas, and reportedly she has dated Nat Rothschild. She also was seen at last year's U.S. Open with former male model Nathan Bogle.

She has been linked with numerous men, including Derek Jeter, Benicio Del Toro, Jared Leto, Justin Timberlake and Josh Hartnett. She is dating "Definitely, Maybe" star Ryan Reynolds and has denied rumors that they are engaged.

THE WINNER: NATALIE PORTMAN

Even though her character was beheaded by King Henry in real life, Portman's our winner.

She's more educated and experienced, her movies make more at the box office and she has played one of the most important theatrical roles on Broadway.