Natalie Portman Awarded for Social Commitment

The 27-year-old actress is at the Venice Film Festival to present her directorial debut

By Jovie Baclayon Sep 01, 2008 3:30 PMTags
Natalie PortmanDaniele Venturelli/Getty Images

Natalie Portman picked up a "humanity award" in Venice on Sunday — and it wasn't for agreeing to be in her boyfriend's wacky music video.

The Garden State and Star Wars beauty received the first-ever "Movie for Humanity Award" at the Venice Film Festival for her work with social and environmental programs.

Given to film artists who devote themselves to humanitarian causes, the Oscar-nominee donated her $50,000 prize to the Jane Goodall Institute in Tanzania, where Portman supports the Tacare Girl's Scholarship Program.

"The Jane Goodall foundation does incredible work in Tanzania, an area which is very environmentally affected. I really appreciate this award," Portman said.

The 27-year-old actress is presenting her directorial debut at the festival, a short film called Eve.